Your headaches are not in your head.
They are in your muscles - and we can reach them.
Targeted acupressure for headaches and migraines in Nanaimo - releasing the suboccipital muscles, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid trigger points that generate the referred pain patterns driving your headache frequency.
Muscle-origin headache specialists
We target the suboccipitals, SCM, and upper trapezius trigger points that generate most tension and cervicogenic headaches.
Same-day appointments available
Book online in under 2 minutes. No payment required upfront. Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM.
NHPC member practitioners
Our team holds membership with the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada.
Understanding Your Pain
Not all headaches are the same — and treatment should reflect that
The type of headache you have determines exactly which muscles to target. Our approach begins with identifying your headache pattern so every technique in the session is working on the right source.
Tension Headache
Band of pressure around the skull
Feels like a tight band or vice squeezing the entire head, often at the temples, forehead, and back of the skull simultaneously. Worsens through the workday and with stress. Usually bilateral.
Primary targets: upper trapezius, suboccipitals, temporalis
Cervicgenic Headache
Base of skull radiating to one side
Starts at the base of the skull or upper neck and radiates forward — often to one side, behind the eye, or to the temple. Worsens with neck movement. Frequently mistaken for migraine.
Primary targets: suboccipitals, C1-C3 paraspinals, SCM
Muscle-Triggered Migraine
Throbbing, often one-sided, with sensitivity
Pulsating pain typically on one side, often with light or sound sensitivity. Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders frequently precedes or worsens migraine episodes by lowering the neurological threshold.
Primary targets: upper trapezius, SCM, posterior cervical muscles
Occipital Pain
Sharp or burning pain at the back of the head
Pain concentrated at the base of the skull and the back of the head, sometimes extending to the scalp. Often caused by suboccipital trigger points compressing the greater occipital nerve pathway.
Primary targets: suboccipitals, semispinalis capitis, C2 paraspinals
Where the muscle trigger points are — and where they send pain:
Suboccipital group
Refers pain forward over the skull like a helmet, into the eye, and across the forehead. The most critical trigger point group for cervicogenic and tension headaches. Sits at the very base of the skull.
Upper trapezius
Refers pain up the side of the neck to the temple and behind the ear. Often the primary source of the temporal pressure in tension headaches. Responds well to sustained acupressure.
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
Refers pain to the forehead, behind the eye, into the ear, and to the top of the skull. SCM trigger points are frequently behind one-sided headaches and are often completely overlooked in treatment.
Semispinalis capitis
Refers pain in a band across the back of the skull and toward the crown. Commonly involved in occipital pain and the heavy, pressured feeling at the back of the head.
Temporalis
Refers pain to the temple, the side of the head, and into the teeth. Often involved in headaches associated with jaw tension, teeth grinding, or TMJ dysfunction.
Is It Right for You?
Headache massage may be right for you if…
Acupressure is most effective for headaches with a muscular or cervical origin - which includes the majority of tension and cervicogenic headaches experienced by adults in Nanaimo.
You may benefit if your headaches:
Occur multiple times per week or month
Worsen through a screen-heavy workday
Are associated with stress, jaw tension, or teeth grinding
Include a feeling of pressure behind the eyes or temples
Are accompanied by neck stiffness or tightness
Begin at the base of the skull or upper neck
Respond partially to heat or neck stretching
Have become more frequent over the past year
When to consult a healthcare provider first
Massage is not appropriate for headaches that began suddenly and severely ("thunderclap" headache), are accompanied by fever or stiff neck suggesting meningitis, follow a head injury, or involve sudden vision changes or neurological symptoms. New or dramatically different headache patterns should always be assessed by a physician before beginning massage treatment.
What to Expect
How we treat headaches and migraines at Easy Cozy
Headache treatment requires precision. We do not do a generic head and neck rub - we systematically work through the specific trigger point groups that are generating your particular headache pattern.
1
Headache pattern identification
We begin by asking about your headache location, which side it favours, what triggers it, and how it progresses through an episode. A tension headache starting at the temples requires different targeted work than an occipital headache that begins at the base of the skull. Two minutes of history shapes the entire session.
(Intake)
2
Suboccipital decompression
The four suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull — rectus capitis posterior major and minor, obliquus capitis superior and inferior — are the most critical group for headache relief. We apply sustained, careful pressure here to release their compression on the suboccipital nerve and the surrounding structures that refer pain forward across the entire skull.
(Acupressure technique)
3
Sternocleidomastoid release
The SCM — running from behind the ear to the collarbone on each side — contains trigger points that refer pain to the forehead, eye, and crown in patterns that closely mimic migraine. We work through each SCM systematically with light to moderate pressure, as this muscle is sensitive but responds rapidly to correct treatment.
(Deep tissue release)
4
Upper trapezius and semispinalis deactivation
The upper trapezius trigger points that refer temporal pain and the semispinalis capitis points that drive occipital pressure are addressed next. These muscles are under constant load from screen posture and stress, and deactivating their trigger points frequently produces an immediate reduction in head pressure during the session.
(Sciatic relief)
5
Temporalis and jaw integration
For clients with temple headaches, jaw tension, or teeth grinding, we complete the session with work on the temporalis muscle across the side of the skull and the masseter along the jaw. Releasing these muscles reduces the headache contribution from dental clenching and TMJ compression.
(Easy Cozy technique)
What You Can Expect to Feel
Results our Nanaimo clients report after headache sessions
Headache frequency and intensity often begin shifting within the first two sessions. Many clients experience immediate relief during the session itself as trigger points are deactivated.
Fewer headaches per week or month
Reducing the trigger point load in the suboccipitals and trapezius lowers the headache threshold, meaning the same daily stressors no longer reliably trigger a headache episode.
Reduced headache intensity when they occur
Even when headaches still occur, their peak intensity is typically lower after regular trigger point treatment, and they resolve more quickly.
Pressure behind the eyes and temples clears
SCM and upper trapezius trigger points that refer pressure to the eye and temple region often release significantly within a single session.
Improved neck rotation without headache provocation
Cervicogenic headache clients frequently find that neck movement no longer triggers a headache episode after the relevant cervical trigger points have been addressed.
Reduced jaw tension and teeth clenching
Clients who grind their teeth or clench at night often notice a reduction in jaw soreness and morning headaches as the temporalis and masseter are released.
Less reliance on pain medication
As headache frequency and intensity decrease through regular treatment, most clients find they need significantly less over-the-counter pain relief per month.
Massage Therapy Pricing in Nanaimo
Session options for headaches and migraines
For isolated tension or cervicogenic headaches, a 30-minute focused session is often highly effective. For headaches accompanied by significant neck, shoulder, or jaw tension, the 60-minute session provides time to address the full contributing chain.
Best for Headaches
30 Minutes
$38
Best for focused head, neck, or shoulder tension. Not recommended as a first session for lower back pain.
For Lower-Back Pain
60 Minutes
$70
Recommended starting point for lower back pain. Full body acupressure with targeted lumbar and hip flexor work.
Most Popular
90 Minutes
$105
Our most recommended option for chronic lower back and sciatic pain. Allows time for full lumbar, hip, and glute treatment.
Deep Renewal
120 Minutes
$135
For long-standing back pain requiring extended deep tissue work and full body reset. Includes reflexology if needed.
Headache and migraine massage in Nanaimo — common questions
Can massage therapy reduce headache frequency in Nanaimo?
Yes, for tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, massage therapy can significantly reduce both frequency and intensity. At Easy Cozy Wellness in Nanaimo, we target the suboccipital muscles, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid — the primary muscle groups that generate referred pain into the head. Most clients notice a reduction in headache frequency within 2-3 sessions of consistent treatment.
What is cervicogenic headache and how does massage help?
A cervicogenic headache originates from dysfunction in the cervical spine and its surrounding muscles, not in the brain itself. The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull and the upper cervical joints refer pain forward into the head, mimicking a migraine. Massage therapy releases the muscular tension driving this referral pattern, reducing the frequency and severity of cervicogenic headaches without medication.
Can masssage help with migraines or only tension headaches?
Massage is most effective for tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches, both of which have a strong muscular component. For migraines with a known neurological trigger, massage can help reduce the muscular tension that often precedes or worsens migraine episodes. Many migraine sufferers find that regular massage reduces the frequency of episodes by addressing the muscle tension that lowers their headache threshold.
Where do I feel a tension headache versus a cervicogenic headache?
Tension headaches typically present as a band of pressure around the entire head, often at the temples and forehead. Cervicogenic headaches usually begin at the base of the skull and radiate forward to one side of the head, often behind the eye. Both types respond well to massage targeting the suboccipital muscles, upper trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid at Easy Cozy Wellness in Nanaimo.
Do you offer same-day appointment for headache and migraine massage in Nanaimo?
Yes. Same-day and next-day appointments are frequently available at Easy Cozy Wellness. Book online at easycozy.ca/booking — the process takes under 2 minutes and no payment is required upfront. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM.
