Sundragon Studios

Tucked into the Westwood area near Grace Hospital, Sundragon Studios has spent two decades as part of Winnipeg's wellness scene. Owner Jeanine Piche, a registered massage therapist with more than 20 years of experience, founded the studio in 2006. April marked the studio's 20th anniversary. Today it brings roughly 25 practitioners together under one roof, offering a range of wholistic health services guided by the studio's mission: to empower people through wholistic health.

From a Manitoba Farm to a Winnipeg Massage Studio

Jeanine grew up a farm kid in rural Manitoba and made her way to the city after the farm was sold. She graduated from massage college in 2000 and spent her early years working in a clinic before sharing a space with a friend she had studied alongside. When that shared space stopped being a good fit for quiet therapeutic work, the two of them went looking for somewhere new — and Sundragon Studios, as Jeanine puts it, "came to fruition from necessity."

A Wellness Studio That Feels Like Home

When Jeanine describes the experience she wants for her clients, she starts with how the studio should feel from the moment you step in the door. "I never wanted to have that clinic that felt sterile," she says. "I wanted a clinic that felt like somewhere you can kick your shoes off." Her goal from the beginning was a place where someone having a rough day could come in, vent, let it go, and feel comfortable — "almost like you're stepping into your home." That sense of welcome is the kind of community she set out to build.

Glen, a client who left a review for Sundragon Studios, described coming in for his first-ever massage and finding the staff friendly, professional, and pleasant to deal with, the atmosphere relaxing, and the booking quick. "They have quite a few therapists so there are lots of options to choose from," he wrote, "and that also means you don't have to wait very long to get an appointment." Reviewers regularly name the practitioners they see, and several mention coming in for their very first massage and leaving comfortable enough to return.

Specialized Massage Therapy and Hands-On Care

Sundragon's deep bench is part of what makes that possible. Alongside therapeutic, deep tissue, and sports massage, the team includes a reflexologist, Reiki practitioners, counselors, and therapists trained in manual lymph drainage and complex decongestive therapy. Jeanine highlights several specialists with pride: a therapist with many years of advanced study in craniosacral therapy, which she describes as "a great way for people to approach physical issues with a really gentle touch that can have a really profound effect on overall health and well-being"; a therapist working in visceral manipulation, sometimes called organ tissue release; and a reflexologist she calls "crazy talented." There is also a practitioner trained in orthobionomy, which Jeanine describes as gentle joint mobilization and low-velocity adjustments. For clients who like to round out a session, the studio also keeps an on-site sauna — described by one reviewer as "a nice touch."

How Massage Has Evolved Over 20 Years

Two decades in, Jeanine has watched the field change considerably. "The research is different. The modalities have expanded and grown," she says. The work has moved well beyond muscles alone toward connective tissue and the body's fluid systems, with techniques refined to address specific issues. While Jeanine focuses on a deeper, results-oriented style of massage, she points to her team as the place where that growth really shows. "I've got a lot of therapists who are really finding some specialized avenues to go down that have a unique and improved way of changing things for a person."

What's New at Sundragon Studios

The 20-year mark has not slowed things down. Jeanine is enthusiastic about two recent additions to the team: a traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturist who is building his practice and bringing more of the TCM approach in-house, and an athletic therapist — the studio's first on staff. "I've referred a lot of people to TCM acupuncturists and had good results for them," she says, "so it's nice to be able to offer that service in house."

What to Know Before Booking a Massage

Jeanine's advice for anyone booking a wellness appointment is straightforward: come in knowing what you want and what you are comfortable with. She encourages clients to reach out and share what they hope to get out of a session and what their pain level is, since "not all hands fit all bodies." That self-awareness helps the studio match people with the right therapist sooner. With a roster as varied as Sundragon's, finding the right fit is less about luck and more about a good conversation up front.

A Local Studio Worth Knowing

Outside the studio, Jeanine is happiest in the garden — her favourite time of year is when the seasons turn green and the prospect of dirt under her nails returns. Back at Sundragon, her focus is the same one she started with in 2006: a welcoming studio where clients feel at home and can find the care that fits them.