Students unwind with massages

The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and with it come final exams, papers and projects that take a toll on the mind and body.\nThough some students turn to a pint of ice cream, a six-pack or cigarettes to relieve end-of-the-year stress, there are other, healthier ways to relieve anxiety. Getting a massage is one of them. \nWhen it comes to massages, students have many options varying in price, type and location.\nThe IU Health Center offers massage therapy as an easy, healthy alternative for relaxing and releasing tension in the body at any time during the semester -- and you can charge it all to your bursar account.\n"A lot of people go for unhealthy, negative behaviors that diminish tension," said Anne Reese, director of health and wellness education for the IU Health Center. \nHealth Center intern and graduate student Rose Hartzell said chronic muscle tension can cause headaches, backaches, lower back pain and digestion problems. If these problems persist, they can have a negative impact on the body.\n"Continuing stress harms the immune system," Hartzell said. "Relaxation is one way to deal with stress."\nThe Health Center offers both full-body massages and seated chair massages to students and staff. The massaging of skin, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue promotes relaxation by decreasing muscle tension, increasing circulation and improving mood.\nDuring a seated chair massage, the individual remains fully clothed and seated in a special massage chair. A certified massage therapist spends 15 minutes working on the upper back, neck and shoulders. This method is a quick way to provide relief of upper-body stiffness and discomfort. \n"For people who are may be a little nervous about taking their clothes off, it's a good way to start," Reese said.\nThe 45-minute full-body massage session takes place in a private room on a massage table. Individuals undress to their level of comfort and lie under a sheet while the massage therapist works on arms, legs, back, shoulders and any areas on which the individual asks the therapist to focus. Massage lotions or oils might be used.\nFor IU students who have paid their health fees, seated chair massages are $11 for a 15-minute session, and full-body massages are $33 for a 45-minute session. For IU employees and all other students, seated chair massages are $16 for a 15-minute session, and full-body massages are $46 for a 45-minute session.\nAppointments for full-body massages at the Health Center are usually made two weeks in advance, but as the end of the semester draws nearer, appointments are quickly filling up.\n"People are using this service," Hartzell said. "It's right here on campus, and you can put it on your bursar bill." \nStudents who cannot get an appointment with an IU Health Center massage therapist can still find plenty of places to relieve their stress.\nBloomington is home to many spas and independent therapists that also offer massage services.\nCertified massage therapist Dani Spinks, of Carmen Delgado's Oasis Spa on East Third Street, has been working in Bloomington for 3-1/2 years. She has seen her share of stressed-out students looking for relief, she said.\n"What I've noticed with students is their primary reason for coming in is stress," Spinks said. \nIn addition to relieving stress, getting a massage can benefit the body in other ways. Spinks said it also helps strengthen the immune system -- the body's defense against illness.\n"I see massage therapy as preventative medicine," Spinks said. "It helps with circulation, which in turn helps the immune system."\nSpinks said a lot of people experiencing a massage for the first time can feel queasy or catch a cold afterwards because, as most massage therapists agree, the body releases toxins from the muscles during a massage. She suggests hydrating well before and after a massage to avoid the common "massage hangover."\n"The body's systems work better when they are hydrated," Spinks said. "The massage is going to be more beneficial that way."\nWhile the IU Health Center offers just the seated chair and full-body massage, many area spas and independent massage therapists offer a wider variety of options. \nDepending on the therapist, customers who go to area spas such as Carmen Delgado's, Intuitive Touch, Serene and Spaah! can receive deep tissue, Swedish, aroma therapy and hot stone massages. Most offer comparable pricing, and appointments can be made within the week.\n"I really encourage people to experience a massage," said Spinks. "It makes for a happier body."\n-- Contact staff writer Megan Hubartt at mhubartt@indiana.edu.