For starters Massage Envy can be the name of a very popular and growing business in the United States.  Massage Envy was founded by John Leonesio in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2002.  Massage Envy is a membership-based and single-visit provider of massage therapy.  There are now 420 franchises in 36 states, with another 350 in development and expected to be completed in the next six years.  Massage Envy is using their financial resources to lobby for new massage businesses across the US, bringing massage to individuals who couldn’t afford massage due to high costs.  One negative downfall is the fact they pay their massage therapists very little, $15-18 dollars per 50 minute massage.  This might sound tempting coming right out of massage therapy school but this hourly rate is minute especially when therapists typically only get paid when they have a client, regardless of hours on the clock.  Massage Envy offers a variety of techniques including:  Geriatric, Chair, Sports, and Trigger Point Massage.

According to Wikipedia, “massage therapy is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.”  Massage therapy is applied using the hands, elbows, feet, or the through the use of instruments to provide a therapeutic effect on the body.  Massage therapy is done utilizing different techniques such as effleurage, pettrissage, kneading, tapotement, trigger point release, myofascial release, and many more.  Massage therapy is performed in spas, hospitals, chiropractic offices, gyms and wellness centers, physical therapy centers, corporate events, and health fairs.  Many people can also be envious of their peers receiving massage therapy, especially those on a regular basis.  Massage decompresses the mind, allowing for stress and tension reduction and rejuvenation.  More and more reputable massage businesses are making massage therapy affordable to the general public and many are also accepting health insurance for therapeutic massages.