Beyond Luxury: Why Massage Therapy Is Your Missing Wellness Essential
Written by Melissa Schenkman, MPH, MSJ
Massage therapy is often misunderstood as merely a luxury service, but it's actually a powerful tool for health and wellness. We spoke with Keturah Daniel, a licensed massage therapist and Founder of KD Fitness and Bodywork, with 22 years of experience in the Atlanta area, to get her expert insights on how massage can benefit your physical and mental health.
Can you tell us about your background and experience?
Keturah: I've been a massage therapist in the Atlanta area for 22 years now, which is quite remarkable considering the average lifespan of a therapist is typically around eight years. What's helped me last so long is that I haven't always made massage my primary career focus - I actually started as a marketing major and went to massage school during a break from college when accounting was giving me trouble.
My interest in massage began when I was around 11 years old. My mother was in a car accident, and I would rub her shoulders and back to help her feel better. She told me I was naturally good at it and should consider it as a career. That planted the seed that eventually grew into this profession.
What types of clients do you work with?
Keturah: I work with an incredibly diverse range of clients. My youngest client ever was a nine-year-old boy, and currently I see people ranging from their mid-twenties to 80 years old. The activity levels vary dramatically too - from pre and post-op patients with very limited mobility to marathon runners and competitive weightlifters with bodies that are "nothing but muscle."
What are the most common reasons people seek massage therapy?
Keturah: Most of my clients really want to work on their mobility. They're dealing with stiffness, back pain, and neck pain. Generally, they want to get more active and address pain and discomfort that's limiting their daily activities.
You specialize in neuromuscular work and post-op care. Can you explain why this is important?
Keturah: Neuromuscular work is crucial because it helps with cellular recovery and muscle health. It assists muscles in rebuilding and recovering from activities that strain them. The massage strokes and muscle manipulation stimulate circulation, which is essential for the healing process.
My experience working with an orthopedic surgeon gave me extensive knowledge about cervical procedures and how the neck and head work with the rest of the spine. This is especially important for post-op patients, where you're working with nerves and muscles in very sensitive areas like the neck and jaw for TMJ issues. People need to feel confident that their therapist knows what they're doing, especially when working on areas where clients naturally feel guarded.
What are the main health benefits of regular massage?
Keturah: Massage offers numerous benefits, but I'd highlight these key areas:
Body Awareness: Many people go through their day on autopilot, not realizing they're holding pain or stiffness. Massage brings your mind back to your body and helps you notice what's actually happening.
Improved Posture: For people who sit at desks all day, massage helps address the shortened and lengthened muscles caused by poor posture. It works on your pliability, allowing your body to open up and move more freely.
Circulation: Massage brings healthy circulation to your entire body, which you might not be getting through your regular routine. Good circulation is essential for skin health, heart health, and overall body function.
Mental Health: You're carving out time to rest and let someone take care of you. This helps lower cortisol and anxiety levels.
How long should a massage session be?
Keturah: This can be a personal choice, but I'd say 90 minutes is the sweet spot. Some people really need that extra time - an hour can feel rushed if you want to treat the whole body properly. However, if your time is limited, an hour massage can still address major issues and make a significant difference.
How often should someone get a massage?
Keturah: It depends on your situation:
For wellness maintenance: Every six weeks is the minimum if you don't have urgent issues and you're just maintaining general health.
For active individuals: Monthly massages, especially if you're very active with your workouts.
For treating specific conditions: Weekly sessions initially, then work your way to every two weeks, then back to monthly as the condition improves.
If you're actively treating an injury or condition, not much can be accomplished with six-week intervals.
What's the biggest misconception about massage therapy?
Keturah: The biggest misconception is that massage is just a luxury service - that you're just throwing money away on something frivolous. While massage can certainly be luxurious, it's incredibly important for your health and wellbeing, both mental and physical.
It doesn't get enough attention for treating the whole body and mind. You're taking time away from your busy life to drift off somewhere else, and there's tremendous value in having an hour where you allow yourself to rest and let someone take care of you.
How does regular massage help with the aging process?
Keturah: Regular massage helps with aging in several key ways:
Body Awareness: When you're conscious of what your body is doing and what you're able to do, it encourages you to take better care of yourself. Out of sight, out of mind doesn't work for health.
Circulation: Blood circulation is huge for anti-aging. We see this in facial treatments like vampire facials that bring blood to the surface of the skin. Blood is life - keeping healthy circulation makes your skin better, your heart better, and everything runs smoother.
Are there any concerns for people with chronic conditions?
Keturah: Most chronic conditions are actually fine with massage. The key is communication - always complete an intake form and have an open conversation with your therapist about your health and medical history. For certain conditions, you might want approval from your doctor or at least let them know massage is part of your wellness practice.
The main contraindications are things like having a fever, skin irritations, rashes, or anything contagious like poison ivy. As long as you're not having flare-ups of your condition, massage is generally safe and beneficial.
What should people look for when choosing a massage therapist?
Keturah: Here are my recommendations:
Check their background: Look at their website or bio to see how long they've been practicing and what their experience includes.
Continued education: See what additional courses or certifications they have that might match your specific needs.
Have a conversation: A good therapist should make you feel safe and shouldn't insist that deep tissue is the only effective approach.
Communication is key: Remember, it's your massage. If something feels too deep, too light, or uncomfortable, speak up. Good therapists want you to feel good and trust them with your health.
How does massage therapy fit into a complete wellness practice?
Keturah: I think massage brings it all home in your wellness journey. You can do the working out, the walking, the journaling, and all the other wellness activities, but we also need human touch. We're spending so much time behind screens without real human interaction, and as humans, we need that physical connection.
Massage provides that crucial element of touch that ties together all your other wellness efforts. If you haven't had a massage yet, I encourage you to try one - it's an essential piece of the wellness puzzle that you might not realize you're missing.
Want to hear more from Keturah? Check out the YMyHealth podcast on YouTube and streaming services!