Tiger Lotus Coop is a wellness collective offering holistic uterine care which includes services related to massage therapy, doula work, fertility work, menstrual cycle specialisation and educational services. This is all curated and co-founded by Courtney Kirkby and we spoke with Kirkby to find out more about the holistic work that they do.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Tiger Lotus Coop. TLC is a holistic therapeutic practice supporting folks from menarche to menopause. It combines evidence-based and traditional practices including menstrual charting, gyno visceral manipulation and massage therapy, vaginal steaming, doula accompaniment and deep active listening. No matter if it is painful periods, fibroids, fertility, perinatal period, perimenopause or just to connect with this part of the body, the work is beneficial and informed.
What made you want to do this work?
I was a teenager, experiencing my own menarche, while my mother was experiencing the beginning of a long and difficult perimenopause. We watched her close friend pass away from breast cancer after taking Hormone Replacement Therapy. We were seeing connections between the two. It baffled me that there was no support, guidance or low risk support for the disruptive symptoms and emotional transition. Even talking about it now, I am tearing up.
As I went through my own first experience of pregnancy, I had the support of midwives here in Montreal. It was a life changing experience and gave me a vision of what health care could look like – validating, supportive, consent based and evidence informed. I saw females all around me, at all stages of life, struggling to get care beyond antibiotics, hormonal contraception and surgeries. Once I started my journey into seeking out this information, the floodgates opened. And every week in my practice I am still mystified by how these gentle services and emotional attunement can lead to massive shifts in the menstrual and reproductive health of my clients.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I wanted to create a space by and for females that helped to contextualize and expand on the information they were getting from their doctors. I wanted females to feel supported and held through these biological transitions. I wanted folks to have hope, to experience less pain, to get pregnant, to feel seen and to connect to their cycles in a loving and healthy way. I wanted to be the auntie that could improve quality of life.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Anyone with a uterus (or recovering from a hysterectomy). The focus is from menarche to menopause: fertility, perinatally, painful or irregular periods, pregnancy loss, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, prolapse, and perimenopause, to name a few. If you aren’t sure, book a free 15 minute consultation call through our website to talk about your case.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Folks book appointments. I also co-run a clinic called Community Healing Days that offers holistic care that is subsidized. It costs $10-60 (based on your income and finances) for an appointment. We have a general clinic and specialized clinics: menstrual, reproductive, perinatal and trans care. You can find out about it here: www.communityhealingdays.ca
Where in the city can we find your profession?
In the Plateau at Studio 414 www.studio414mtl.com.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Ask about their process. My process is a mix of consultation and bodywork. We start with an in-person, thorough intake process. Often we are doing detective work to understand the why behind irregular periods, infertility or hormonal imbalance. We do education based on the clients’ needs and talk through different options. We do abdominal bodywork and assess what’s happening on a physical plane. Some clients will choose to do menstrual charting to give hormonal insights and to track progress. We do follow-up appointments, sometimes I work with people over a few weeks or months and sometimes I accompany clients for years.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is connecting with incredible, strong people and getting to accompany them on their journey. I love celebrating wins together. The worst part is hearing about the negative experiences countless females are having with their doctors in hospitals.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
