Did you know that Health Services offers massage therapy to students, faculty, and staff? Depending on how much you're willing to undress, you can get a one-hour therapeutic full-body massage, a 30-minute therapeutic or pressure point massage, or a 15-minute chair massage. A one-hour massage ranges from $80-$110 at spas around Pittsburgh, but at Health Services you'll only pay $45. The 30-minute massages are $25 and the 15-minute ones cost $15. You can pay by check, credit card, or have it charged to your student account.

Research has shown that massages have benefits such as deep relaxation, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved self-image. At such a low price, giving up a bit of your free time might really be worth it. For the skeptics, the Health Services website spells out how therapeutic massage works: "The long smooth strokes used in massage activate a relaxation response by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. The heart rate and blood pressure are lowered, breathing is deeper, the muscles relax and the blood flow returns to the skin and internal organs, resuming normal digestion and blood circulation."

Massages are available 4 – 7 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 4:30 – 7 pm on Wednesdays. Make your appointment in advance by calling Health Services at x8-2157. You'll need to show up 15 minutes early for your first treatment in order to fill out a form that will help the massage therapist tailor the massage to your needs. Make sure if you need to cancel an appointment you do so more than 24 hours in advance, otherwise your student account will be charged $15.

For more information, check out the massage section of the Health Services website.

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