Athletes Empowered

05/04/2023

Read Elijah's first blog post now!

As an RMT who has been practicing for a few years, I’ve come across many people who are not able to describe how they arrived at the state that they’re in. For example, I had a client who didn’t list any accidents or major surgeries in their health forms, but arrived in my office with headache...

04/23/2023

Our first blog post is up!
Do you have a story like Keeley's? Email it to info@athletesempowered.net to be featured on our blog to help other concussion survivors find community!

Like many people, I wasn’t aware of the prevalence and seriousness of concussions until late highschool. Before then, I had sustained multiple concussions through hockey and had largely ignored them. That is, until my 2014 concussion. I sustained my first concussion in grade 9 in 2011. I was playi...

04/21/2023

Have a question? Check out our FAQs page or contact us via info@athletesempowered.net! 📧

04/17/2023

Meet the Team!

Elijah Velasco, RMT (he/him)
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Over the last 20+ years, Elijah has worked in specialized chiropractic clinics, sports medicine clinics along with spa settings and on-site sporting events.

Working with sports injuries and repetitive stress injuries are what Elijah has found to be the most interesting part of his practice. He enjoys working with conditions that may have been difficult to deal with via traditional techniques.

Elijah believes that massage therapy can be part of a client's general wellness routine and lifestyle. But when you NEED to get back to on the ice, the field, the road or back in the garden, he will mirror your passion in his own drive to help you.

Elijah has done training in myofascial release, Osteopathic techniques, kinesiology taping, ultrasound, electrotherapy, Chinese cupping, as well as prenatal massage.

When he is not working with clients, and if he's lucky, he's enjoying the great outdoors with his wife and sons.

04/17/2023

Meet the Team!

Keeley Shantz, RMT (they/them)
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The many concussions Keeley had sustained from competitive hockey have inspired them to educate, prevent and treat brain injury populations.
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Their values are compassion and client empowerment through education and mutual respect.
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Keeley graduated from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in 2017 at the top of their class with specializations in sports and hospital environments. Since then, they've furthered their education in pregnancy, lymphatic drainage, oncology, LGBTQIA2+ healthcare, mental health, and end-of-life care.

Keeley has supervised student clinic at a massage therapy college in Toronto and volunteers in the communities of Markham and Stouffville, where they've gained valuable experience coaching children with various learning styles in several sports.

Keeley enjoys playing and refereeing hockey, skiing and snowboarding, practicing Muay Thai and yoga, meditating, and swimming. In their spare time, they can be found reading fiction, researching topics prevalent to massage, or exploring Stouffville with their dog, Cooper.

04/14/2023

Are you or your loved one(s) a part of the LGBTQIA2+ community? Would you like to learn about your brain's health and your body's abilities? Then this complimentary event is for you!
Please join Keeley Shantz, RMT (they/them) and Elijah Velasco, RMT (he/him) of Athletes Empowered in association with Stouffville's own Transbies on Sunday, May 7 from 1-4pm for a full concussion workshop!
We at AE are excited to be giving back to our beloved q***r community, so please, don't hesitate to reach out and/or reserve your spot(s). Open to q***r community members and their loved ones (including chosen family).
Reservation link can be found in the Stouffville Transbies's bio. You can also reach out to us via our website @ www.athletesempowered.net or email @ info@athletesempowered.net.

04/14/2023

Our website is live!! Please check it out! www.athletesempowered.net
We look forward to helping our communities grow stronger and stay healthy, both in body and mind.

04/14/2023

Introducing Athletes Empowered with Keeley Shantz, RMT & Elijah Velasco, RMT!
Athletes Empowered leads athletes of all ages, abilities, and identities through Concussion Baseline Testing & Baseline Movement Screening. 🧠
We
1️⃣ Believe that all people are athletes, no matter their activity,
2️⃣ Educate athletes about the basics of concussions,
3️⃣ Dismantle preconceived notions about gender and age regarding movement,
4️⃣ Work as a team to set baselines for athletes' brain health,
5️⃣ Discover how each athlete is able to move & recommend exercises to improve limited movements, and
6️⃣ Unite our communities through our values and collaborations!
Follow our Insta 📷
Check out our website @ www.athletesempowered.net 🌐
Tag your clumsy/concussed friends below! 🤕👇