National Massage Awareness Week 2025: The Healing Power of Massage in Flatiron NYC

October 20, 2025
By Marc J. Gian, L.Ac., LMT | MJG Acupuncture & Massage

Hey New York City! National Massage Awareness Week is here, October 19 to 25, and it’s the perfect moment to pause, breathe, and remember that your body has been carrying you through a lot. Between subway commutes, glowing laptop screens, deadlines, and workouts in Flatiron or Union Square, massage therapy isn’t a luxury. It’s essential holistic therapy for the modern New Yorker.

Whether you’re searching for the best massage in Flatiron NYC or massage therapy near Union Square, this is where wellness meets real results.

MJG Acupuncture & Massage, led by Marc J. Gian, L.Ac., LMT, has been helping New Yorkers find balance for over 25 years. From Flatiron and Union Square to Gramercy, Chelsea, and Crown Heights, Brooklyn, each session integrates massage therapy, acupuncture, and essential oils to help clients unwind, restore circulation, and reconnect to themselves. When the body relaxes, the mind follows.

This week, let’s explore how massage can help you feel grounded, clear, and strong both inside and out.

What Is National Massage Awareness Week?

Each October, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) celebrates the profession and its power to heal. The 2025 theme is Massage for Wellness, reminding us that massage isn’t just for sore muscles; it’s for prevention, balance, and restoration.

In NYC, where stress practically has its own ZIP code, this week shines a spotlight on what’s possible when we slow down. Think free community demos, wellness workshops, and self-care classes across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

At MJG Acupuncture & Massage in Flatiron NYC, we’re honoring the week by offering sessions that blend bodywork, essential oils, and Traditional Chinese Medicine principles to help you transition from fall to winter with ease.

Why Massage Matters — Especially in NYC

Massage therapy has been part of healing traditions for thousands of years. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s about moving Qi, the body’s life force, so energy can circulate freely. When it stagnates, we feel stress, pain, and fatigue. When it flows, we feel alive.

Here’s how it helps the modern New Yorker:

1. Melt Stress and Calm the Mind

Between Union Square commutes and endless notifications, your nervous system is constantly “on.” Massage flips the switch by lowering cortisol, raising serotonin, and giving your body permission to exhale.

Many clients come to MJG Acupuncture & Massage seeking stress relief massage in Manhattan, worn down from long commutes and constant screens. We often blend lavender or palmarosa oil on acupoints that open the chest and calm the heart. Clients walk out softer, clearer, and often say, “Marc, I feel like myself again.”

2. Relieve Pain and Prevent Injury

Hours hunched over a laptop or pounding the pavement in Chelsea take their toll. Techniques like deep tissue massage, Tui Na, and Gua Sha improve circulation and release deep muscle tension.

For athletes, creatives, and desk workers alike, sports massage in Flatiron and deep tissue techniques keep you strong and injury-free. For recovery, we often combine massage with cupping therapy to prevent strain and speed healing. Massage doesn’t just fix pain; it helps you move with freedom again.

3. Discover Hidden Tensions

Massage reveals what we’ve been ignoring. A stiff neck from scrolling or lower back fatigue from meetings are silent drains on your energy.

During a session, we help you recognize and release those holding patterns. We also teach simple self-massage, Qigong breathing, and how to apply safely apply peppermint oil to acupoints to stay tuned in between sessions.

If you’ve been searching for holistic massage NYC or “massage for hidden pain,” this approach helps you reconnect with your body and find lasting ease.

4. Boost Immunity and Energy

Massage boosts lymph flow, supports digestion, and strengthens the lungs, which is especially important as the weather cools. We often use rosemary and tea tree oils to awaken Qi and support the immune system, helping Flatiron and Union Square clients feel energized and centered through the fall and winter seasons.

The MJG Approach: TCM + Essential Oils

Every massage at MJG Acupuncture & Massage is designed to restore balance on multiple levels: physical, energetic, and emotional. We weave together Tui Na, aromatherapy, and acupuncture when appropriate, creating a personalized experience that meets you exactly where you are.

Whether it’s palmarosa oil for anxiety, eucalyptus for sinus relief, or moxibustion for fatigue, each element works in harmony to support your healing.

As a licensed massage therapist in NYC and acupuncturist with over 25 years of experience, Marc Gian combines Eastern wisdom with modern technique to help you feel grounded, clear, and energized.

A Gramercy client once said after a session, “Marc, I had no idea how much tension I was holding until it was gone.” That’s the beauty of this medicine—it brings you back to yourself.

Join the Movement: NMTAW 2025 in NYC

This week, wellness events are happening citywide, from community demos to self-massage classes.

At MJG Acupuncture & Massage, we’re using this moment to encourage New Yorkers to slow down, listen, and reconnect with their bodies. Whether through mindful stretching, self-massage, or simply resting between tasks, every act of care matters.

If you can’t make it into the office this week, take a few minutes each night to gently massage the base of your skull or apply the Meridian Biologix blend Quiet Moment before sleep. Small rituals like this can shift your entire week.

If you feel called to experience deeper restoration, my doors in Flatiron and Brooklyn are open.

Why Choose MJG Acupuncture & Massage

With offices in Flatiron Manhattan and Crown Heights Brooklyn, MJG Acupuncture & Massage offers one-on-one sessions rooted in deep listening and results that last. Our approach combines Massage Therapy, essential oils, acupuncture and breath-work to address both physical and emotional stress.

Many clients notice relief before the session even ends. It’s a feeling of peace that lingers long after you leave the table.

Final Word: Make Massage Part of Your NYC Wellness Kit

In the city that never slows down, massage helps you reset and listen to your body again.

This National Massage Awareness Week, give yourself permission to rest, heal, and recharge.

Call (845) 519-9256 or email marcgian@gmail.com to schedule your session in Flatiron or Brooklyn.

Whether you’re looking for stress relief, deep healing, or simply the best massage in Flatiron NYC, make self-care your NYC superpower—not a luxury, but a way of life