TriVeggies

Let’s get one thing out of the way right up top: I have a love-hate relationship with massage.

Well, not love-hate per se, but more like love-discomfort. I’m not really big on the scented-candle, New-Age-music, show-me-your-chakra type massage. I’m also, since we’re all friends here, not really big on the whole disrobing thing out in public (or in a private massage room, whatever). 

For many years, we had a massage therapist come to my workplace once or twice a week (lucky duck, eh?), and that was just about perfect for me. We got on beautifully, and since we were in an office, there was no disrobing taking place. But then the pandemic happened and the massages stopped, as did frankly the office for a long while, and so there I was, massage-less for another few years. 

And I missed it. I missed the relaxation, certainly, as well the awesome massage therapist I knew and loved. But what I missed most was reaping the rewards from those regular sessions. More than offering “just” relaxation – which, let’s be clear, is really important in today’s stressful world – each massage built on the ones before it, breaking down scar tissue and working through the tricky knots and micro-tears brought on by daily triathlon training, leaving my body recovered and much better able to handle the rest of the training plan. 

Once the pandemic began to lift a bit, I began my search anew for a massage therapist. Some places were sketchy; some were incredibly pricy; and some were those woo-woo chakra-laden places I’d never really gotten into. Finally, I found a straight-to-the-point studio called Wellness Massage, where all treatments – full-body, foot, what-have-you – are done in an open area which is completely devoid of bells and whistles, focusing solely on the massage itself. (They do play some nice relaxing music on the stereo, and that is fine with me!) Further, because of the aforementioned large-room atmosphere, there’s no disrobing necessary. Win-win-WIN!

Generally when I arrive for my appointment (walk-ins are also welcome, but there’s often a wait), I get an hourlong foot massage. There’s something to be said for a full-body treatment, but my feet and calves are what sustain the most impact during both my training and my general life, so it feels most reasonable to focus on them. Depending on the therapist that day, the pressure ranges from “stern” to “pure agony,” but I don’t mind. I just sit with my face buried in my “Hello!” magazine – my guilty pleasure during an hour of self-care! – and imagine how well my legs will recover after it’s all said and done.

The hour always flies by – I’m shocked when the therapist switches from my left foot to my right, and then finishes with them both – and despite the pain during the massage, I always leave feeling so much better than I arrived. And the results persist for a good long while.

But consistency is key. I try to go at least once a month (more if I have a race on the schedule) to keep my legs feeling fresh. The dividends I reap from taking the time are worth much more than the money (which, compared to many other places around here, is relatively cheap, at $48 per visit) I pay per session!

Have you been considering massage? What’s holding you back? Let us know in the comments!