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
Head & Scalp Massage in Ottawa
Head massage in Ottawa is the treatment I most often recommend to people who spend their working life looking at a screen and arrive describing a headache that never quite goes away. It is a restorative treatment for the scalp, face, neck and shoulders, and it is more clinically useful than its reputation suggests — because most tension-type headaches originate in exactly the muscles this treatment targets. 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 a head and scalp massage involves
This is not simply a scalp rub. The treatment covers four connected regions: the muscles of the scalp itself, the face and temples, the neck, and the tops of the shoulders. They work as a unit, and treating any one of them in isolation tends to produce a result that does not last.
I generally begin at the shoulders and neck, because that is usually where the pattern starts, then work up through the base of the skull — the suboccipital muscles, a very common source of headaches that wrap around behind the eyes — before moving to the scalp and temples.
Pressure is firm but controlled. The scalp holds a surprising amount of tension, and the release through it is often what clients remember most.
Benefits
- Relief from tension-type headaches, particularly those originating in the neck
- Release through the base of the skull, temples and jaw
- Reduced neck and shoulder tightness from desk work and screen use
- Relief from mental fatigue and that end-of-week fogginess
- Improved circulation through the scalp
- Better sleep, especially for people whose tension concentrates in the head and neck
Can it help tension headaches and migraines?
For tension-type headaches — the band-like pressure, often worse as the day goes on, frequently linked to posture, screen time and stress — massage of the neck, suboccipitals and scalp is directly relevant, because it treats the tissue the headache is coming from. This is the group of clients who tend to notice the clearest benefit.
Migraine is a different, neurological condition, and massage is not a treatment for it. That said, many people with migraine also carry significant neck and shoulder tension, and some find that reducing that muscular load helps with their overall burden. Any expectation beyond that would be overstating it, and migraine management belongs with your physician.
If your headaches are new, sudden, severe, changing in pattern, or accompanied by other neurological symptoms, please see a doctor rather than booking a massage.
What to expect in a session
We start by talking through where the headaches sit, how often they come, what sets them off, how you sleep, and how your workstation is set up. That last one matters more than people expect.
Your appointment is 60 minutes, including intake and assessment where needed. You will usually start face up for the neck and scalp work, and I use little to no oil in the hair unless you would like it — tell me at the start, since most people are heading back into their day afterwards.
Afterwards, drink water and take a few minutes before driving; deep suboccipital release can leave you pleasantly hazy. I will usually suggest a screen-height adjustment or a neck stretch to take away with you. Insurance receipts are provided at every appointment.
Pricing & duration
Head and Scalp — $135, 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 are the benefits of a head and scalp massage?
It is used for tension-type headaches, tightness at the base of the skull, neck and shoulder tension from desk work, mental fatigue, improved scalp circulation and better sleep.
Can head massage help with tension headaches or migraines?
For tension-type headaches originating in the neck and scalp muscles, it targets the tissue the headache is coming from and clients often notice a clear benefit. Migraine is a neurological condition and massage is not a treatment for it, though easing associated neck tension may help some people. Migraine management belongs with your physician.
What does a head and scalp massage session involve?
A 60-minute appointment covering the shoulders, neck, base of the skull, scalp, temples and face. I usually start at the shoulders and work upwards, since that is where the tension pattern typically begins.
Will oil be put in my hair?
Only if you want it. Most clients are returning to work or their day afterwards, so I use little to no oil in the hair by default. Tell me at the start of the session what you would prefer.
How often should I book?
For frequent tension headaches, every two to three weeks initially often works well, spacing out as symptoms settle. For general maintenance, monthly suits most people.
Is head and scalp massage covered by insurance?
Yes, where your plan covers massage therapy by a Registered Massage Therapist. I provide a receipt with my CMTO registration number after every appointment.
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.
Buccal Facial
Intra-oral work on the jaw and facial muscles — for TMJ discomfort, clenching and facial tension.
Book your appointment
Choose a time that suits you on the online calendar, or call if you would like to talk it through first.