There is a massage school not far from me at all so I can't believe it took me this long to try it out but I finally made it. Miller-Motte College offers a program in massage and esthetics and they have a clinic at which you can have a student massage, or even a massage by a licensed therapist.
As you can see from the link, a one hour massage with a student is only $30 and they are not allowed to accept tips so it's really just $30. The one hour with the therapist is $40. I opted to go with the therapist this time.
I had an evening appointment and I was running late. It's rare that I am late for an appointment but it had been a long day and I was going directly from work. The location is very close to Crossroads in Cary. I parked in the fairly large parking lot and fortunately (since I was running late) it was easy to find the entrance to the clinic.
There was a man at the front desk who didn't seem like a therapist, maybe just a front desk guy. He seemed a little annoyed that I was late -- but really, if they just take the time out of your massage then what is there to be irritated about on his end. I was surprised how large the clinic was. It had a more "retaily" feel kind of like Massage Envy, but bigger. Massage Envy is kind of cramped. On the hall where all the treatmnet room are, there must have been 20 doors. There were students milling about. Some of them were for esthetics. My therapist was a friendly woman and she wasn't irriated at all about me being late.
The room was very simple and and basic but was spacious and super clean. Here and at Massage Envy they don't have the little decorations and other stuff you will find at most other places. I must say it did seem very clean, and I like that. The music left something to be desired. It was piano music and is was kind of cheesy. At one point Greensleves came on. I prefer the new-agey stuf and nature sounds.
My massage was very good but pretty basic. I asked her what the deal was the the therapists working there and she said it was to cover when they were short on students. (So, who knows, you may schedule an appointment with a student but if they are short you cold get a therapist, maybe.) Or, when some people want deep work that the student is not comfortable with.
I would say I got a good basic massage. She did a lot of work on my trap area and, while that is always tenses and knotted, I don't that massage there is as effective as some other muscles. It seems like when I have a really good massage and they work at these little muscles I didn't know I had, I seem to get the longest lasting results.
I'll go back. I will probably try a student. I left a $10 tip because I felt I got better than a $40 massage. This place is a real find. Again, it is very clean and the prices are cheap. My therapist was good and very friendly.
