Cal Savage

Cal achieved a BA (hons) degree in Drama at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2005, before moving to Melbourne in 2007. Here Cal completed a 3 year full-time Alexander technique teacher training course. She had regularly suffered from back pain and headaches in her teenage years and Alexander technique was most helpful in reducing her pain. Alexander technique is also often used in acting training, voice work and musicianship and it felt like a good follow-on from her degree.

She completed her Diploma of Remedial Massage at Endeavour College in 2011 after needing a student visa to continue living in Australia but fortunately found out she really enjoyed giving massages and it felt like a good fit following her Alexander technique training to be able to offer more hands-on bodywork.

After trying to complete some half marathons in her late 20s, she undertook Pilates instructor training in 2014 with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute on the advice of her physio who told her ‘if you learn Pilates you won’t need to see us so much’. Cal did teach small group mat Pilates for a few years and may occasionally bring in a Pilates exercise to her Alexander technique or massage sessions but these days tends to recommend clients to small group clinical Pilates with physiotherapists rather than teach clients herself as she’s become a bit rusty at the teaching part, although still practices Pilates for her own fitness. Cal has also done further training in myofascial cupping, dry needling, low level laser therapy and cosmetic dry needling.

Currently, Cal has a particular interest in working with perimenopausal and menopausal women. Since experiencing first hand some really startling changes and struggling with her body in a way never experienced before, she has a keen interest in how biological sex changes our requirements for nutrition and exercise and how she can complement this stage of life by supporting injury management, recovery and stress using the techniques at her disposal. She most certainly doesn’t have all the answers yet but is very interested in the current research and advice finally entering the women’s health sphere and she enjoys sharing information with her female clients as well as hearing their stories and experiences. In fact it was a regular long term client her first shared some perimenopause advice with Cal and it set her off on a journey of self discovery and gave her a new focus.

As a remedial massage therapist she uses deep tissue massage techniques, dry needling, cupping and myofascial release and can provide basic stretch, strength and postural awareness exercises to those clients interested in reaching optimal performance. Cal will refer on to other health practitioners where she sees necessary and enjoys working within her scope of practice, preferring to be seen a single part of a client’s overall health management rather than your sole go to – she cannot massage you strong or fix your changing endocrine needs through massage! She enjoys everything from providing ‘just a good massage’ to treating and resolving injury and welcomes good conversation with other women who have similar interests. She also has a

particular interest in identifying habitual patterns of posture and use within the body which may be resulting in pain and discomfort.

She has referral networks with physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, exercise physiologists, acupuncturists and strength and conditioning coaches and is sure to only refer to those she has personal experience of. Most of that personal experience comes from the fact that she’s needed to see one or other of them at some time to treat her own aches and pains.

During her time at university, Cal loved living by the sea on the west coast of Wales and continues her love of being by the water by living in Bayside. The water is almost as cold. She became a business partner of Melbourne Combined Natural Therapies in 2012, since which time it has grown from a small practice in Southbank to now occupying clinic rooms in 3 locations.

Cal has also trained in canine remedial massage and runs a second small business, DogsBody Health, providing remedial massage and laser treatments to dogs in the Bayside area. Cal previously fostered greyhounds for Gumtree Greys, and foster-failed with two greyhounds with special needs. If you own a greyhound, or are interested in greyhounds, you and Cal are going to get along just fine. Aside from walking the dogs, Cal enjoys weight training, the occasional (short) run, Pilates and yoga.