Looking Beyond Gender: Getting to Know the Male RMTs at Continuum
Often clients instinctively request a female therapist when booking a massage. But as the massage therapy profession evolves, we invite you to look beyond gender and get to know the skilled, caring practitioners behind the name.
For decades, massage therapy has been a predominantly female profession. In Ontario, the ratio has historically been about 78% female to 22% male.
But something interesting has been happening in recent years.
Massage therapy schools are beginning to see more male therapists enrolling in their programs, sometimes approaching a 50/50 balance in graduating classes. As the profession continues to grow and evolve, it’s likely that clients will start seeing more male RMTs practicing across the province, including here at Continuum.
Recently, an RMT educator Ian Kamm, wrote a thoughtful piece titled “It’s Raining Men” about this very shift in the profession. While the title made me smile, it also sparked some reflection. If more men are entering massage therapy, how do we help clients feel comfortable booking with them?
Many male therapists who enter the profession have experienced firsthand the healing benefits of massage, both the physical relief and the nurturing care it provides, and they want to offer that to others.
Increasingly, they’re choosing to work not only in rehab clinics or gyms, but in holistic wellness clinics like ours, where they’re not just “an employee,” but part of a connected clinic family.
It’s true that male RMTs often have a harder time getting clients to book that first appointment. But once people do, they usually rebook — and quickly realize they’ve found a skilled, compassionate therapist who’s there to help them feel their best.
This challenge in building a client base often motivates many male therapists to continue expanding their skills and training.
At Continuum, that looks like advanced training in:
Assisted stretching and Thai massage
Cupping therapy
TMJ/TMJD therapy
Hot stone massage
Sports Massage & Rehab
Continuing studies in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
And if you’re someone who enjoys deep tissue massage, strength is a natural advantage many male therapists can bring to the table.
But here’s an important point to remember:
Massage therapy is regulated healthcare. RMTs — regardless of gender — are highly trained, licensed professionals, no different in that regard from physiotherapists, chiropractors, nurses, or dentists.
Their role is to work with you to address your needs, support your wellness, and help you feel your best.
As our profession continues to evolve, we invite you to be part of that shift.
The next time you book, consider looking beyond gender and focusing instead on the therapist’s skills, experience, and approach.
So today, we’d love to introduce you to the two male therapists currently practicing massage therapy at Continuum:
Meet Eric and Mike, and discover why they might be your new favourite RMT.
Meet Eric
Eric Chen, RMT
Eric’s journey into massage therapy began at the climbing gym.
Like many who fall in love with the sport, he quickly became familiar with the aches and injuries that can come with it. At the gym, he met fellow climbers who were massage therapists and physiotherapists, often offering short treatments or sharing rehabilitation exercises to help others recover.
Seeing how much relief and support those small moments of care could provide made a lasting impression.
“It made me realize how awesome and fulfilling this work can be,” Eric says. “I wanted to be able to help people the same way.”
Eric describes his approach to massage in three words: clinical, client-centered, and attentive.
In practice, that means no two treatments are exactly the same.
An athlete might benefit from deeper therapeutic work and assisted stretching. Someone who spends their days at a desk may need focused work around the neck, shoulders, and lower back. And sometimes the person on the table is simply someone who has been caring for everyone else all week and just needs an hour to breathe and relax.
Eric meets each client exactly where they are.
For him, the most meaningful part of the work is seeing the impact that thoughtful care can have, both physically and emotionally.
“Sometimes it's helping reduce pain or tension,” he says. “Other times it's seeing someone leave calmer, less anxious, or more relaxed. Building that trust with clients, where they feel comfortable and can truly let go, is really meaningful.”
Movement and Perspective
Time spent climbing and exploring the outdoors gives Eric a sense of focus and perspective, something that shows up in the calm, attentive care he offers his clients.
Outside the clinic, Eric is rarely sitting still. Movement is how he resets. You’ll often find him back at the climbing gym, exploring hiking trails, or heading out for a jog.
He also loves to travel and has visited places like New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Hawaii, and across the United States.
And while he’s adventurous when it comes to travel, there is one thing he’ll politely decline if it ever appears in the clinic lunchroom:
Blueberries. A random but very true and funny fact.
Meet Mike
Mike (Mikhail) Parra, RMT
For Mike, the path into massage therapy began with a deeply personal moment.
During the final weeks of his mother’s palliative care, Mike found a small foot bath basin at home. He filled it with warm water and gently bathed her feet, offering comfort in whatever way he could, even though he had no formal training at the time.The moment stayed with him.
“It reminded me of the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet,” Mike reflects. “I think that was when the seed of wellness first started to grow in me.”
That act of care would eventually lead him toward massage therapy, a profession where thoughtful touch can bring comfort, relief, and connection.
Mike’s treatments often feel like an experience for the senses. Influenced by his training in Thai Massage, he blends therapeutic work with a calming, rhythmic flow. Gentle rocking helps settle the nervous system, hot towels deepen his myofascial work, and essential oils bring the body into a state of ease.
For first-time clients, Mike likes to begin with a brief assessment of the areas experiencing tension or imbalance, and he may suggest simple stretching or strengthening exercises that can support long-term improvement.
His treatments often unfold with a rhythmic flow that many clients describe as deeply calming.
Outside the clinic, Mike values time with loved ones, whether that’s a family getaway filled with shared memories or a solo trip for self-discovery. He’s naturally drawn to the outdoors and enjoys activities like hiking, horseback riding, and spending time in nature.
Movement and discipline are also a big part of his life. He’s a black belt in Taekwondo, a marathon runner, and someone who appreciates the connection between physical strength and mental clarity. His love of travel has taken him to many parts of the world, and he’s fluent in multiple languages, which reflects both his curiosity and openness to different cultures.
Interestingly, Mike didn’t originally imagine himself working in such a hands-on profession.
“I knew I wanted to move into healthcare,” he says. “But massage therapy happened almost by chance.”
Over time, he discovered a natural aptitude for the work, something he attributes to a combination of ambidexterity and a natural intuition for touch.
For Mike, the most rewarding part of being an RMT is simple:
Helping people, especially those who truly appreciate the care.
Finding Balance Outside the Clinic
Mike is drawn to nature and movement — a sense of calm and presence he brings into every treatment.
A Small Shift in Perspective
After nearly 20 years of running Continuum, I’ve seen firsthand how talented and compassionate male therapists can be.
And I’ve also noticed something interesting.
Clients who feel hesitant at first, and then decide to give it a try, often become some of their most loyal regulars.
Not Sure? That’s Completely Okay.
If you’ve never booked with a male RMT before, it’s understandable to feel a bit unsure.
For some clients, that preference may be rooted in personal comfort, cultural or religious values, or past experiences. Those are all valid, and feeling safe and at ease during your treatment is always the most important thing.
Just remember you’re always in control of your treatment, and our therapists are here to listen, adjust, and support you every step of the way.
An Invitation
The next time you book a massage, we invite you to look beyond gender and focus instead on the therapist’s approach, skills, and personality.
You might discover that your new favourite RMT was someone you hadn’t originally considered.
Curious about experiencing a treatment with Eric or Mike?
We’d love to help you find a time that works for you.
Our front desk team is always happy to answer questions and help match you with the therapist who best suits your needs.
“Clients who give our male therapists a try often become their most loyal regulars.”
Real Experiences from Our Clients
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Sometimes the best way to understand a treatment is through the experience of someone who’s already had one.
Below are a few reflections from clients who booked with Eric and Mike, some for the first time, some after a bit of hesitation, and were glad they did.
These aren’t marketing testimonials, just honest experiences from our clients.
“My sports massage last night with Eric Chen was awesome! Eric is such a kind and pleasant person, I felt very relaxed and at ease with him. He did a thorough examination of my knee before massaging my back, hips, legs and knees extensively. He over delivered that was sure! I felt really well taken care of. And his sense of humor made it a fun and much less painful session (not his fault haha). Thanks Eric! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”
“I have had an exceptional experience with Eric as my massage therapist at Continuum Wellness. He has consistently helped relieve the tightness in my neck and shoulders as well as my overall muscle fatigue.
If you’re looking for a therapist who creates a safe environment, is highly skilled at targeting muscle tension, and is both warm and kind, Eric is a wonderful choice. I highly recommend him.
He also treats my elderly mom, and she truly looks forward to her appointments with him, sometimes even weekly. His care and kindness toward her have been incredible. She struggled with neck pain for years and is finally experiencing real relief. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”
“Excellent massage. Mike (Mikhail) is highly skilled, professional, and very intuitive. I left feeling much better — highly recommend. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”
“Mike is terrific. His treatments are effective and the experience is both helpful and relaxing. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”
“My entire family frequents Continuum Wellness and we absolutely love it there. The space is not only incredibly calming, it is also impeccably clean. We cannot recommend Mike & Eric highly enough - the best massages in the city. You will leave feeling like a whole new person, guaranteed. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️”