Preparing for final exams can be a pain in the neck for many college students.

To help students cope with that prefinals tension, Richardson Court Association Student Government is organizing a free massage clinic in Maple Hall tonight at 7 p.m.

Dawn Kanoski, RCA special events chair, said the group plans to bring a licensed massage therapist to campus to instruct students on the proper techniques of massage for stress relief.

She said the massage clinic “will be a good way for students to have some fun, relieve stress before dead week and meet new people.”

Kanoski, junior in journalism and mass communication, said the RCA student government expects a crowd of at least 50 students to attend the clinic.

“It fits in nicely before dead week and finals as a last event before you have to get down to studying for exams,” she said.

Sharlene Macatangay, a freshmen in engineering and an RCA resident, said she plans on attending the clinic.

“I think it will be fun,” she said. “Everybody’s had a friend give them a back rub sometime, and I’d like to see how it’s really supposed to be done.”

Cindy Larson, a licensed massage therapist who owns Total Relaxation in Ames, will be facilitating the clinic.

Larson said she received training in Swedish massage and foot reflexology from the Iowa College of Natural Health in Des Moines.

She said her typical clients range from college students to older adults and her normal sessions can focus on total-body or a specific-area massage.

Tonight’s clinic will begin with Larson teaching some relaxation techniques, including a lesson in slow, relaxing breathing.

Larson said she will then continue with massage demonstrations and training on massage techniques. She will also allow time for participants to practice on each other.

“There’s so much to talk about [that] an hour couldn’t cover it. I tried to pick out the best things that would be fun and interesting for students,” she said.

Larson added that she will bring gift certificates with her to the clinic for students interested in purchasing them as holiday gifts for family and friends.