Registered Massage and Manual Therapy

I graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2002.  I am a traditional massage therapist -  a highly trained western manual therapist and also trained in eastern philosophies, practices, and therapies.

I have spent much of my 20+year massage therapy career working with women before and after pregnancy and childbirth. It is a joy and an honour to help alleviate the aches and pains of new motherhood and beyond.  I use an evidence-based approach and tend to work with you holistically to engage the “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system. Some techniques I often use are:  mindfulness and breath awareness, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, warm oil deep flow, cranial sacral therapy and osteopathic techniques, and compressions.

I also love to work to keep active people moving. I have extensive experience with this from my days practicing in a sports club, in a private practice with two superstar physios and more recently, with my North Shore active-lifestyle clients.

I use warmed oil, moderate pressure and a slow approach to deep work. The homecare I give can include movement, breath-body awareness, relaxation, hydrotherapy and hydration. Referrals are sometimes given for other kinds of practitioners.

Raised in Vancouver, I have a strong love of its natural beauty, and often can be found in the forests of the North Shore. I love to travel, practice Bhakti yoga and Ayurveda, and stay curious about creations, people, healing, plant medicine and more.

I generally book new clients who are pregnant and post-partum, and who are referred. If you are none of these but would like to book, please contact me. layaworkshopinfo@gmail.com.

Happy Clients

Just to let you know that I finished Phoenix Marathon yesterday...fastest time I have run AND qualified for Boston! Mission accomplished.....and you are an important part of my overall fitness and mental frame of mind that got me there!! Thank you Francesca!

— Paul

“Intuitive, empathetic, and very knowledgeable, Francesca Farrell is a master massage therapist who designs each treatment to the needs of the individual. Francesca has a way of listening to your body, finding the sore spots and applying just the right amount of pressure. She is committed to encouraging her clients to finding their best selves and helping them to realize their mind-body oneness. Combining her creative and empathetic skills with her deep knowledge of the body, Francesca Farrell is a massage poet.”

— Bill

“I would fully recommend Francesca as a RMT. I saw her for a series of headaches that I was experiencing, sometimes so strong they woke me up from sleeping or made me throw up. I had seen other massage therapists before but I always felt they did the same thing, while with her, I never knew what to expect. Each session felt different as she would use different techniques and approaches in response to our discussions of where I was at in terms of pain, etc. that day. She is obviously very talented with a range of skills at her disposal, which she tailors depending on your needs. She is also aware of the limits of her own practice, and made suggestions as to what other body work could be helpful for my situation. Finally, I appreciate her kind, sensitive demeanour.”

— Zoë

“There are people in this world who we know to be healers—who through innate wisdom, learned knowledge, and extensive training are able to deeply understand the body and its integrated connection to the mind and heart. Francesca is one of these practitioners. i’ve been a client of hers for years - both in her capacity as a massage therapist and yoga instructor - and her ability to naturally read where to focus and how to help me improve my posture, strength, and overall wellbeing, is truly remarkable. i would recommend her services to anyone who wants to be an active catalyst of improving their own health.”

— Oona

“Having been a great skeptic about the value of massage therapy (part age, part because Brits prefer being “stoic” about aches and pains) I am now a convert. My shoulders and neck were cramped, muscles twisted with years of poor posture and hours at the computer each day, and friends were beginning to talk about the surgical options they had worked for them! Francesca not only put me on a path to complete recovery, but changed my view about the importance of being open minded about what’s possible with alternative therapies - including some regular “maintenance” and balance in how we use our bodies.

— John

“I have been a massage client of Francesca’s for over 10 years now. .. she is honestly the best RMT I’ve ever seen. I have had massages with other RMTs in other cities or while on vacation, and they are always lacking compared to the experience you get with Francesca. Francesca is very knowledgeable with regards to massage and anatomy as well as how to treat the body holistically and is always concerned about your overall health. She is a very caring and sincere practitioner who clearly loves helping people through massage and yoga therapy. As long as I am in the Vancouver area, Francesca will be my RMT. I always recommend her to other people when I have the chance.”

— Emily

“Francesca is a truly gifted massage therapist. Her highly effective treatments give so much relief to the body and mind. I have received understanding to how the muscles and joints work and with her suggestions have been able to achieve flexibility that I thought was lost. With her endearing personality and relaxing atmosphere, visits to her are a delight. Thank you Francesca.”

— June

“Francesca’s massage work is a meditative experience, one of release and relaxation. her massages are memorable and healing. she is doing what she is meant to do and her massages are her art. so glad to have found her!”

— Leanne

“Whoa. thanks....I awoke open. or not closed. I can breathe, and see and think. Now I can move, or more like, I am aware of movement. I can feel parts that need love as opposed to those areas being hidden in a tangle.”

— Brad

“I truly lucked-out to randomly choose a gifted rmt like Francesca!  After researching and putting my energy out there to find a complementary practitioner; and, after several treatments with Francesca, I am confident to share that you can: count on being de-knotted. expect non-judgemental responses to questions. trust a renewed awareness of your breathing. and, be prepared for a knowledgeable yet humble, respectful and self-aware practitioner. It is awesome to float out of my treatments feeling at peace; feeling physically and mentally recalibrated.”

— Jenny

Thank you so much for today. I really feel like you care a lot and it’s nice having someone listen. The massage seemed intentional and I am really happy with my experience. Thanks again, I hope you have a nice day!

— Carolyn