It’s Monday morning and your calendar is already booked with a million things that you have to do today ~ work two jobs, buy groceries, pay the rent, and get a massage. What? If getting a massage isn’t on your list, you might want to reconsider your weekly priorities. According to LMT, CMT-AMTA member Mark G. Blanchette, massage therapy is breaking out of its novelty “rich woman at the spa” box and catching up to the mainstream desire for a happier, healthier lifestyle with a bang, or more appropriately with a calming, soothing “aaahhh.”

Mark started his training at the Bancroft School of Massage right here in Worcester. Since he graduated in 2002, he has been showing the Worcester community how to reduce stress, help heal injuries, reduce high blood pressure, keep the body flexible, and reenergize, all with his healing touch. His clients come to him for all sorts of reasons including sports injuries, recovery from surgery, or just to unwind. Mark does everything in his power to make sure that the patient is receiving the right kind of massage by talking to them at length about their needs and medical history. Although he says that massage is not for everyone, a lot of people can gain from its preventative health benefits. While providing a different service from a physical trainer ~ who works with a patient just after an accident ~ a massage therapist keeps the muscles supple long after the incident and can help prevent further injury.

If massage therapy is something that you enjoy, Mark suggests that making time for it should be a priority in the same way that you make time for other appointments. He points out that, “You find the time to see your doctor and your dentist…,” so why not also your massage therapist? Let’s face it, going to see Mark, who specializes in several types of massage including Classic Swedish, Deep tissue, classic sport, and trigger point release, beats going to the dentist any day. Instead of hearing a drill inside your head you will hear soft, angelic music provided by Mark, or you can choose to bring your own selection. Instead of an uncomfortable paper sheet and gown, you can wear whatever you’re comfortable in for lying in a warm bed with blankets as Mark kneads and eases your pain away.

There are a few things that you might want to keep in mind if you’re thinking of visiting Mark; first and foremost, you need to keep an open mind about the practice. “People need to be passive when they get a massage,” Marks says, meaning that they need to “…give up their limbs and muscles by letting the therapist do the work for them.” He claims that giving oneself over to another person’s hands is hard for some people to do. When you can let the therapist do the work while you reach a level of comfort on the table you’ll experience the best results. Mark might sound like an accommodating mother, always asking if the client is warm enough, but his main objective is to have everyone “feel at peace” in his downtown office.

Mark likes to get a massage once a week himself as he is an avid jogger and it helps to relieve the strain of his routine, but he suggests that best schedule for the average Joe is an appointment every two weeks. “It is worth the money,” he says, and with more and more research pointing to the health benefits of the practice it might save you money on Doctor’s bills later.

Mark G. Blanchette’s office is on the second floor of 21 West Street in Downtown Worcester. Call (508) 981-0157 for an appointment. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 4:30pm – 9 pm and Sat & Sun 11 am – 4 pm.