Frugal guide to bodywork

After a full day of job searching there’s nothing better than a little bodywork to relax tense muscles. But when your body isn’t the only thing that’s tight, paying the steep prices of a registered massage or other body therapist can be a strain. That’s where poss.ca comes to the rescue, showing you lots of places where you can get your aching bod worked on for cheap.

For all these clinics, make sure to call to book an appointment and to verify that times are still current — often the times listed on the clinic’s website are not accurate. Note that some student clinics may close during summers or other school breaks such as Christmas. As well, some of the clinics may charge extra for tax and prices may be cheaper if you buy a package of sessions.

Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chiropractic/Osteopathy/Physiotherapy
Massage: Swedish/Shiatsu/Thai
Reiki

Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncturists insert fine needles into the body at specific points to relieve pain or treat other disorders. As well as using acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, who look for the underlying causes of imbalance in the yin and yang, may use medicinal herbs, moxibustion, cupping therapy, massage and therapeutic exercise. Note that several of the clinics mentioned offer community acupuncture, which usually means you will receive acupuncture while seated on a reclining chair in a group setting.

WHAT: All One Community Acupuncture
WHERE: 141 Roncesvalles Ave., 647-439-9769
WHEN: Wednesday: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Friday: noon to 1:30 p.m., Saturday 1:30 to 3 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $30 (or $25 if you have two or more sessions per week); one-time $15 admin. fee for your first visit

WHAT: Beaches Acupuncture Clinic (Community Acupuncture Clinic)
WHERE: 1234 Kingston Rd., Ste. 102A, 647-700-7466
WHEN: Tuesday, Thursday: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., every second Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon
HOW MUCH: $40 for initial consult, then $25 for follow-up treatments (prices are higher for private treatments)

WHAT: The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Pharmacology Canada
WHERE: 3195 Sheppard Ave. E., 2nd Flr., 416-493-8447
WHEN: 2 to about 5:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $10

WHAT: Drop the Needle Community Acupuncture
WHERE: 37 Bulwer St. (operates out of the MANIFESTO space), 416-662-0564, book at droptheneedle.ca
WHEN: Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Drop the Needle also treats at Eight Branches on Monday and Wednesday from 2 to 10 p.m. See contact info below.)
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale from $30 to $50 (cash only)
NOTE: These are private one-on-one sessions unlike most community acupuncture practices that are done in a group setting.

WHAT: Eight Branches Academy of Eastern Medicine
WHERE: 358 Dupont St., 416-925-5722, info@eightbranches.ca
WHEN: Monday: 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday: 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $20

WHAT: Fertility Toronto Acupuncture Clinic
WHERE: 489 College St., Ste. 301, 416-324-8888
WHEN: Thursday, Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Initial consult, $15, afterwards sliding scale, $25 to $55
NOTE: Clinic is open to the general public; in other words, it is not fertility-specific

WHAT: Institute of Traditional Medicine Student Clinic
WHERE: 553 Queen St. W., 2nd Flr., 416-537-0928
WHEN: Monday: 2 to 6 p.m. (women's health clinic), Wednesday evenings (pain & stress clinic as well as community acupuncture clinic and NADA clinic [group setting auricular treatment only])
HOW MUCH: $5, plus a can of food (donated to local food charity). NADA clinic is FREE.

WHAT: Ontario School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
WHERE: 7130 Warden Ave., Ste. 507, Markham, 905- 604-8855
WHEN: Mondays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $10

WHAT: Roncesvalles Community Acupuncture Clinic
WHERE: 409 Roncesvalles Ave. (operates out of The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary), 416- 436-3715
WHEN: Monday & Friday: 10 to 2 p.m., Tuesday: 2.30 to 7 p.m., Thursday: 3:30 to 7 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale, $20 to 40 or Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC)

WHAT: The Shiatsu School of Canada Japanese Acupuncture Student Clinic
WHERE: 547 College St., 416-323-1818 ext. 23
WHEN: Mondays: 6:15, 6:30, 8 & 8:15 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $20

WHAT: The Shiatsu School of Canada Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Student Clinic
WHERE: 547 College St., 416-323-1818 ext. 23
WHEN: Sunday: 10:15 & 11:45 a.m., 2:30 & 4 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday: 6:15 & 8 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $20 (Current promotion: new clients get their first session free.)

WHAT: Six Degrees Community Acupuncture
WHERE: 204 Spadina Ave., 2nd Flr., 416-866-8484, info@pokeme.ca
WHEN: Monday: 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday: noon to 8 p.m., Friday: noon to 5 p.m., Saturday: noon to 4 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale — $25 to $55; one-time $15 admin fee for your first visit.

WHAT: Toronto Acupuncture Studio
WHERE: 961 Bloor St. W., 647-700-4644
WHEN: Saturday, Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m, Tuesday: 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m, Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m, Thursday: 2 to 7 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale, $20 to $40; one-time $10 paperwork fee on the first visit.

WHAT: Toronto Community Acupuncture
WHERE: 27 Davies Ave., 416-405-8222
WHEN: Monday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday: 3 to 7 p.m., Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday: 3 to 7 p.m., Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale — $15 to $35; one-time $10 admin fee for your first visit.

WHAT: Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
WHERE: Lawrence Square Mall, 700 Lawrence Ave. W., Ste. 433, 416-782-9682
WHEN: Monday: 6 to 10 p.m., Tuesday & Wednesday: 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $35

Chiropractic/Osteopathy/Physiotherapy
Chiropractors make manual adjustments and manipulations to a client's spine as well as using various other manual therapy techniques. Osteopathic manual practitioners use palpation to feel or sense the state of the tissues or systems. They use precise and gentle manipulation techniques to treat restrictions in muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints. Physiotherapists treat injuries through therapeutic exercises and joint mobilization as well as through modalities like electrotherapeutic stimulation, ultrasound and laser.

WHAT: Al and Malka Green Artists' Health Centre (This centre serves professional artists and students and staff at post-secondary arts institutions.)
WHERE: Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., West Wing, 3rd Fl., 416-603-5263
WHEN: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon (Wednesday also open from 2:30 to 5 p.m.)
HOW MUCH: Physiotherapy and chiropractic services are market rate but those with subsidy approval can get treated at a greatly reduced cost. (Subsidies are limited and must involve treatment for an illness or injury that hinders the artist from working in his or her discipline.)

WHAT: Bronte Harbour Chiropractic Clinic
WHERE: 2290 Lakeshore Rd. W., Oakville, 905-825-2011
WHEN: Monday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Initial visit, $28, subsequent visits, $18
NOTE: Chiropractic services only.

WHAT: Canadian College of Osteopathy
WHERE: 150 Bridgeland Ave., 416-597-0367
WHEN: Usually Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday: 9 & 10:30 a.m.,1:30 & 3 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $50 for initial consult, $60 for follow-up appointments
NOTE: Although this clinic is not cheap, a professional osteopathic treatment can easily run you $130.

WHAT: Canadian Memorial College of Chiropractic Medicine Campus Walk-In Clinic
WHERE: 6100 Leslie St., 416-482-2546
WHEN: Year-round, Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Initial visit, $28, subsequent visits, $18
NOTE: Services include chiropractic, diagnostic imaging and acupuncture. The school runs the other chiro clinics mentioned here as well as some other clinics with restricted access.

WHAT: Parkdale Community Health Centre — Physiotherapy Services
WHERE: 1229 Queen St. W., 416-537-2455
WHEN: Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Thursdays when the clinic is open noon to 8 p.m.
HOW MUCH: FREE
NOTE: To be eligible for this service you must live in the Parkdale area and have a doctor's referral. (In addition, a limited number of designated OHIP physiotherapy clinics offer services to children, senior citizens, social assistance recipients and those who have been hospitalized for a condition that requires physiotherapy treatment.)

WHAT: Sherbourne Health Centre Chiropractic Clinic
WHERE: 333 Sherbourne St., 416-324-4166
WHEN: Monday & Thursday: 8:20 a.m. to 7:20 p.m., Tuesday: 2 p.m. to 7:20 p.m., Wednesday: 8:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., Friday: 8:20 a.m. to 5:20 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m
HOW MUCH: Initial visit, $22, subsequent visits, $11
NOTE: Chiropractic services only.

WHAT: South Riverdale Community Health Centre Chiropractic Clinic
WHERE: 955 Queen St. E., 416-778-6883
WHEN: Monday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,Tuesday & Thursday: noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Initial visit, $27, subsequent visits, $16
NOTE: Chiropractic services only.

WHAT: St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital Chiropractic Clinic
WHERE: 285 Cummer Ave. Rm. S020 — ground floor, Scadding Wing, 416-224-6942
WHEN: Monday: 1:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Initial visit, $28, subsequent visits, $18
NOTE: Chiropractic services only.

Massage: Swedish/Shiatsu/Thai
Swedish massage therapists massage and knead muscles and soft tissues, applying finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body. Shiatsu is a type of massage that involves applying pressure to the meridians or energy points in the body. In Thai massage, also known as Thai yoga massage, the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move the client into a series of yoga-like stretches.

WHAT: Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy
WHERE: 250 Davisville Ave., Ste. 225, 416-736-4576 ext. 4
WHEN: Monday to Friday: 3, 4:30 & 6 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $32 (Clients receive two free treatments after their 10th appointment.)
NOTE: Starting January, 2013 the clinic will offer hydrotherapy services such as infrared sauna, herbal bath and steam for only $10.

WHAT: Centennial College Massage Therapy Student Clinic
WHERE: Centennial HP Science and Technology Centre, 755 Morningside Ave., Rm. 224, 416-289-5353
WHEN: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 4:30 & 6 p.m., Thursday: 12:30, 2, 4:30 & 6 p.m., Friday: 12:30 & 2 p.m
HOW MUCH: $35

WHAT: ICT Kikkawa College Student Clinic
WHERE: The Crossways Mall, G-04, 2340 Dundas St. W., 416-762-4857 ext. 249
WHEN: Tuesday to Friday: 5 & 6:45 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $38 or six treatments for $190

WHAT: Institute of Complementary & Alternative Therapies Student Massage Clinic
WHERE: 385 The West Mall, Ste. 501, 416-695-4600
WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 5 & 6:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $35

WHAT: Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy
WHERE: 31 Scarsdale Rd., 416-447-7687
WHEN: Monday to Friday: 12:30, 1:45, 3 & 4:15 p.m., Saturday: 9, 10:15, 11:30 & 1 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $33.90

WHAT: Shiatsu Academy of Tokyo Student Clinic
WHERE: 873 Broadview Ave., 416-466-8780
WHEN: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.to 6 p.m., Sunday by appointment only
HOW MUCH: $25 for 30-minute shiatsu treatment and $45 for a 70-minute treatment

WHAT: The Shiatsu School of Canada Shiatsu Student Clinic
WHERE: 547 College St., 416-323-1818 ext. 23
WHEN: Wednesdays: 10:15 a.m., 12:15, 2:45 & 4:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $35

WHAT: Sutherland-Chan School & Teaching Clinic
WHERE: 330 Dupont St., Ste. 400, 416-924-1107 ext. 10.
WHEN: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 4, 5, 6 & 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday: 4:30 & 6 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $39

WHAT: Toronto School of Thai Massage
WHERE: 406 Merton St. and 1585 Markham Rd, Ste. 405, 647-522-8424
WHEN: Student clinics happen irregularly.
HOW MUCH: $39 for 90 minutes
NOTE: The next student clinic should be up and running in the fall of 2012. Phone or visit the Facebook page to find out more details.

WHAT: Sincerely Yours
WHERE: 2819 Lake Shore Blvd. W., 416-251-1388
WHEN: Open daily: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $5 per hour
NOTE: You don’t get a massage from a human but from one of the amazingly effective massage chairs.

Reiki
Reiki practitioners use a series of hand positions either directly on or just above the body as well as visualization techniques, with the goal of improving the flow of life energy in a person. Sometimes Reiki practictioners get together and do Reiki shares or exchanges; sometimes these shares are open to the general public.

WHAT: Community Reiki at Kula Annex
WHERE: 304 Brunswick Ave., 416-922-5852
WHEN: Thursday: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: Sliding scale (minimum $10)

WHAT: Restorative Reiki Share
WHERE: 1273A Queen St. W., Flr. 2, 416-877-4106
WHEN: First and third Tuesday of every month from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $20

WHAT: Toronto Hypno Healing Reiki Share
WHERE: Hypno Healing Institute, 355 Keele St., 416-760-8996
WHEN: Every fourth Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
HOW MUCH: By donation