How Long of a Massage Should I Schedule?

There seems to be a belief around massage that an hour is all you’ll ever need. Most people who schedule a longer session with me are either in the health industry and already understand the benefits of a longer session, or they think they’re splurging on a luxury, but that’s not always the case.

Most often, people schedule a massage for an hour, which seems like the default time allotment. It’s easier to fit into people’s busy schedules than a longer appointment, for one thing.

If your goal is relaxation, then an hour is often enough. However, therapeutic work can take time, and it’s a good idea to cover the whole body if at all possible because everything is connected.

I recommend an hour for therapeutic work only if you don’t have the time or budget for a longer session and if you only have one or two areas you want to focus on, like neck and shoulders, lower back and hips, or legs and feet. While it is absolutely possible to do therapeutic work in an hour and cover a full body massage, either the therapeutic work will not be as much as it could be, or the rest of the massage will be rushed. Or, worst of all, your therapist may just say they ran out of time and not hit everything.

If you want therapeutic work done, and you also want a full body massage, which is what I recommend, 90 minutes is usually the minimum I tell my clients. If you’re dealing with three or more problem areas, I might even suggest a two-hour / 120 minute massage.

All of this is to say that everyone is a little different based on their individual needs. I’ve given a rough estimate you can go by if you want to make your own determination, but always feel free to consult with your therapist and get their recommendation based on your individual needs.