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Giving the Gift of Bodywork

Know Who Makes a Good Recipient for Massage Therapy

Sep 17, 2008

Give the gift of massage therapy, HAAP Media Ltd

Give a massage, spa or bodywork gift certificate for birthdays, holidays or as a thank you gift and be sure the recipient will enjoy it.

Giving the gift of massage therapy can be a truly thoughtful present for a loved one or friend. However, it can be a dreaded gift to receive for some. Find out who makes a good recipient of this type of gift and ways to make shopping for it easier.

Who Makes a Good Recipient For Massage?

Not everyone will want to receive a massage for the holidays or their birthday so giving this gift must be planned carefully. The ideal recipient for a massage or bodywork gift certificate is someone who already enjoys this form of therapy. Alternatively someone who has mentioned or hinted at wanting to try bodywork would enjoy receiving this as a gift.

Giving a massage certificate to an elderly relative who would be mortified at the idea of lying, in the nude, under a sheet would be embarrassing for the gift giver. Worse yet is that the giver may never know dear grandma isn’t redeeming her gift and continues to give her the same gift every year.

The modern gift giver wants to find the perfect gift for that special someone. Massage and bodywork therapies can make a great gift for several people on the Santa list. Be sure to check that list twice to ensure the gift of massage is thoroughly enjoyed.

Choosing the Right Massage

Location, style of massage or bodywork, and the practitioner can make or break a good gift certificate purchase.

Use a business with which the shopper or recipient has experience. This could be the best friend’s favorite spa down the road or across the country.
When venturing into unknown territory the shopper will want to research the options available. Websites that feature reviews and customer opinions on local businesses can be a great place to start. Also check out the website of the businesses: are they convenient to get to, are the hours appropriate for the person intended to receive a massage at one of these locations?
Choosing the style of massage or bodywork may help narrow down a search. If grandma is petrified of undressing perhaps she would enjoy a fully-clothed modality such as Reiki or Reflexology. The expecting sister on the shopping list would prefer a gift certificate from a practitioner trained and experienced in prenatal massage or another modality that will complement her pregnant body.

Making it Easier to Shop for Massage

Many massage and bodywork businesses are offering easier ways for people to purchase the gift of massage:

Gift cards are making their ways into spas and busy multi-practitioner offices. The size of a credit card, gift cards can make it easier to add value to a gift – virtually making it the gift that continues to give.
Instant Gift Certificates have been satisfying the needs of last-minute shoppers and internet shoppers in the United States. A midnight “oh no!” moment can be turned around in merely seconds with a trip to a website and a whir of the printer. Some of these instant gift certificates can even be emailed to the recipient in advance, a popular feature for those not wishing to forget a special day or who have plans to be out of town and would otherwise miss the occasion.
Mail and Delivery Options have been upgraded at some businesses where the business will hand-deliver the gift certificate or gift card if the address is local. A Las Vegas massage therapist advertises a Massage-O-Gram™ where she shows up at the gift recipient’s door with her massage chair, ready to give the gift of massage.

The copyright of the article Giving the Gift of Bodywork in Massage Therapy is owned by Amy Kreydin. Permission to republish Giving the Gift of Bodywork in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.