Ever had a massage?

I never had one. Are they worth it?

Great relaxer and stress reliever. Professional one are the best, but if you have a massage training school near you, you can get a pretty good one from a student about to graduate, and for a good price.

I had to get one everyday :bounce: Of course, since I graduated I had to give a lot more massages than I got, but I used to do trades with other therapists.

Yes, they are worth it. As long as you have a good therapist.

Yes, I am.

What kind of massage are you planning on getting? Is the primary purpose to relax or is it to help in pain relief? I've had all kinds of massage. I am now suffering a bit from carpal tunnel and I found reflexology of hands to be very helpful in managing the discomfort.

I think if you are considering a therapeutic massage you should try more than one therapist before finding a good one you'll want to visit every so often. That is because not everyone is good at it; after all, like in many other professions that require a license, some are better than others.

There are a couple of massage schools where I live and their fees are decent (the quality will vary, as it does among licensed professionals). Massage schools may be an option if you'd like to try massage.

If you live near NYC, I suggest to go to one of the many legitimate Chinese massage places. My favorite is on West 14th. The therapists actually walk on your back and the massage is extremely relaxed. Now, most of these places do not have licensed therapists, but most of the ones I tried were excellent in Qi Gong/Tui Na, a Chinese form that encompasses acupuncture and deep pressure work.

but I have always been curious. Thanks for the starter info

Drink a lot of water afterwards. A good deep tissue massage can dislodge all kinds of toxins which need to be flushed.

both for relaxation, and therapy.


I had a shoulder joint problem for years that I just assumed was in the joint itself, maybe even early arthritis. My massage therapist had me completely free of the problem in two or three sessions.

I am pretty inhibited about strange people touching me, hell even family - I grew up in a family that probably respected each other's space too much, not to mention living in the west, where we have some.
But a few years ago in Turkey I bit the paranoia bullet and had a massage (along with mineral hot springs and a mud bath!) and it was really nice. Wish I could get up the nerve to do it here. I even know a therapist and she owes me a favor and would trade ranch products for it I am sure. Unfortunately she moved even farther away. Oh well, we do have a hot tub - and I am looking forward to next winter when I can stand to get in it again.

When I lived in the US, I used to pay for a massage once a month as a treat for myself; the masseuse was a really cool woman who used the most wonderful aromatic essential oils; my preferred oil was called "Moon Goddess," but it's no longer available. :(

Also, my last US employer offered massages at our work stations (it was a newsroom) every Friday, as a "perk" for employees.

Treat yourself. Ask around and find a great masseur or masseuse. When you find the right one, you'll be extremely pleased. :hi:

unfortunately i must be the little nabob of negativity because i never had a professional massage that was worth it to me, frankly the pros are too timid and simply don't give it to me as hard as i need it, i request a male therapist when given the option but it really doesn't do any good because they still don't believe you need it that hard

i've actually had better massages from amateurs that i've persuaded to really just put their whole elbow into the knot and just bear down, it hurts so good -- even that only resulted in a temporary relief of my severe shoulder pain that lasted about two decades

what finally worked for me was a TENS like device that sent some kind of electric shock into the affected shoulder, i had no medical insurance back in the day, so um i got it from somebody who wasn't supposed to be giving it, so i totally can't advise you to take this route but for me it worked great and i haven't had the pain in a number of years now, wow, i guess 15 years now, i had the pain from age 12 to into my 30s before i resorted to this -- i forget how many times i got it, many i guess over the course of several months or a year?

you can take classes now to learn how to do couple's massage, it might be worth trying if you find that having people you don't know who are just being professional don't do it for you, i realize that most people having a massage is just a nice healthy thing to do but for some of us weirdos having a massage is probably mixed up with sex stuff and it's better from a sex partner if they know what they're doing

ok, i'll crawl back in my hole now before someone yells at me for being the worst person in the world -- i may as well apologize upfront to serious massage professionals who are just trying to do a job

trust me, nobody ever complained that I didnt get deep enough. The trick is to find a therapist who actually specializes in NMT techniques with a really good knowledge of the muscles.

I used to get 90 minute massages every month...they are wonderful and keep you feeling good for days.

If I ever become rich, I'm getting a personal masseur! I love massages...my favorite birthday gift!!

Better than Guinness and that is saying something! When I get done painting my house I am going for a huge message!

lemme tell ya what, that thar was some good massagin'.

it really took a load off of me.

:hide:

I always walk out feeling about 3 inches taller, and like nothing could ever make me stressed out again

dammit! x(

They are definitely worth it if you get the massage from someone who puts a little muscle in it. If it's just a gentle backrub it feels nice but it doesn't get the kinks and knots out. Something with a fair amount of pressure, like Shiatsu, can really make you feel good and relaxed.

unfortunately it was done by someone who wanted to realign my "shockras" or whatever and I spent the next few days on pain killers. Done by someone normal, I'm sure it is a nice experience.

the chakras is usually completely non invasive. What in the world did they do to you???

chakras wrong! They worked me over for about an hour, said I needed deep tissue work. I was sore for a week. I should have known better when I walked into the place and there was a lady with a crystal ball and some guy playing a pair of bongo drums in the waiting room.

No offense to crystal ball reading bongo drum players. I mean it.

I do not believe in alternative medicine. I know chiropractors are quacks and rhaki and the like are all nonsense. Traditional chinese medicine is also nonsense (for the most part - but things do have to be scientifically tested).

That said a good deep tissue massage feels wonderful. If you type a lot the first time you get a tissue release or whatever they do to your forearms and wrists you will never feel as good again.

It helps to reduce pain (at least temporarily). Also it really helps lonely people and shut-ins to touch another person.

Also ask the masseuse to do it as hard as you can take it. Endorphin release and all that.

:hide: Don't like to give, or get, them. I'm weird like that.

I got one at the Spa at Caesar's Palace. Two days later at home I got the stomach flu. Pretty sure I got it from the office the day before, but the association is still there in my mind.

I have therapeutic massage every 2 weeks, with deep tissue and myofascial therapy.

My massage therapist is about 5' tall and may weigh 90 pounds soaking wet but man her hands are strong.

My back, shoulders and hip are much the better for it.

This is serious massage, not a spa relaxation massage.