By Anamati Inyang, December 17, 2025
When last did you get a massage? Not the “I rubbed my neck while scrolling my phone” kind, but a proper massage where your muscles finally forgave you for carrying the weight of adulthood.
Most people treat massage like a luxury reserved for honeymoon resorts, five star hotels or that one rich friend who says things like “self care is essential” and actually means it. Meanwhile, the rest of us are walking around with shoulders permanently auditioning to become earrings.
Massage, in theory, is simple. Human hands meet stressed muscles and peace is restored. In reality, many people only remember massage exists when their back starts speaking in strange languages or their waist suddenly resigns without notice. That is usually when they promise themselves, “I will book for a massage soon,” a promise that expires the moment the pain reduces by 10 percent.
There are different types of massage, although to some people, massage is massage, as long as someone presses something somewhere. Swedish massage is the gentle, polite one. It relaxes you, calms your nerves, makes you feel like life is not that bad after all. Deep tissue massage is its strict cousin. It goes straight to the problem, asks no questions, reminds you of every bad posture decision you have ever made. Sports massage is for people who actually exercise, or at least tell people they do. Hot stone massage adds drama by bringing heated stones into the conversation, because apparently, warmth plus pressure equals enlightenment.
Aromatherapy massage smells like peace and good decisions. Prenatal massage exists to remind pregnant women that their bodies deserve kindness too, especially after carrying human beings like full time jobs.
The importance of massage cannot be overstated, even if we keep understating it. Massage reduces stress, and in a country where stress wakes up before the alarm clock, that alone is a public service. It improves blood circulation, relaxes tight muscles, reminds the body that it is allowed to rest without guilt.
Massage also helps with pain relief. That stubborn back pain you have named, accepted as part of your personality might just be begging for professional attention. It improves sleep, supports mental health, gives your immune system a small motivation to do better.
Yet, many people still postpone massage like it is an unnecessary indulgence, while spending hours hunched over phones, laptops, life problems.
Ironically, we will not skip meals, data subscriptions, social media arguments, but massage feels optional.
So, when last did you get a massage? If the answer requires deep thinking, a calendar check or an apology, then it has been too long. Your body has been patient. Maybe it is time to return the favour.
