How often should I get a massage?

For most people, once a month is enough to stay loose and catch problems early. For stress, every three weeks works better. For chronic pain, start with closer visits, weekly or every two weeks, then move to monthly. Athletes and people with physical jobs often do best every two weeks.

The table shows the same plans the tool above suggests. The numbers assume a 60-minute session at $100; a 90-minute session is $140 and a two-hour session is $180, the same for every style.

Two adjustments make a difference. If your work is physical, plan each visit about a week sooner than the general rhythm. If you work at a desk or drive a lot, the rhythm stays the same, but tell Jessie, so she spends time on your neck and shoulders.

For maintenance: once a month

A monthly visit is the classic maintenance rhythm. It is often enough to keep tension from building up and to notice a new problem, like a shoulder that is starting to tighten, before it turns into pain. If you sit at a desk or drive a lot, mention it on the table so Jessie spends time on your neck and shoulders.

For stress: every two to three weeks

The calm from a massage tends to fade over two to three weeks. A regular rhythm works better than waiting until you are overwhelmed, and many people find they sleep better when visits are steady. Swedish and Lomi Lomi massage suit this goal well.

For chronic pain: closer at first, then monthly

When pain is high, a short run of weekly visits helps break the cycle faster than spacing them out. After about four visits, most people move to every two to four weeks, then monthly maintenance. For moderate pain, three visits two weeks apart give the work time to hold before you move to monthly. Deep tissue massage is the common choice here.

For athletes and physical jobs: every two weeks

Hard training and physical work, from framing houses to ranch chores to twelve-hour nursing shifts, break muscle down faster. Every two weeks keeps recovery ahead of the work, and an extra visit two or three days after a big event or race helps. If your job is physical, coming in a week sooner than the general plan often makes the difference.

During pregnancy: every two to four weeks

After the first trimester, and with your provider’s OK, every two to four weeks through the second trimester is common, then every one to two weeks in the last month if it helps. Read more about pregnancy massage.

Adjust as you go

These are starting points, not prescriptions. Jessie will suggest changes after your first session based on what she finds. If pain comes back sooner than your next visit, move it up; if you feel good for longer, space visits out. Check the massage prices to plan your budget, or use the Tension Map to show Jessie where you need the most work.