How often should you get a massage?

Key takeaways

• Once a month is a good starting point for most people who want to relax.
• Desk workers often feel the benefit of every two to four weeks.
• People in a heavy training block may book every one to two weeks.
• In pregnancy, check with your doctor or midwife before you set a rhythm.
• At RHEA one 60-minute massage is AED 400, so a monthly session is AED 400 a month with travel included.

The short answer, by goal

How often you get a massage depends on why you are booking, how your body feels between sessions and what fits your week and budget. The list below is a sensible starting point, not a prescription. Many people begin with one rhythm and change it after two or three sessions.

• Relaxation and stress: once a month, or every three to four weeks in busy periods.
• Desk tension in the neck and shoulders: every two to four weeks.
• Regular training: every two to four weeks, closer to every one to two weeks during a heavy block or before an event.
• Pregnancy: as agreed with your doctor or midwife, often every few weeks from the second trimester.
• An occasional break or a gift: whenever it suits, with no rhythm needed.

For relaxation and a busy mind

If you mainly want an hour where nobody needs anything from you, once a month is a good rhythm. It gives you something to look forward to without turning into another appointment you have to manage. A Swedish massage, with long, flowing strokes and light to medium pressure, is the classic choice.

In very busy periods, such as the run-up to a deadline, a move or the end of the year, some people bring it forward to every two or three weeks for a while. Others keep the same rhythm and book a longer session instead: 90 minutes gives time for a slower pace and a full-body finish.

The test is simple. If you notice you are counting down the days to the next session, or the calm from the last one fades within a few days, try booking a little more often. If it feels like a chore, book less.

For desk tension and stiff shoulders

Long days at a laptop tend to build the same tightness again and again: upper back, neck, shoulders and sometimes the lower back. For many desk workers, a session every two to four weeks keeps that tension from building up to the point where it is all they notice.

A deep tissue massage on the upper back and neck is the most common request. Some people alternate: deep tissue one time, a calmer Swedish the next. A Thai massage, with assisted stretches in loose clothes, is another option if you sit still all day and like the idea of being stretched.

A massage is only part of the picture. Getting up every hour, adjusting your screen height and walking during calls all help between sessions. If stiffness comes with numbness, tingling or sharp pain, talk to a doctor before booking.

If you train hard

Runners, padel players, cyclists and people who lift often book a sports massage every two to four weeks as part of their routine. During a heavy training block, or in the weeks before a race, some move to every one to two weeks.

Timing matters as much as frequency. Keep firm sessions away from hard training days, and avoid trying a new, deep massage in the last few days before an event. Our massage for the Dubai Marathon guide sets out a simple calendar from training block to race week.

Listen to your legs and back between sessions. If you still feel the last massage when the next one is due, space them out. If tightness keeps returning after a few days of hard training, a slightly closer rhythm may suit you.

During pregnancy

Many people enjoy massage during pregnancy, but the right rhythm depends on you and your pregnancy. Before you book, check with your doctor or midwife, especially in the first trimester or if your pregnancy has any complications.

Once you have the go-ahead, a gentle pregnancy massage, given side-lying with cushions, every few weeks is a common pattern from the second trimester onwards. Some people book a little more often in the third trimester, when sleep and comfort become harder, if their doctor or midwife is happy with that.

Tell us you are pregnant when you book, and mention how many weeks along you are at the start of each session. Our guide to pregnancy massage by trimester goes into more detail.

The budget maths

Prices at RHEA are simple: 60 minutes AED 400, 90 minutes AED 550, 120 minutes AED 700. The style of massage does not change the price, and travel within our areas is included, so there is nothing to add for the therapist coming to you.

That makes planning easy. Once a month at 60 minutes is AED 400 a month, twelve sessions a year. Every two weeks at 60 minutes is AED 800 a month. Once a month at 90 minutes is AED 550, which many people prefer to two shorter sessions, because there is time for both focused work and a full-body finish. A 120-minute session at AED 700 works well once a season, as a longer break.

If you and a partner both want a massage, a couples session with two therapists at the same time starts at AED 880 for 60 minutes. A session that ends after 10pm costs AED 100 extra per booking. See all prices for the full grid and add-ons.

Finding your rhythm

The best frequency is the one you can actually keep. A monthly massage you never miss usually feels better than a weekly plan you abandon after three weeks. Start with what feels realistic, then adjust after two or three sessions.

Booking the next session at the end of each one, or putting a recurring reminder in your calendar, makes it much easier to stay on track. Picking the same day and time each month helps too: a Sunday evening before the week starts, or a weekday evening after work.

• Pick a starting rhythm from the list above.
• Keep a quick note after each session: pressure, focus areas, how long the effect lasted.
• After three sessions, decide whether to book more often, less often or longer.
• Change the style when your week changes: deep tissue after a heavy month, Swedish when you just need rest.