Never rushed
60 minutes, including intake and assessment where it is needed, so treatment is shaped around you rather than run to a template.
Registered Massage Therapy · Manotick, Ottawa
Buccal Facial Massage in Ottawa
Buccal facial massage in Ottawa is an intra-oral technique that very few therapists here provide. Working with a gloved hand inside the cheek, I can reach the jaw muscles — particularly the masseter and the pterygoids — directly, from both sides at once. For people who clench at night, grind their teeth, or carry persistent TMJ discomfort, it reaches tissue that external work simply cannot. I provide it at Healastic in Manotick as a Registered Massage Therapist.
GoogleReviews★★★★★5.0
What our patients say
5 of the 7 reviews patients have left for Healastic on Google — unedited, straight from the profile.
Pooja is expert in massage therapy. She will patiently understand the queries, answer based on your requirements. She is very professional and organized. The best part is she is also certified in pediatric therapy. My 5 YO and 8 YO enjoyed their sessions and liked it so much. I definitely recommend Healastic( Pooja). I got a lot of relief from my lower back pain and stiffness.
S
Samantha Smith
Patient · 5 months ago
★★★★★
I had such an amazing experience. I came in with pain in my leg, and the care and attention she gave to that area was incredible she really took the time to understand what was going on and treated it so thoughtfully. By the end of the session, the pain had completely eased. What stood out the most was how comfortable she made me feel throughout. Her energy is calm, professional, and genuinely caring. You can tell she truly wants her clients to feel better, not just physically but overall. I’m so grateful for the experience and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a massage that’s both healing and relaxing.
L
Laxmi Karki
Patient · 8 months ago
★★★★★
Pooja Risal is an amazing massage therapist. She has a calm and caring approach and makes you feel comfortable right away. Her technique is excellent, and she really knows how to relieve tension and stress. I felt so relaxed after my session. I truly appreciate her work and highly recommend her to anyone.
C
Christina Tamer
Patient · 9 months ago
★★★★★
Pooja is amazing at what she does. My back had been tight and sore for months, and after just one session I felt relief. She is extremely skilled, attentive, and knew exactly how to find and release all the knots and tension. I can't wait for my next massage. Thank you!
Pooja is an incredible massage therapist! I’ve received several massages from her and her touch is sublime—great deep tissue work when called upon but she has the skill to ease up when necessary as well. Her kind demeanor is also an incredible plus! A true 10/10 🙂
Pooja is expert in massage therapy. She will patiently understand the queries, answer based on your requirements. She is very professional and organized. The best part is she is also certified in pediatric therapy. My 5 YO and 8 YO enjoyed their sessions and liked it so much. I definitely recommend Healastic( Pooja). I got a lot of relief from my lower back pain and stiffness.
S
Samantha Smith
Patient · 5 months ago
★★★★★
I had such an amazing experience. I came in with pain in my leg, and the care and attention she gave to that area was incredible she really took the time to understand what was going on and treated it so thoughtfully. By the end of the session, the pain had completely eased. What stood out the most was how comfortable she made me feel throughout. Her energy is calm, professional, and genuinely caring. You can tell she truly wants her clients to feel better, not just physically but overall. I’m so grateful for the experience and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a massage that’s both healing and relaxing.
L
Laxmi Karki
Patient · 8 months ago
★★★★★
Pooja Risal is an amazing massage therapist. She has a calm and caring approach and makes you feel comfortable right away. Her technique is excellent, and she really knows how to relieve tension and stress. I felt so relaxed after my session. I truly appreciate her work and highly recommend her to anyone.
C
Christina Tamer
Patient · 9 months ago
★★★★★
Pooja is amazing at what she does. My back had been tight and sore for months, and after just one session I felt relief. She is extremely skilled, attentive, and knew exactly how to find and release all the knots and tension. I can't wait for my next massage. Thank you!
Pooja is an incredible massage therapist! I’ve received several massages from her and her touch is sublime—great deep tissue work when called upon but she has the skill to ease up when necessary as well. Her kind demeanor is also an incredible plus! A true 10/10 🙂
Why Healastic
A more thoughtful approach to massage therapy
Fully personalised
Treatment is built around your assessment on the day, not a fixed routine repeated every visit.
Hot stones included
Part of every massage treatment — warming the tissue means deeper work at lower pressure, and results that hold longer.
CMTO registered
Treatment by a Registered Massage Therapist, with receipts provided for insurance at every appointment.
Integrative care
A psychotherapy background means tension is assessed in context, not just as a mechanical problem.
Long-term wellness
The aim is lasting change and a plan you can follow, rather than temporary relief and a rebooking.
Your therapist
Treated by Pooja Rishal, RMT
I’m a Registered Massage Therapist with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, trained at the International Academy of Massage here in Ottawa, and practising since 2020.
Before massage therapy I worked as a psychotherapist. That background still informs how I assess — persistent tension usually has more behind it than one tight muscle, and treating it without that context tends to buy relief that does not last.
Every treatment is provided by me personally. You will not be passed between therapists.
Where to find me
Massage therapy in Manotick, Ottawa
Healastic is at 5511 Manotick Main St #2B, Manotick, ON K4M 1A3, on Manotick Main Street in the heart of the village — a couple of minutes from Watson’s Mill and Dickinson Square, just off Bridge Street where it crosses the Rideau River onto Long Island. There is free parking on site.
Clients come from across Manotick, Barrhaven, Riverside South, Findlay Creek, Greely, Kars, Osgoode, Richmond and Kemptville, and travel in from Orleans and Kanata at either end of the city. Manotick is roughly 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
Get directions on Google Maps · (613) 908-5323 · Full contact details
What buccal facial massage is
Buccal means “of the cheek”. The technique involves working from inside the mouth, with a gloved hand, so the muscles of mastication can be treated directly rather than through several layers of skin and superficial tissue.
Those muscles are extraordinarily strong — the masseter is among the most powerful in the body for its size — and they work all day and, for many people, all night too. When they are chronically overworked the result can be jaw ache, difficulty opening fully, clicking, headaches that sit around the temples, and a tightness through the face that is difficult to describe to anyone who has not had it.
The treatment combines that intra-oral work with external massage of the jaw, temples, neck and shoulders, because jaw tension rarely exists in isolation from what the neck is doing.
Benefits
- Relief from TMJ discomfort, jaw ache and restricted jaw movement
- Reduced tension from bruxism — clenching and grinding, particularly overnight
- Relief from tension headaches that sit around the temples and behind the eyes
- Improved circulation through the facial tissue
- Support for natural facial tone and a noticeable release through the face and jawline
- Release through the connected neck and shoulder muscles
Many clients describe the after-effect as their face feeling like it has “come down” — a softening they had stopped noticing was absent.
Who it is for, and when to avoid it
It suits you if you clench or grind, wake with a tight or aching jaw, have been given a night guard, get headaches around the temples, or have been diagnosed with TMJ dysfunction and want supportive muscular treatment alongside your dental or medical care.
This treatment is not appropriate if you have an active oral infection, have had recent dental surgery, have severe TMJ dysfunction that requires medical management, have acute facial inflammation, have had Botox or dermal fillers within the past three weeks, or have uncontrolled high blood pressure or other uncontrolled health conditions.
It is supportive care for the muscles. It does not diagnose or treat a temporomandibular joint disorder, and it does not replace your dentist, physician or a TMJ specialist. If something needs clinical assessment, I will tell you and refer you on.
What to expect in a session
I will explain the whole process before anything begins, and nothing happens until you are comfortable with it. We discuss your history — clenching, grinding, dental work, night guards, headaches, any diagnosis — and I check jaw movement and note where it is restricted.
The session usually opens with external work on the neck, shoulders, jaw and temples to warm the area. The intra-oral portion follows, with fresh gloves, working a small area at a time. You can raise a hand at any point and I stop immediately. The intra-oral work is a portion of the 60 minutes, not the whole of it.
It can feel intense — these muscles are often very tender — but it should not be painful. Afterwards your jaw may feel tired, as if you have been chewing, and mild tenderness for a day is normal. Stick to softer food that evening if it feels sensitive, and use a warm compress if you like. Receipts for insurance are provided.
Pricing & duration
Buccal Facial — $160, a 60-minute session including intake and assessment where needed. Prices do not include HST, which is added at the time of payment.
Treatment is provided by a Registered Massage Therapist, and a receipt with my CMTO registration number is provided at every appointment for your insurer.
Direct billing is coming soon. Until it is live you pay at your appointment and claim the receipt straight back yourself — you are reimbursed exactly the same, so there is no reason to wait. Pricing & how insurance works.
Frequently asked questions
What is buccal facial massage?
It is an intra-oral massage technique. Working with a gloved hand inside the cheek, the jaw muscles — particularly the masseter and pterygoids — are treated directly, combined with external work on the jaw, temples, neck and shoulders.
What are the benefits of buccal facial massage?
It is used for TMJ discomfort, jaw ache, restricted jaw movement, tension from clenching and grinding, tension headaches around the temples, improved facial circulation and support for natural facial tone.
Does buccal facial massage hurt?
It can feel intense, because the jaw muscles are often very tender, but it should not be painful. I work a small area at a time and you can signal me to stop at any point. Mild tenderness for a day afterwards, similar to having chewed a lot, is normal.
How many sessions will I need to see results?
Many clients notice a release after the first session. For long-standing clenching or grinding a short course of sessions usually holds better, and we adjust based on how you respond rather than committing to a fixed number up front.
Is it performed by a Registered Massage Therapist?
Yes. I am registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and provide this treatment as an RMT, which also means the appointment is eligible for insurance receipts.
When should buccal facial massage be avoided?
Avoid it if you have an active oral infection, recent dental surgery, severe TMJ dysfunction requiring medical care, acute facial inflammation, Botox or dermal fillers within the past three weeks, or uncontrolled high blood pressure or other uncontrolled health conditions.
Other treatments
More ways I can help
Lymphatic Drainage
Gentle, rhythmic work to encourage lymph flow — for swelling, post-surgical recovery and immune support.
Deep Tissue
Focused work into the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, warmed first with hot stones.
Prenatal
Supportive, safely positioned care through pregnancy — for back, hip and pelvic discomfort.
Relaxation & Hot Stone
Swedish and therapeutic technique with hot stones — for stress, sleep and general tension.
Head & Scalp
Focused work on the scalp, face, neck and shoulders — for tension headaches and mental fatigue.
Book your appointment
Choose a time that suits you on the online calendar, or call if you would like to talk it through first.