About Lisa Dowling

A childhood accident left me with long term health issues and chronic pain. It also led me to real relief for the first time in my life after receiving shiatsu therapy after a flare up that I experienced in 1992. Five years later I found myself on a treatment mat in Thailand, and knew that I had found my calling as a practitioner.

From that day in 1997 it has been a constant learning and growing process. I have studied Traditional Thai Massage, shiatsu, movement therapy, western sciences - anatomy and physiology, osteopathic techniques, acupuncture - specifically Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping and more recently somatic embodiment and trauma informed bodywork. 

I began teaching at the Shiatsu School of Canada in 2008, and also taught at the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine until 2022. Since 2015, I formed the Meridian Care Center where you can find online courses in Eastern Medicine, Meridian Therapy, Acupressure, Moxibustion, Cupping Therapy and Gua Sha. I teach mostly online courses for massage therapists, livestream classes, and sometimes I teach in live classes. These classes are designed for massage therapists and bodywork professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, athletic therapists, and other east Asian practitioners.

My desire to provide high quality materials and training for practitioners has been a prime motivation. The 2016 Olympics highlighted the need for good cupping training and it became my mission to try to correct some of the misinformation, and provide high quality, evidence based information that is delivered through the lens of Traditional Medicine.