Massage miracles?
Massage therapy is not a one stop fix for most issues. In order to address tension, fascial restriction, aches, imbalanced holding patterns, and whatever other complaints you have, there generally needs to be a succession of sessions where the therapist takes note of what techniques work and which ones don’t, follows up on the progress and creates a plan to continue tackling the issue that was presented. In one session, especially if it is the first, the therapist is only getting to know your body for the first time. It takes thought, trial and error, and sometimes multiple tries to get the results we want from massage therapy.
Often clients will describe their aches and pains. Sitting at uncomfortable desks for 40 hours a week, working out excessively without warm ups or stretching, years old injuries that cause lingering pain, tense upper traps, rock hard calves. I wish I could descend into the room like a sparkling angel and heal them instantly, but the reality is that many treatments require a plan that involves multiple sessions and follow ups in order to be effective and lasting. Those muscles are often holding years of emotions, injuries, hard work, and strain! To expect them to give all that up in one hour is just wishful thinking. You wouldn’t expect to be healed from a lifetime of experiences in one psychotherapy session, so why think about massage therapy differently?
Each session can represent an increment of progress, a process which is enjoyable along the way and for the betterment of your overall health. By taking note of how your body responds to a session, you can tell your therapist the next time you see them and it will help them understand what works and what doesn’t for your specific body. You can let your therapist know what you like, what you want to repeat and what you want to leave out.
Is there a magic number of sessions that will ensure the resolution of a knot, a pain, a strain? Not exactly, but generally, I like to do 3 sessions and then re-evaluate at the third session, comparing the level of discomfort and overall feeling with that which was described during the first session. There are of course follow ups between each session, but a more in depth one will be made as a way to assess the progress made.
Going to massage therapy repeatedly is not affordable for everyone, especially those who don’t benefit from insurance. But it is a worthy investment that can be planned for. I also offer weekly extra reduced rates to help people access regular sessions. I offer 60 minute sessions from 40-60$ once per week (90 minutes is 70-90$), for low income clients. In this way, it is easier to schedule multiple in a row without having to worry as much about costs.
