The Klotz Student Health Center introduced a new massage therapy service Sept. 20 that is now available to students, faculty and staff.

The service was created after several students requested massage therapy, according to Sharon Aronoff, a spokesperson for the Student Health Center.

Aronoff said she did not know whether anyone else had ever tried to implement the program before at CSUN.

The SHC has chair massages available, and will soon offer table massages. Massages are available by appointment only. Fifteen-minute chair massages cost $6 for students and $12 for faculty and staff. One-hour table massages are available for $20 and $45 for students and faculty, respectively.

Rita Wolf, a California-licensed therapist in Los Angeles and Simi Valley, gives the massages. Wolf has been made part of the SHC staff, and is therefore able to provide the service at a low cost to students, faculty and staff.

According to Aronoff, Wolf, who was not available for comment, said she likes to give massages because she likes to see people feel better and relieved of their stress. Aronoff said Wolf uses various techniques in her massages, including reflexology and trigger-point massages.

Janna Beling, chair of the Physical Therapy Department, said the definition of massage is the “systematic manipulation of soft tissue.”

“A trigger-point massage is the response to pressure, stretch, or heat or cold that refers pain somewhere else,” she said.

Aside from relieving pain, massages are good for reducing swelling, Beling said. Massages also increase blood circulation, and help to increase a person’s range of motion. Athletes are encouraged to use massage therapy before and after exercise to help them relax, she said.

Beling said that within the physical therapy program, students learn about all types of massages, such as compression, friction and soft-tissue massages.

In some courses in the Physical Therapy Department, students are allowed to practice massages on each other.

Nuvia Espana, undecided junior, said that a massage would really help her relax from stress caused by school. Espana said she works, studies and exercises a lot.

“I love to work out, but sometimes after you work out after not having worked out for a while, you feel really sore afterward. A massage would be really great then,” Espana said.

Espana also said that she does not ever really stop by the SHC, but this might attract her. Since she uses the gym at school, having a massage at the same location would work out for her, she said.

Though it is still new, the message therapy service has received the attention of many students. Aronoff said the office has been busy, and expects appointments to be booked up soon. Since Wolf is the only massage therapist on staff and she works only part-time, Aronoff suggests booking an appointment as soon as possible, and as many at one time as possible.

“The prices sound good,” Espana said. “I will definitely try to make an appointment now that I know about it.”

Ariana Rodriguez can be reached at ariana.rodriguez@csun.edu.