Getting the word out about Massage Envy

Massage Envy is coming to The Greene, in Beavercreek, Ohio. This may sound like great news, but I would like to give you some education about what I have been told by people who worked at Massage Envy and people who have had appointments there.

First, Massage Envy requires a membership from you. I know that personally I don't like having to buy packages up front and pre-pay for things I haven't experienced yet. I don't like membership fees and not knowing where that money is going.

Second, Massage Envy only gives you a 50 minutes massage. You have to schedule for an hour, but you only get 50 minutes. The other ten minutes is for undressing and redressing and an introduction.

Third, Massage Envy overworks thier employees. From the former employees I have spoken with, Massage Envy required them to work 10-14 hour days with no break between clients. That is 10-14 massages in a day!! Imagine doing that kind of work and still feeling good at the last 2 clients of the day. You don't get the same energy or good mood from your therapist if they are completely worn out. And now multiply that by 5-7 days a week. Makes for one sore, tired, gloomy person working on you.

Fourth, Massage Envy doesn't pay thier therapists very well. They charge an average price of $40 for an hour (remember you are only getting 50 minutes of that hour). Thier therapist makes a tiny fraction of that price for themselves, and they are encouraged to refuse tips.

Fifth, Massage Envy drives the market down for other massage therapists in the area. You have seen what happens to the small business grocer when Wal-Mart moves into town. That is the same thing that happens to small business massage when Massage Envy moves into town. It looks great at first, cheap prices and you can get an appointment at almost any time you want. Here are a few things that causes:
1) Massage Therapist paying rent, paying for insurance, paying for thier continuing education requirements charge a standard fee most of the time, that fee right now is right around $60 for an hour. Some are more some are less, but that's the average.
2) You may get an appointment any time you want, but you probably won't get the same person twice. So you have to put your trust in a stranger every time, you never get someone that learns your body and your needs and caters to them.
3) If you aren't happy, you are stuck with the package you had to buy at the beginning, and they don't do specials or many discounts.

Sixth, Massage Envy doesn't usually take any kind of Medical History or keep detailed notes of what they did for you at each session. When I sit down with you for your first appointment I allow a half hour free of charge to take a detailed medical history, to see what your body needs and make sure it is safe to work on you and what work is safe and what isn't. I find out what kind of pressure you like and if I can use other tools and techniques catering your massage to you specifically. I even take blood pressure if needed to ensure you are safe in my hands.

I could go on with other reasons, but I think you see the point. I am not calling for an all out boycott and I am not saying the therapists are the reason Massage Envy isn't a good idea, many good therapists get stuck in the Massage Envy scenario. There are also many people there that only know how to do Swedish Massage, they don't know any other techniques or modalities or use of any tools to enhance the massage to your needs. They know how to "relax" you and how to put lotion on you, and that is it. Many chiropractors and doctors will not send thier patients to Massage Envy.

Please take these thoughts into consideration when you are looking into the new flashy Massage Envy in your area.