How often should you get a massage?

The honest answer

The right frequency depends on why you’re coming. I’d rather tell you that plainly than pretend there’s one magic number. What I see on the table, day in and day out, falls into three patterns.

If massage is maintenance: every 3 to 4 weeks

For people who sit at desks, drive a lot, or just carry their stress in their shoulders, tension builds back gradually over a few weeks. A monthly session catches it before it turns into pain. Many of my regulars book their next visit on the way out, so it becomes a habit rather than a decision.

If you have a specific problem: weekly or fortnightly at first

A long-standing knot or a stubbornly tight back rarely lets go in one visit. Two to four deep tissue sessions spaced a week or two apart make far more difference than one long session every few months. Once it settles, we drop back to maintenance spacing.

If it's pure relaxation: whenever you need it

There’s no schedule for being worn out. If you’re having a hard month, a relaxing oil massage is a legitimate way to look after yourself, whether that’s twice a month or twice a year.

Is it possible to have massage too often?

For most healthy people, no sensible frequency is too much, though your body does like a day or two to settle after deep work. If you’re coming weekly for pain that never improves, that’s a sign to see your GP rather than book more massage, and I’ll tell you so.

A note on budget

If money means choosing between a longer session occasionally or a shorter one more often, choose more often. A regular 30-minute head, back and shoulder session at £35 does more for ongoing tension than a rare two-hour treat.