This last week of October is National Massage Therapy Awareness week. Starting in 1997, the American Massage Therapy Association created the event to promote the health benefits of Massage Therapy. In honor of this week, I will be sharing some interviews and stories of local Massage Therapists.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Alisha Calkins, a local Message Therapist with 10 years of experience, as well as a background in educating Massage school students. Let's take a dive into Massage Therapy from Alisha's perspective.
What made you want to go into Massage Therapy?
My beautiful mother! She used to massage me before bed when I was a child, and it made me feel so loved and connected and good. I knew from a young age I wanted to be a Massage Therapist because of her and her touch. I’m blessed to have this passion from such a young age and I have her to thank for that.
What do you think is the most important reason for people to see a Massage Therapist?
To find relief from whatever is ailing them. Massage is useful for so many parts of our lives. People come to me for pain management, specific issues/injuries, to avoid surgery, to ‘tune off’ or just to maintain their overall health. Touch is universal and as humans we all need it, massage therapy provides professional and therapeutic touch to someone’s life.
What is the biggest benefit of Massage Therapy?
Better quality of life!! No matter where you come from or why are you receiving massage, your quality of life will improve. Anything from more energy day to day, less pain, better sleep, more relaxed, improved circulation, better flexibility, less injuries.. the list goes on and on. The biggest benefit of massage is personal from human to human, but overall, Massage Therapy should help improve your quality of life.
Advice for finding your perfect Massage Therapist?
It depends what you’re looking for, or if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to be treated for an injury, a resort or spa setting would not be ideal for this but a treatment facility would. If you’re looking to relax and be pampered, an orthopedic/treatment facility would not be best fit for this. Figure out what you may be looking for, then ask friends and family if they have any recommendations. I would also google search ‘relaxing massage in my area’ or ‘massage for injury in my area’ etc. Ask friends and family then search google if needed!
Any schedule recommendations? Is this something to be done weekly, monthly?
Scheduling is likely to be a bit different for everyone and what they’re looking for. If you are having a specific issue the therapist is treating, they may ask to see you once a week for 4 weeks or something along those lines. Typically once every 4-6 weeks is considered maintenance and a pretty routine scheduling option!
Should people in certain professions see a Massage Therapist more regularly than others?
People in certain professions could definitely use massage more often, my Hair stylist and Esthetician friends; my Dental Hygienist friends who do a lot of fine motor movement in their professions, especially receptive movements over time because of the job. Contractors, Painters, Mechanics- these bodies always need extra TLC from the hard physical labor they’re always doing! Someone who drives or travels a lot for work, someone at a desk all day... all these people could benefit from more regular massage because of the demands from their job. Social Workers, Care Takers, Nurses, and Teachers could benefit from more regular massage as well, the mental and emotional toll their jobs take on them can be alleviated during massage.
Please follow Alisha, @acro_alisha on Instagram as well!
Shout out your favorite Massage Therapist in the comments. You never know, we could spotlight them next.