Pros and Cons of Massage Membership: Should You Sign Up?

If you are like me, you have gotten a massage at some time in your life. Whether for relaxation, easing tension, or simply as a nicety, it felt great, didn’t it? The soothing music, the warm table, and the expert touch-it’s like stepping into another world while this is going on.

Now, put that in a regular experience. That’s where massage memberships come in-those deals where you sign up for a month and get massages at really cheap rates. Sounds like a good deal, right? But before you rush into signing up for one, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a massage membership. After all, what works for one person doesn’t always work for everyone.

Let’s get down to details and shall see if massage membership is worth an investment for you.

First, let’s talk about what a massage membership usually is. Often, massage memberships are offered by some spa, chain of massage therapy, or wellness facility. You pay a monthly fee and, in return, get one or more massages every month at a considerable discount. Some memberships can even allow accumulation for future use or gifting to someone else.

Sounds like a great way of keeping tabs on the self-care routine, doesn’t it? But in any subscription, items have to be taken into consideration.

Affordable Regular Massage

Let’s get to the obvious benefit: regular massages at a fraction of the cost. Of course, when you’re a member, you end up paying a fraction of what you would have paid for just one massage. For instance, depending on your location and the type of massage, an hour’s massage may cost between $60 and $120. But with a membership, you might pay only $50 to $70 per massage, and sometimes even less.

That could be a great way of maintaining the costs if one normally takes regular massages, say, once a month or every couple of weeks. Besides, who doesn’t like the prospect of saving money?

Consistency in Self-Care

Another huge benefit to this is the consistency. The fact that you know when your next massage will take place, and it often is booked in advance, enables you to keep up with your self-care routine easily. We do know how often things slip between our noses when life gets too hectic. But if they are paid for up-front, and on the calendar-it’s more likely that they show up and actually care for themselves.

Massages for me are the way to unwind after a hectic month, and a membership can help me get that through regularly.

Access to Extra Perks and Discounts

Other massage membership programs will grant additional benefits, such as in-store product discounts, special promotion access, or even booking privileges. Often, these add up over time to make your membership feel so much more valuable. And sometimes, some memberships can have you bringing a friend or family member along for a discounted massage, which is great for when you like sharing this with someone else.

Flexibility with Unused Massages

Most membership programs will carry-over unused massages into the next month or even let somebody else use them for you. That’s great news if you happen to miss a single month or simply just are too busy to fit those massages in. It gets you some wiggle room without losing on your membership.

Variety of Services

Many massage membership programs you may find will include a number of massages and treatments that you might otherwise not get. You will probably be able to switch from a regular Swedish massage to a deep tissue or even something like a hot stone massage. With membership, you open the door to different experiences without having to pay extra for each one. Certainly a big plus for anyone like me who thrives on variety.

• Monthly Fees Add Up
• While the discounted rate per massage may sound very appealing, keep in mind that you will also be paying a monthly membership fee. If you don’t use all of the massages or aren’t needing one every month, that fee can quickly become a waste of money. It’s very easy to get excited about the membership and then forget about the monthly payments.
• Suppose you pay $60 a month for one massage, and then you miss a month or just don’t feel like going. That’s money spent on a service you are not using. Over time, that can add up, and you might start to feel like you are paying more than you bargained for.
• Limited Availability or Location
• Another drawback with membership for massages is that it usually ties you down with location or to certain chains of spas. Thus, if you travel much or move to a new area, it is very frustrating to realize your membership is not valid everywhere. Even if you find a location nearby, it might not always have availability when you need it. For example, it is always busy during weekends and evenings, so it is difficult to get appointments in those hours.
• Pressure to Use Your Massages
• You may feel obligated to book a massage just to “get your money’s worth” from the membership, especially when you don’t want to. I can say, it has happened to me. Sometimes I need to go, even when actually I don’t need a massage that month. And let’s be real-the idea of paying for a service and not getting one feels like a waste.
• Long-Term Commitment
• With any membership, usually, one commits for a period of time, often six months to a year. The negative side to this, of course, is what happens if you decide, after all, that you no longer like the massages as much anymore, or maybe your lifestyle changes. If you were to cancel prior to when you were supposed to, which would probably be a fixed period of time, you then face cancellation fees or charges. Always read over terms and conditions so you won’t encounter any surprise changes later in the future.
• Quality of Service Can Vary
• Yet another one of the risks of signing up for a membership in a massage program has to do with the inconsistency of the service. That is, sometimes locations happen to get a roster of great, highly skilled therapists, whereas in other locations, this might not be as consistent. If you get a bad therapist you do not click with, it could really leave you disappointed when you have committed to paying for the membership.
• Unused Massages May Expire
• Although many membership programs allow one to roll over unused massages, they usually have an end date. If you don’t use them within that time period, you could lose it altogether-meaning you would be out the money spent on massages you can’t use-what a waste.

Considering the pros and cons, it really would depend on your lifestyle and how much you value regular massages. If you’re into self-care and want to include massages in your schedule, this membership can be a very great way to save money while still having massages as often as possible. The flexibility, discounts, and added perks sound quite tempting.

However, if you don’t think you will use the massage every month or your schedule is too unpredictable, it might not be worth the membership. And let’s not forget, those monthly fees add up if you are not using the service regularly.

Try on the membership with a trial in mind. Most places do a trial month or one-time reduced massage to try it with the hopes it will be incorporated into one’s schedule. If that is your thing, perfect, but at least you’ll find out beforehand without feeling overwhelmed with any obligation.

It’s up to you, but one thing’s for sure: where relaxation is concerned, it is hard to beat massages!

While massage memberships might work for some, they aren’t for everyone. These come in handy with their cost-saving to regular self-care benefits. However, if not used or time isn’t available, it can become a drain on finances. It simply depends on weighing the pros and cons and whether it will fit your lifestyle.

Have you used a massage membership? I would love to hear about your experience.