How Often Should I Get Bodywork?

SeaRhythms Massage & Bodywork in Charlottesville, VA

This is one of the most asked questions I get from my clients.  My quick answer is usually “at least once a month” if the client is generally healthy. This is a good amount to feel good and keep ahead of any musculo-neuro-fascial issues that may develop from daily living.

However, you may want to schedule your sessions more or less often depending on your individual circumstances.  Here are five questions to consider when deciding how often to get bodywork.

1. What is your daily stress level?

No doubt about it. Too much stress can be a killer.  It not only makes you feel yucky, it also can:  inhibit your immune system, raise your blood pressure, reduce your ability to sleep soundly and peacefully, make you gain weight, increase your aches and pain, raise your blood pressure, among other symptoms.

Luckily, bodywork is one of the most effective remedies for stress.  An hour on the table can allow you to drift off into that healing space where your body and mind have a chance to refresh and renew.  Bodywork counter-acts just about all of the negative effects stress can have on your body.  The more stress you have on a regular basis, the more massage  you need.

2. What is your level of pain?

Bodywork is an excellent pain reliever.  What is the first thing you do when you hurt yourself?  You rub it, because it makes it feel better.  A professional bodywork session not only provides general feel-good pain relief, it can also help injuries to heal faster, relieve chronic muscle tension, and often can correct painful misalignments that wear on your joints and make daily activities difficult.  When a client is in pain, I usually recommend at least weekly sessions for 2 – 3 weeks.  Then when they are out of immediate pain, we gradually decrease that until they can go on at least a monthly maintenance schedule, although some clients decide to remain on a weekly or biweekly schedule.

3. What is your current state of health?

In general, regular bodywork can help all your body systems to function better.  Some symptoms from medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or fibromyalgia, to name a few, can often be eased with regular sessions.  Depending on your current state of health, you may find that a weekly session is what makes you feel your best.  Others will go 2 or 3 weeks.  Even if you are perfectly healthy, at least once a month is ideal.

4. How much do you enjoy bodywork? And how often do you want to feel that way? 

Health questions aside, bodywork is simply a pleasurable experience.  Everyone can use more joy and pleasure in their lives.  Calm nerves, mental bliss, a pain free body, a calm spirit… if everyone got bodywork more often the world would be a better place.

I work hard at SeaRhythms to not only ease pain and improve the health of my clients, but also to soothe and totally relax them so they can find their own inner peace and happiness.

5. How much massage can you afford?

Finally, you have to consider how much massage your schedule and your bank account will allow. Like anything you decide to do on a regular basis for your health (like eating, bathing, exercising, getting dental check ups, etc), bodywork is something for which you have to budget both the time and the money. The benefits to your health from regular sessions can far outweigh the cost, plus you may possibly save a lot more from having fewer doctor visits and medical expenses over time.

So what do you say?  Ready to give bodywork a try?  I look forward to hearing from you!