WORCESTER—Stress relief meets self-discovery when Mental Massage makes its return to the city this month.
The program — a blend of guided visualization and hands-on massage — comes to the WCUW FrontRoom on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. It marks the first time in years the workshop is open to the public in Worcester. Admission is $20, payable at the door, and space is limited to 20 participants.
The concept was born in 2011, when motivational speaker and coach Tom Ingrassia and licensed massage therapist Jared Chrudimsky happened to be scheduled to give presentations on the same morning at their business networking group.
“During one of our early morning runs, Jared said, ‘Why don’t we combine my massage demonstration and your guided visualization—and do a joint 20-minute presentation,’” Ingrassia told The Worcester Guardian. “The response we got from the 60 members of the networking group was amazing. Jared and I knew we had created something very special and unique. That is how Mental Massage came to be.”
The workshop has since traveled across the country, adapting to a variety of audiences — from corporate teams and nonprofits to caregiver and cancer survivor support groups. While the settings vary, Ingrassia said the core goal is always the same: helping participants release stress, clarify goals, and unlock a sense of possibility.
One story stands out. “A woman who had recently lost her job… envisioned herself working in a glass office tower, with windows looking out onto water,” Ingrassia said. “Three months later, she landed a job in Boston’s financial district — working in a glass tower, with a view of Boston Harbor.”
Ingrassia leads participants through guided visualization while Chrudimsky delivers neck and shoulder massage. The combination, Ingrassia said, helps people tap into “the subconscious, where we can reconnect with those things that are truly important to us.”
Participants leave with self-motivation tools to carry the practice forward — from meditation guides to self-assessment exercises.
“One of the most important messages Jared and I share is the critical importance of focusing on your own health and wellness first and foremost,” Ingrassia continued. “Even if you can spare just 30 minutes a day from your hectic life — take that time to do something that brings you joy and is soul satisfying.”
The Sept. 24 session is hosted by WCUW 91.3FM at its FrontRoom venue, 910 Main St. Free parking is available across the street. A second session is already scheduled for Dec. 3.
The workshop is billed as “a brief, enlightening escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
