In a 2005 survey commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation International, 22 percent of persons polled had received a massage in the last 12 months*. Massage and bodywork therapies are popular for relaxation, therapeutic benefits and for pampering.
Incorporating regular massage and bodywork sessions into a health routine can eat up extra finances. Those on fixed incomes or earning minimum wage may find it the most difficult to afford massage therapy on a regular basis.
Hunting for Massage Bargains
Massage therapy enthusiasts have several options to explore on their quest for affordable, regular sessions. Here are some tips:
- Local massage schools may conduct student clinics as part of their training program. At these clinics the massage student is required to accumulate a certain number of hours working on clients under supervision from an instructor. Massage sessions at a student clinic are a fraction of what a spa would charge. Quality of a session may vary from school to school but clients of student clinics are happy to receive regular bodywork and help a student with her training hours.
- Recent graduates of massage schools may offer discounts on packages, or a series, of massage sessions. These prepaid packages help the client save money on a preferred modality while it helps the practitioner fill her appointment book.
- Look for massage in public places such as the shopping mall, farmer's market or the like. Fifteen minutes of chair massage, or seated massage, can be a great way to help with knots or kinks between regular sessions.
Other Ways to Receive Massage
Sharing a backrub with a friend or a new acquaintance can be an inexpensive or even free way of receiving massage.
- Amateur massage trades are popular in some larger cities around the world. Some have training in short courses, others have enjoyed giving backrubs to friends and family for years. Whatever the background or experience it is a free way to receive massage – the catch is that it goes both ways and once the massage is finished the client is expected to return the favor.
- A more private arrangement might be between two friends, or a couple. Massage practitioners teach short courses at local Adult Education Centers or community learning centers. Some massage therapists even offer weekend workshops for couples to learn how to give a good backrub.
- Perhaps less common, some massage practitioners and clients will arrange a barter for services. This may be that the client, an electrician, installs a ceiling fan for the practitioner in exchange for one or more sessions. Both parties are able to use their skills for the betterment of the other as well as benefiting themselves. If a client has a prospective barter idea to suggest to their practitioner they may wish to type up a proposal. Not every massage or bodywork practitioner will be keen on a barter arrangement but for those that are it can be a good way to exchange needs without money exchanging hands.
Explore Other Modalities
If a regular complaint, such as shoulder pain, doesn’t respond to regular massage, a client may wish to explore other styles of complementary medicine that may help extend the time between sessions. Some Somatic Movement Therapies can last longer when used in conjunction with massage, or even as stand alone treatments.
Some clientele of complementary medicine will use modalities such as Acupuncture, in conjunction with their massage therapy, to promote long term benefits. Many practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine will recommend monthly maintenance sessions of CAM therapy – such as massage one month, acupuncture the next month and reflexology or shiatsu the third month.
*AMTA Survey was conducted August 11-14, 2005 of 1,014 American adults.
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