Massage therapy is a wonderful way to relieve stress, promote relaxation and general well-being, and aid in injury recovery. But how often should you get a massage? The answer depends on various factors, including individual needs and goals.

Once a Month Often Helps…

For people looking for stress relief and general wellness maintenance, receiving a massage about once a month can be very beneficial. This allows for consistent relaxation and helps prevent the buildup of tension in the body. There are many circumstances, however, in which you may need more frequent sessions to get the benefit you’re seeking.

Hard Working Bodies May Need More…

People with physically demanding jobs or pastimes often need some extra care to feel their best. Nurses, caregivers, and avid athletes often come to me twice a month, sometimes even weekly. I’m a great example myself. I’m not just a massage therapist – I’m also a swimmer, a musician and artist with hard-working hands, and a very tall person living in a world set up for people noticeably shorter than myself. It’s a great life, but it can be challenging on my body! Seeing my own massage therapist once a month was good, but it seemed like we always had some new acute discomfort to address. Coming in a little more frequently lets me stay ahead of the game – I get to ease the tight spots before they lead to significant discomfort.

Injuries and Chronic Conditions

If you’re recovering from an injury or dealing with chronic pain, that’s often another situation where more frequent sessions are a good idea. Some people find that they need massage therapy more frequently when they first come in, and after a while they can decrease the frequency when it’s for general maintenance. Others discover that the ease of movement and pain relief they gain through relatively frequent sessions is beneficial enough to make weekly massage therapy a health care priority.

It’s important to listen to your body and communicate with your massage therapist about any specific concerns or goals you may have. We can provide personalized recommendations based on our expertise and understanding of your unique circumstances.

Don’t Let What You Can’t Do Stop You from Doing What You Can!

Finally, if you’re struggling with a limited budget or a very hectic schedule, and you don’t think you can get massages as often as would likely be best for you, doing what you can is by far better than not coming in at all! Too often perfectionism causes people to give up on pursuing something we feel would be good for us, because we don’t think we can devote the resources to doing it as much as we should…but the weekly run you go on is more helpful than the daily run you give up on. The extra serving of fresh veggies you incorporate into your Thursday night meal matters more than the ideal meal plan you think you ought to do but just don’t find sustainable. And if you’re sure you need weekly massages but you know you can’t do it right now…come on in as you can! I’m glad for the opportunity to help, and I’ll do everything I can to help you gain the maximum benefit from our time together.