Allies Integrated Health

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Amy Kavanagh ND to Allies in Health! 🌿

Dr. Amy Kavanagh ND offers inclusive, evidence- and trauma-informed naturopathic care rooted in compassion, curiosity, and genuine connection. She has a special interest in mental health, skin health, hormonal and reproductive health, digestive concerns, allergies, metabolic health, and affirming care for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients.

As a q***r naturopathic doctor, she is passionate about creating a soft place to land in healthcare—a space where people of all identities, bodies, relationships, and lived experiences feel seen, respected, and empowered.

Dr. Amy Kavanagh ND is accepting new patients on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, and we’re so excited to have her on the team! 💛

Learn more about her and book an appointment:https://alliesintegrated.health/team/dr-amy-kavanagh-nd-she-her/

If resting makes you feel worse, read this before blaming yourself.

Rest is not an on/off switch.

After prolonged stress, your body may remain alert even when you finally reach a safe place to pause. Slowing down can bring up restlessness, guilt, racing thoughts, or the urge to get busy again.

You are not doing rest incorrectly. Your body may simply need more time and support before stillness feels safe.

Start small:

- Choose something that feels gentle rather than demanding.
- Notice what helps you feel even 5% more settled.
- Let a few quiet minutes count.

You don’t have to force yourself into calm. You can build your way toward it.

You finally have time to rest—so why does relaxing feel impossible?

You cleared your schedule. You sat down. Nothing urgent is happening.

And yet your mind is racing, your muscles are tense, or you feel like you should be doing something.

That doesn’t mean you’re bad at resting.

When your nervous system has been carrying prolonged stress, it may not slow down simply because your calendar says it can. Your body may still be trying to protect you from pressure that is no longer immediately present.

Understanding what’s happening is the first step toward responding with compassion instead of blame.

**Read “Why Can’t I Relax?” through the link in our bio.**

Waiting until the pain is unbearable? You may be waiting too long.

Many people think massage therapy is something you book only after an injury or when pain becomes impossible to ignore.

But you don’t have to wait for a crisis to care for your body.

RMT care can also be part of managing everyday tension, supporting recovery, maintaining mobility, or making room for restorative care before your body is demanding it.

Your treatment should be built around your body, your goals and your comfort—not a one-size-fits-all routine.

David, Ryn and Ryks have added more appointment times.

**Tap the link in our bio to find one that fits your schedule.**

The massage appointment you’ve been trying to find may have just opened up. 👀

We know how frustrating it is to finally decide you’re ready for care—only to discover that none of the available times fit your life.

That’s why David, Ryn and Ryks have added more RMT appointments at Allies.

Whether you’re dealing with pain or tension, supporting your recovery, or simply feeling overdue for restorative care, you now have more options for finding a time and practitioner that feel right for you.

Your next step is simple: check the new openings and choose the appointment that works for you.

**Tap the link in our bio to book.**

*The people pictured are representative models, not the named practitioners.*

This might be the easiest way to make water feel exciting again. 🍓🌿

When the afternoon is hot and plain water isn’t calling your name, try this simple mint and berry iced tea.

You’ll need:

- A generous handful of fresh mint
- A handful of lightly crushed berries
- Four cups of freshly boiled water
- Lemon and honey or maple syrup, if desired

Add the mint and berries to a heat-safe jug. Pour in the hot water and steep for about 10 minutes. Strain, cool and refrigerate. Serve over ice and enjoy.

Save this post now so the recipe is waiting when the next hot day arrives.

**What berries would you use? Tell us below.**

Herbal ingredients aren’t appropriate for everyone. Check with a qualified healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant, taking medication, or managing a health condition.

Struggling with food or body image? Three new support groups begin this August.

Registration is now open—follow the link in our bio to reserve your place.

Registered Clinical Counsellor Rachel Ness (she/her) is leading three small therapeutic groups for adults navigating disordered eating and eating disorders:

🌈 Free and FierceFor 2SLGBTQIA+ adults.

🌿 Un(rule)yAn in-person group open to adults of all identities.

💻 Virtual Process GroupOnline support for adults throughout British Columbia.

These six-week groups offer compassionate spaces to explore food, body image, self-worth, and the rules and expectations that can make it difficult to feel at home in yourself.

You do not need an eating-disorder diagnosis to participate.

Each group is limited to six participants. The sliding-scale fee is $35–$55 per session, paid upfront for the six-week series.

Registration closes August 12–13.

🎉 HEALTHCARE HYPE FRIDAYS 🎉

This week, we’re celebrating the movement humans. 💪💛

Athletic therapists, kinesiologists, occupational therapists, movement specialists, rehab pros, and the people helping Victoria move a little better every day.

Know someone in the movement and rehab world who deserves some appreciation?
Tag them below and tell us why they’re awesome 👇

Whether they helped you get back to the activities you love, supported your recovery after an injury, improved your mobility, or helped your body feel stronger and more capable again… we want to hear about them.

HOW TO ENTER:
💛 Follow
💛 Like this post
💛 Tag a local movement or rehab professional
💛 Tell us why you appreciate them
💛 Share to your story for an extra entry

PRIZES:
🎁 ONE winner receives:
• 5 Community Acupuncture Sessions
OR
• One 60-Minute Massage Treatment

🎁 PLUS the practitioner they nominate ALSO wins a complimentary treatment at Allies.

Because healthcare providers deserve care too. 🌿

Important:
📍 Must be local to Victoria, BC
⏰ Giveaway closes Friday at 5PM
📩 Winners contacted only through this account

Let’s hype up some good humans. 🫶

🎉 HEALTHCARE HYPE FRIDAYS 🎉

This week, we’re celebrating some of the incredible nurses helping keep Victoria cared for every single day. 🩺💛

Know a nurse who deserves some appreciation?
Tag them below and tell us why they’re awesome 👇

Whether they stayed calm during a scary moment, checked in when you needed reassurance, or made a difficult day feel a little more human… we want to hear about them.

HOW TO ENTER:
💛 Follow
💛 Like this post
💛 Tag a local nurse
💛 Tell us why you appreciate them
💛 Share to your story for an extra entry

PRIZES:
🎁 ONE winner receives:
• 5 Community Acupuncture Sessions
OR
• One 60-Minute Massage Treatment

🎁 PLUS the nurse they nominate ALSO wins a complimentary treatment at Allies.

Because healthcare providers deserve care too. 🌿

Important:
📍 Must be local to Victoria, BC
⏰ Giveaway closes Friday at 5PM
📩 Winners contacted only through this account

Let’s hype up some good humans. 🫶

“So… what do you all do here?”

We get that question a lot. 😄

At Allies Integrated Health, we help people navigate pain, stress, anxiety, injuries, fatigue, hormone concerns, digestive issues, burnout, trauma, iron deficiency, and all the other wonderfully human things that can make life harder than it needs to be.

Our team offers massage therapy, acupuncture, counselling, naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, and relationship support, all under one roof and working together when it benefits you.

Treatments are available 7 days a week, and online booking is always open.

Learn more or book here:
www.alliesintegrated.health

Allies Integrated Health | Healthcare That Sees You Book an appointment Welcome to Allies Integrated Health Here we believe healthcare should be safer, inclusive, and built around you. Our team works together to make sure you get care that fits your needs, on your terms. Explore Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Explore Massage....