Massage: Good Investment or Frivolous Luxury?
When I told my aunt that I’m going to school for massage therapy, she was elated. “I get massages every other week,” she said, “and have been for years. I consider it absolutely necessary to keep me sane.”
She runs her own business doing outpatient drug and alcohol counseling. There’s a lot of stress involved, and receiving massage that frequently is probably one of the best possible things she can do for herself to maintain her physical and mental health.
But recently, I had a client ask me: “Do most people get massage as a luxury?” I was a little surprised that someone would ask this, and didn’t really know what to say. Is it a luxury to have no back pain? And more importantly, if my clients see massage as a luxury (read: unaffordable and/or frivolous), how am I ever going to make a living in my new career?
Admittedly, I’m biased. I’m not one to get pedicures or fancy hair treatments. I don’t even wear makeup most days. If I were going to go into a career that focused on providing aesthetic and luxury services only, I wouldn’t last very long, because honestly, I just don’t see the point. (No offense intended to estheticians — those services are great, but they aren’t something I’m all that interested in for myself.)
Massage might be expensive, but I’m a firm believer that it can help people recover from injuries faster, regain range of motion, and generally live their lives free from pain. Massage therapists are working in chiropractors’ offices, physical therapists’ offices, and mental health clinics. Businesses — even the conservative Maine outdoor retailer behemoth I used to work for — will offer professional massage to employees, understanding that it can help with pain and stress, keeping their workers productive.
But there’s no debating that it’s expensive. Around here, massage runs $60 – $65 per hour, significantly more if you go through a spa. And because of the incredible mountain of red tape, most massage therapists won’t accept insurance, even if your health plan will pay for it. That’s a lot out of pocket, but I firmly belive it’s a worthwhile expenditure. (Stay tuned for an upcoming post from me about the silliness of HMOs not paying for so-called “alternative” treatments like massage and doctor-prescribed supplements. But that soapbox will wait for another post.)
What small and not-so-small things do you treat yourself to? Would you consider massage a necessity, for your mental and physical health?
This just makes me crave a massage so badly…
I try to do yoga and get a decent amount of sleep, but I seriously neglect my body, and my posture has gotten ATROCIOUS.
I have no problem with people engaging in small, well-budgeted indulgences to help maintain their psychological well-being. If budgeting is like a diet (drastic changes made temporarily), then you never really learn healthy habits.
There’s a cultural meme that you should be able to battle through suffering and self denial for your own good. A funny thing happens in sports commentary a lot, where athletes are blamed for being unable to perform 100% even though they’ve had some traumatic physical or social thing happen to them. The justification is “they’re being paid millions to do this, so they should be in the game even if their mother just died.”
So cost is definitely part of it, and the notion that pain can be erased by money; it would follow then that we sort of believe that pain is *worth* a certain amount of money. I think that’s part of this same impulse…but I think enough people don’t buy that that you’re probably OK.
Massages ARE a necessity, especially since it’s a good way to relax and it’s like having a miniature holiday. It is important to treat oneself once in a while and I have met few people that don’t enjoy it. I don’t get them all that often, but I really do enjoy it and I ALWAYS recommend it for people.
I’ve never gotten a professional massage, myself. I do think it’s definitely something that can help people retain or regain range of motion as part of physical therapy and it’s something that can improve levels of wellbeing and help reduce pain. All of this makes it a Good Thing, and for anyone who has need of reducing pain or other medical issues, I’m sure massage is not a luxury for them.
For me, well, I’m not that comfortable being touched by unknown people, so while getting a backrub from a friend or a loved one might de-stress, I don’t think getting a massage from a stranger necessarily would, even though they might be better trained.
I certainly think massage, which has verifiable health benefits is less of a luxury than a manicure or even than a professional hair cut. I also agree with you that it’s a shame that the medical world isn’t more on-board with treatments like this!
-Ericka
Ericka: My partner feels the exact same way about strangers touching her. She said she’d rather just get a back rub from me. I’m the exact opposite. There’s nothing like a professional massage…
That said, it’s one of the first things I’ll deny or cut back on if I’m in a money crunch that month. I wish it wasn’t that way, but sometimes the visible things like the $220 hair cut and color seem more important in my day-to-day life these days than keeping to a regular massage schedule. I wish this wasn’t the case but that’s where it falls on the list of priorities (or luxuries!).
Jan: Thanks for the post… somehow, I think you’ll be fine with making it a fruitful career!
I have done a lot of secretarial work which involves long hours at the keyboard doing data entry. More than once massage has alleviated almost crippling pain in my shoulders, arms and back. One time a job forced me to type so much my back locked up and I could barely stand up. The muscle relaxants made me completely woozy and loopy. So I couldn’t work either way. A couple massage sessions loosened me up enough that I could stand without pain and actually be able to return to work.
My body says massage is not a luxury — my range of motion goes downhill if I wait too long to get one. My pocketbook, on the other hand, seems to have a different opinion, and with my budget as tight as it is, the pocketbook nearly always wins.
🙁
I’ve been getting a massage every three weeks for the past 3 or 4 years. It started after I had some bad shoulder problems and went through physical therapy, but I soon realized that my general “sit at my desk, shoulders rolled forward” workstyle was hurting me. Sometimes when I go in to see the therapist, there’s nothing really bad to work on, so I do get more of a spa treatment, but most times, there’s something we’re working on. He’s helped me work through stress, clear up some pain, increase range of motion, etc. many times.
I really can’t imagine NOT getting a massage regularly. It always seems new to me when I’m there, never routine. And definitely worth it.
A massage is first on the list for me once I get out of debt. I haven’t had one in years.
For most people, including me, massage is a luxury. But so are iPods and diamonds and doggie daycare lots of other things that make brisk business.
I would say for me, it’s a luxury. I should probably consider it more necessary since I do suffer from back pain but I think it is almost part of how I was raised.
I’m about to have my first child and on one hand getting a regular massage sounds like such a great idea because with all the stooping and lifting I am about to do (Plus strollers being designed for people 5 inches shorter than me) I’m sure I will benefit.
But on the other hand, I am not sure how I would fit it into our budget. Is it more important than baby swim classes or eating organically? I’m not sure.
Absolute necessity! It is the one thing that didn’t leave my budget as I do my business full time after leaving corporate. Why do I say that? It keeps me healthier, injury free, overall well. Now that to me is priceless. Forget cost savings in not having to go to the Dr and a boatload of physical therapy while not getting to enjoy the things I love…. the sheer benefits in energy, productiveness, and well being are worth their weight in gold.
It is about each person’s priorities of course, but I would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t care about health & well being…because if you don’t have that it doesn’t matter how successful your career is or how much money you have.
Can you tell I am a little passionate about the subject? 😉
I agree with Julia. Regular massages could be a good investment, adding quite a bit of longevity to a job that would cause quick burn-out. The only obvious drawback is when you start to see that the money spent on massages seems to take so much away from your earnings that potentially you could get a less stressful job making the same net income.
At my old job (web design, so also lots of typing/computing), they hired a mobile masseuse to come into the office every couple months for fifteen-minute massages. It wasn’t much time, but a couple times the massage killed so much of my pain that I worked days after that with no problems or issues. I guess, in that case, it was a mental relief, too.
Self-care is a necessity, though it can take many forms. Some, like massages, cost a significant amount of money; others, like taking the time to meditate, don’t. Regardless, what’s most critical is finding space in your life to look after your well-being as a whole person, and massage could be an important part of that.
I wish I could fit it into my budget, but massage is sadly a luxury in my book.
I tried to get my insurance company to cover it by going to a chiropractor and having her prescribe massage for me, which she did. However, my claim was denied even though the massage therapist in her office consulted with Anthem to make sure she filled out the paperwork correctly and had the needed referral.
Sadly, health insurance and regular doctor’s visits are luxuries for many, too….
Simple – it’s a luxury if you can’t afford it, and it can be a necessity if you can. Massages have a wonderful therapeutic effect on both my body and mind (and believe it or not, I’m a no-touchy person, too). For that matter, manicures and pedicures do, too. But making what I do and trying to pay off three credit cards and pay the rent, car payment, etc., it just doesn’t add up. For me it’s a question of getting a $65 massage or using that $65 to pay down a little debt. So unfortunately for me, it’s a luxury. If I had any money to spare, believe you me, it would be a NECESSITY – at least once a week.
In the meantime, I try to drop hints and cajole and my girlfriend into getting them for me for birthdays, Xmas, V-Day, etc. And sometimes it works. I’m going for a Hot Stone session on Friday. =-)
There’s therapeutic value not only in terms of physiology, but also psychology. To wit: I often send my wife to get a massage when I know she’s having a particularly rough time of it. Back pain turns into crankiness, crankiness turns into fighting, and oh look, I’m back sleeping on my couch.
I like my couch just fine, but prefer my bed, if it’s all the same. A monthly massage helps keep things clicking for both of us.
Wow, thanks for all your great comments.
@Nina: $220 for a cut and color! Really? I guess it make sense to spend that much if you’re really trying to project an image.
@alh: I think that’s the opinion that a lot of us have — it’s a necessity, but not always one we can afford.
@Paula: It’s clients like you who make massage therapy a viable career choice. 🙂
@Melanie: Good point about health insurance and doctor’s visits being unaffordable as well. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if it’s preventative care or emergency care, sometimes ANY health care is unaffordable.
Jan: It’s not even about “projecting a certain image” but rather $200+ is the going rate here in Southern Cal. I’ve never quite figured it out except that salons are competing for talent that could work in the entertainment business… the H-O-L-L-Y-O-O-D influence. I’ve always tried to offset the cost by not buying expensive salon products and using the more economical drugstore brands.
It’s not too expensive in these parts (Singapore). I live next to a massage place and it costs about 25USD for a one hour session if you go for their “morning madness” deal.
I don’t think it’s a luxury, because I can see the long term benefits it had on some of my friends (perennial stiff necks completely gone).
Personally, my distaste of being touched by strangers greatly outweighs the benefits of massage. I have tried a few times, and I still can’t get over it. I would, if I could.
For me, it’s a luxury since I’m fortunate enough to not have any chronic pains or unmanageable stresses. But if I had chronic back pain and massages alleviated that pain? I’d definitely chalk it up to being a necessity. I’ve had a professional massage a handful of times and I really enjoyed them. There are times when I’ve been running or weightlifting a lot where I’ll feel very sore but I’ve been lucky again in finding friends to give me backrubs. They’re not trained but they’re good enough for my needs.
Massages are a necessity that I sadly cannot currently afford.
If I don’t get regular massages and chiropractic adjustments my muscles turn to concrete, I lose mobility and range of motion, my performance at the gym suffers, my body fat increases and I fall apart.
Massage is a necessity for me.
As for other necessities, well I actually have to say a great haircut. so much of what I do is based on people’s impression of me. If I have a bad haircut, people take me less seriously. Ergo, good haircut = necessary expenditure
I’d like to say a monthly facial, but sadly, I just can’t bring myself to do it. Also the few times i’ve had them, I’ve been more relaxed that when I’m on a massage table. *sigh*
hwee yee – I think a lot of people have that same fear, of being touched by strangers. Is there anything that massage therapists can do to make you feel more comfortable about that? I’m not running up against that too much, since most of my clients so far are either friends or are used to getting massage.
Christopher – I wish more people could afford massage. Sadly, massage therapists are paid fairly low wages as it is, especially if they work in spas, where they may only get half of the fee, if they’re lucky. Is there maybe a student clinic nearby where you could go?