Giving the gift of massage for Mother’s Day

A massage can be a great way to help relieve pain and stress, and it could be the perfect gift for mom this Mother’s Day. There are a few things you need to know about massage therapy before you buy that gift.

In her free time, Danielle Frey hits hard as a roller derby girl on the flat track, but she offers a soft touch in her job as a massage therapist.

“If someone just wants to come in and relax, I’m going to use mostly Swedish techniques,” said Frey. “If someone is coming in for pain relief I’m going to add in some trigger points, some deep tissue work, maybe some myofascial release.”

For nearly six years, Danielle Bell says massage therapy helped relieve her back pain.

“I have a lot of muscle pain, especially in my upper back, and I find that the medications that doctors prescribed don’t really address that, so I come and get massages from Danielle to address those problems, and I find that the massage does actually address the problem rather than covering it up like medication does,” Bell said.

Swedish and deep tissue are the most common styles of massage, but there are many techniques available today.

“I’ve gotten massage for many years just because I have a lot of tension,” added massage therapy regular Amy Wallarab.

Wallarab enjoys a massage called Thai yoga which involves stretching and compression work. Frey says it has many benefits.

“Increased flexibility is a big one,” Frey said. “It really works deep into the muscles to help relax the muscles. You feel relaxed but kind of rejuvenated and energized afterwards.”

Angie’s List says if you are not familiar with massage therapy, ask questions to be sure you are comfortable with the service.

“A massage can be a great way to pamper your mom this Mother’s Day, but be sure it’s going to be something she is going to want to do and is comfortable with,” said Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks, “because the last thing your mom is going to tell you is you actually wasted money. She’ll probably, if not comfortable, just throw the certificate in a drawer and never talk about it.”

Massage might not be ideal for everyone, especially those with health problems. If you are considering a gift of massage for Mom, make sure she checks with her doctor first.

While most states require massage therapist to be licensed, Angie’s List says there are a handful of states that do not. Ask what level of education or testing a massage therapist has acquired.