Teenagers Need Massage, Too!
When you think of someone who’s really stressed out, who comes to mind? My first thought is always a business executive in a Fortune 500 company. Or maybe a medical professional in the ER. A stay-at-home mom with little kids. These are all definitely true, but the one population that never comes to mind, that always absolutely blows me away every time I encounter one in my massage practice is….TEENAGERS!
Every time I give a massage to a teenager I am always shocked at how tight their muscles are. Mentally, they don’t give the impression they are overwhelmed with stress, but their bodies don’t lie. It makes sense when you stop to think about it. Many are dealing with the social and academic pressures of high school. They have to carry heavy backpacks and walk back and forth in giant high schools. My own teenagers don’t even have lockers anymore, so between having to sit in uncomfortable chairs all day, and the miles it feels like they have to walk with heavy bags, they are dealing with a lot of physical stress five days a week. Another aspect for a lot of kids is that they are playing sports at a level that would compete with any professional athlete! Practices every night of the week, specialization in the sport (playing one sport all year round leads to chronically tight muscles in the groups required for that sport), injuries and muscle/tendon tears, concussions, etc. It shows up in their bodies just like it does for adults, yet most parents don’t consider using massage as a tool for them to feel comfortable.
Should you have your teen get a massage? Possibly!
Here are some tips for massage for teenagers:
First and foremost, their comfort with the situation is the most important thing to consider. Obviously. But it has to be said outloud because sometimes a really enthusiastic mom will get an idea in her head and suggest it to her child who has absolutely NO interest in this idea, but who doesn’t really feel comfortable saying no and bashing their mom’s idea. (I may or may not be the mom I speak of.) Getting a massage for the first time from a complete stranger can be intimidating and especially more so for a teenager, so being certain they want to try it is absolutely the most crucial aspect.
Do they have a physical issue that massage could help with? This is not a requirement of course, mental relaxation is more than enough of a reason to get a massage. But using massage as a tool for feeling physically better FIRST usually creates a better experience that leads to mental relaxation after. Relaxing is a learned skill, and most kids at this age come in nervous, it takes a time or two to begin seeing it as a relaxing experience.
Not all businesses provide massage to minors, so be sure to check the business’s policies before scheduling an appointment for your child.
Teens typically have smaller frames than adults, so starting with a 60 minute massage (or less if available) would probably be the best way to start out and then you can adjust later based on experience.
Focusing on relieving the tension of the problem area would be more ideal than a typical full body massage, at least at first until the teen is comfortable receiving massage.
At Massage Refuge, I do massage teenagers. Generally, an appropriate age to start is around 15 or 16 depending on the child. I am required by the city of Leawood to have the parents of anyone under 18 stay on the premises during the massage, though whether you sit in the room or in the waiting room is totally up to you. You also have to sign a consent form. I encourage all teenage clients to wear shorts for their massages until they feel more comfortable. They will be draped with a sheet and blanket like most standard massage sessions, but the extra layer of clothing adds a level of comfort to a first time client.
If you schedule a massage for your teenager, please let me know ahead of time through text or email. It helps me in being able to form a game plan when I have a little more information before the appointment.
If you have questions about whether or not massage would be appropriate, please don’t hesitate to ask me!
