Three ways to get your massage on the cheap

“When you touch a body, you touch the whole person, the intellect, the spirit and the emotions.” -Jane Harington

As you may already know, massage can improve your emotional and physical well-being. Whether you need a moment of relaxation, to reduce muscle tension, or even relieve chronic pain, you can reap tremendous benefits from a regular massage.

Of course, sometimes the cost can seem prohibitive. Here are three ways to get your massage on the cheap:

Visit a massage therapy school. – Ever since my sister, Susan, a massage therapist, told me about the low-cost massages offered at massage therapy schools, I’ve made regular massages a part of my life. Although the therapists are students in training, you will be surprised at how wonderfully comprehensive and enjoyable the massages are. Frankly, I find that they are often comparable to what I have received at expensive spas.

couples massage – Whether you take a lover or just a friend, you and your partner can take turns playing massage therapist while the other enjoys relaxation. While it’s unlikely that you or your partner will have the expertise of a licensed massage therapist, you can still improve your emotional and physical well-being through couples massage. And if you’re particularly interested in improving your massage skills, there are several couples massage classes you can take.

self-massage – Obviously, self-massage can be the most convenient type of massage. And while you can do it at any time, self-massage can be especially enjoyable before bed, as it can help facilitate sound sleep. A great way to perform a self-massage is to pour a small amount of oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to warm it up. Begin the massage by rubbing one foot, then the other, making sure to get between the toes and gently pulling on each toe. As you slowly move up, you can rub in a circular or up-and-down motion, spending as much time as you like on each body part. Try to cover all areas and engage your mind in appreciating each part of the body as you massage it. You may even want to play relaxing music and finish with a scalp massage.

In the future, hopefully you will begin to incorporate massage into your life. Taking time for this type of indulgence can be liberating in the way it gives you insight into what really matters in life, but is often overlooked… YOU and your well-being!