Why You Need a Massage and How to Get One For Less Than $50 (or for Free!)

 "I really need a massage" is a phrase I hear at least once a week from someone.  And I have definitely heard that phrase uttered even more lately as we experience a huge uptick in stress and anxiety due to this year's election. Yet many do not actively seek out a massage, unless gifted one or when desperately seeking bodywork if they can't move their neck. From my conversations with people who have or have not gotten a massage, including clients, I've found that people believe they:

• Have little to no time for a massage
• Do not need a massage
• Can't afford a massage

Let me address each of these thoughts:

Little To-No-Time for Self-Care
Self-care is a hard thing to do. Especially as Americans. We are always in a hurry and always busy. We glorify working more than 40 hours a week while shamming those who take time out for themselves.  However, running on steam can't last. As the saying goes "You can't pour from an empty cup." In other words, how you can continue to work, be productive and creative, help your friends, and connect with your family, etc if you're running on low? You can't; eventually you'll burn out, walk around in pain, get sick, etc. Take time for yourself for self-care - a massage, a walk in the park, alone time with a book, no phone, etc. If you have time for an hour of TV or an hour of FB, you have time for a massage. 

Why A Massage Can Help
Last year, the Huffington Post published an article entitled, Touch As Nutrition. The first line of the article reads: "Touch could properly be regarded as a form of nutrition."  Safe, human touch and contact is a necessary part of being happy and healthy.  Without it, children's brains don't develop and "solitary elderly people are almost 50 percent more likely to die early than those who have family, friends or community."  

For many of us adults, human contact "soon becomes rationed out, reserved for appropriate moments with appropriate people." So often that leaves us little to no touch from another human. Depression can set in and the immune system weakens. Massage does the opposite: boosts the immune system, helps with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and relieves muscles tension, along with much more positive outcomes. I get bodywork 1-2 times/month. I have for years. If I miss a month, my body is pretty much screaming at me and my anxiety is up.

Human connection in a comfortable and safe way simply feels good. I have had clients over the years simply come to me not to just get the "knots out," but because they want physical human contact. That's more than enough reason to get some sort of bodywork.  

Affording a Massage
Fact: you do not have to pay $150 to get a really good massage.  Below are ways to find a really good massage therapist (LMT) for way under $100 :

• Find your local massage therapy school - they offer student clinic massages around $35/hour
• Get a recommendation from a friend (or vise versa) - many places offer a referral discount
• Hunt down a local LMT who works solo  - their small overhead will be reflected in their low prices
• Research an LMT who offers discounts to teachers, military, seniors, students, etc.
• Search for a massage therapist who offers a sliding pay scale. (I.e. $45-$65, pay-what-you-can.)
• Get a 30-minute massage. That's a nice amount of time to relax and work on some sore muscles. You will most likely pay between $35-$55. 
• Ask your company if they plan to offer chair massage for the employees or future events - paid for by the employer!
• Dig into your health care plan - some plans offer discounts on massages
• Do a trade! If you have a service or something else of value, offer it up! I've traded many a massage for tattoos, hair cuts, bicycle repair, food, acupuncture, yoga, a friend's car, good wine, etc.  Perhaps offer to pet sit, or teach them how to knit, etc. Whatever - just get creative and don't be shy in asking/offering a trade! 

Hopefully these suggestions help inspire you to find an affordable therapist that works well with your needs. Let me know if you have any other ideas. 

xo,
Liz

Photo by Maria Kogan from Radically Restorative Yoga - a restorative class with 4 dedicated bodyworkers assisting the class