ureworthitmassage

Have you been thinking about a spa massage? In the past, I considered massage an unnecessary luxury. After all, there is always a hot bubble bath, an ice pack or a smelly cream to relieve the day’s tension. But our neck and shoulders are a common place to hold the stress of our daily lives. Did you know the average weight of a woman’s purse is more than 6 pounds? (Go ahead, try it…you know you’re curious!) That is to say nothing of the new momma who carries the diaper bag full of bottles, diapers, toys and changes of clothes nearly every time she leaves the house. Is it any wonder we suffer upper body muscle aches?  

Let me rewind to my first experience with a massage therapist. 30 years ago when my husband and I were first married, my elderly mother-in-law had no place to live save a nursing home.  She’d had a leg amputation and during her ICU stay, she also lost the use of her arm (but that’s a whole different blog… ) My hubs and I built a new home that would accommodate us, my mother-in-law Gigi, her elderly brother-in-law and my teenage son. No stress there! Gigi had a standing weekly appointment with her niece, a massage therapist. One day she offered to pay for me also and since I was driving her there anyway, I happily accepted. A massage aficionado was born! No longer was this an unnecessary luxury but a very necessary indulgence everyone should partake in at least once in their lives.

Fast forward to today when I have come to treasure my massage experiences. They range from Swedish, which is light touch, to deep tissue, which is exactly what it sounds like. In addition, there are those geared more toward medical aspects such as sports therapy, lymphatic drainage and cranial sacral therapy.    

When choosing a spa or therapist, you must consider several things. Firstly, check your therapists’s  credentials. There is a difference between certification and licensure. Most states require a license to practice massage therapy. The requirements vary by state. If you don’t see a license hanging on the wall, leave now! Additionally, a therapist may choose to pursue a certification in a specialty of their choosing, such as hot stone, structural integration, sports massage and more. If a particular type of therapy is what you’re after, this is a great way to make sure they are specialists in the field.

If you are going for a spa day, check the facilities. Are you greeted with a smile? Are the facilities clean? Do they have a relaxation room you can quietly wait for your day of spoiling to begin? Some offer lunch or a healthy snack if you plan to spend several hours. Most high-end spas offer a sauna and pools. As you enter the facility, the fragrance of aromatherapy may greet you. I think basic smells are an incredible mood changer. They can enhance, the way you feel, such as lavender oil or lemon verbena do, or be an instate turnoff, like the odor of state cigarettes emanating from my wicked stepmother.

Let’s start with my favorite, a basic Swedish with no add-ons. Shortly before my scheduled appointment time the receptionist signs me in and immediately an associate escorts me to my locker and my fluffy robe and slippers. The waiting room is loaded with citrus water, granola mix and herbal tea. After filling my cup with chamomile tea and my pockets with granola mix I head to the solarium with my book. The quiet sounds of flute music coming through the speakers and the comfortable reclining lounger are nearly enough to put me into a deep trance, so I am thankful when my therapist finds me and shows me to her room.