Students feeling stressed out, with taut and tight muscles from studying, may benefit from a new massage therapy workshop being offered by Ames Parks and Recreation.

A one-day massage workshop will be held Sept. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Aerobics Room of the Ames Community Center, 515 Clark Ave. The only thing not provided is a buddy to practice on.

The workshop will be instructed by Amanda Smith, a licensed massage therapist and junior in exercise and sports science.

Participants will learn basic and effective massage techniques for the head, neck and shoulders.

This is the second year the workshop has been offered. Smith said last year four sessions drew a lot of interest. Fifteen couples attended the spring 2003 workshop.

“It’s a neat way for people to get to learn about massage techniques, and how to do it properly,” said Nancy Shaw, wellness supervisor at Ames Parks and Recreation Center.

Shaw said the idea came from a conversation she had with a massage therapist.

“We just started talking about it and came up with some ideas and went from there … the interest really seems to be there,” Shaw said.

Smith became interested in becoming a masseuse when she got her first professional massage as a Christmas gift at the age of 14. She has been studying massage therapy for the past two years.

Smith said massage therapy offers a number of benefits for the body, mood and mind.

“It’s great for increasing circulation and decreasing stress. It actually decreases the hormones that cause depression and increases the natural feel-good hormones,” Smith said.

Smith added massage therapy improves the mood, feels great and is a great way to help and be proactive in someone’s life.

“It’s one of those skills that’s really useful to have. You can always rub out your own sore neck, and if you’re roommate is really stressed out, it’s a great way to help them relax and calm down,” Smith said.

Smith recommended a comfortable place to work, such as a chair, and open communication with the person being massaged about what feels good and what doesn’t were important to a good massage.

For those who think they need strong hands to be a good masseuse, Smith said the real key is working the body weight appropriately. A willingness to do a good job is important too, she said.

The cost for the workshop is $28 per pair. For more information, contact Ames Parks and Recreation.