Massage Therapists in Memphis

June 15, 2026

Unlike a generic spa booking made on price alone, choosing a Memphis massage therapist means selecting a licensed health professional who can take a brief intake, assess where tension or restriction sits, and tailor pressure and technique to the issue at hand. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its large logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing workforce keeps demand for therapeutic bodywork steady. Local clinics treat everyday complaints such as low back and neck tension, headaches, repetitive-strain from physical and desk work, sports recovery, and the discomforts of pregnancy.

Massage therapy is a licensed health profession in Tennessee, not an unregulated service. The Tennessee Massage Licensure Board, which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health, sets the standards a practitioner must meet to use the title Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). As of July 1, 2024, an applicant must complete an approved program of 650 hours of education (the previous standard was 500 hours), covering sciences, massage theory, allied modalities, ethics, and Tennessee massage law, and must pass a national examination such as the MBLEx. Therapists also clear a background check and renew the license every two years with continuing education. Massage establishments are licensed separately by the same board, and the practices listed below operate within that framework.

For consumers, the regulatory structure offers practical tools. Anyone can confirm that a therapist or establishment holds an active Tennessee license through the Department of Health verification system at apps.health.tn.gov. Complaints about a therapist’s conduct or care are handled by the Tennessee Department of Health and its Health Related Boards through the Office of Investigations, reachable at 1-800-852-2187, rather than by the Division of Consumer Affairs. Disputes that are purely commercial, such as a billing or package dispute, may instead involve the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

Memphis practices vary in focus, and understanding the difference helps in choosing one. Clinical and medical-massage studios concentrate on deep tissue, neuromuscular and myofascial release, trigger point work, manual lymphatic drainage, and injury recovery, often coordinating with physical therapists or physicians. Others blend therapeutic work with relaxation, prenatal, structural integration, and cupping services. Several established Memphis therapists practice in suburban communities such as Germantown and Bartlett while serving clients across the metro, so location should be weighed against a therapist’s specialty. Most practices operate by appointment, and many require a short health-history form on the first visit. A professional massage is generally treated as a healthcare service rather than a taxable retail sale, though retail products such as oils or supplements are subject to Shelby County’s combined 9.75% sales tax. This article is informational and is not medical advice; decisions about massage or any treatment should be made with a qualified, licensed provider, particularly during pregnancy or while managing an injury or medical condition.

Top Massage Therapists Providers in Memphis

1. The Healing Point

Address: 1034 S. Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 275-8644
Website: https://www.healingpointmassage.com
Services: therapeutic and medical massage, Swedish massage, myofascial release, structural integration, cupping, gua sha, craniosacral therapy, Thai massage, prenatal massage, neurokinetic therapy, corrective exercise and Pilates
Description: The Healing Point is a clinical massage and bodywork practice in the Cooper-Young area, owned and founded by Bobbi Lynn Carter, LMT, who holds CSMT, CSSI, and BCTMB credentials. The studio fields a team of licensed massage therapists and pairs hands-on bodywork with functional assessment, offering medical and therapeutic massage, myofascial release, structural integration, cupping, gua sha, craniosacral and Thai work, and prenatal massage. It also provides neurokinetic therapy, corrective exercise, and Pilates instruction, and operates a second location in Bartlett. The therapists’ national certification and the practice’s emphasis on pain relief and injury treatment make it a clinically oriented option for the Memphis area.

2. Elyse McMeen, LMT

Address: 692 W Brookhaven Circle, Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: (615) 473-5427
Website: https://www.emcmeenlmt.com
Services: deep tissue massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, acupressure, reflexology, cupping therapy, prenatal massage
Description: Elyse McMeen is a Licensed Massage Therapist who has practiced in Memphis since 2004 and works from a location at Better Bodies Yoga in the Brookhaven Circle area. Her practice is clinically focused, specializing in repetitive-use injuries, chronic pain, and both pre- and post-operative recovery, often in collaboration with physical therapists. Her techniques include deep tissue massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, acupressure, and reflexology, and she is certified in cupping therapy and prenatal massage. The long Memphis tenure and pain-and-injury orientation make this a practical option for clients seeking targeted therapeutic work rather than a spa setting.

3. The Lindsey Group Massage Professionals

Address: 8558 Cordes Circle, Germantown, TN 38139
Phone: (901) 428-0197
Website: https://lindseygroup.massagetherapy.com
Services: therapeutic and medical massage, deep tissue, sports massage, manual lymphatic drainage, scar tissue release, myofascial release, massage cupping, prenatal massage, TMJ treatment
Description: The Lindsey Group Massage Professionals is a clinical, customized-treatment practice based in Germantown that serves the greater Memphis area. The group includes several licensed massage therapists, among them Valerie Lindsey, LMT, CMCP, and distinguishes itself from membership-based spas by building customized treatment plans that include medical massage therapies. Its services span deep tissue and sports massage, manual lymphatic drainage, scar tissue release, myofascial release, massage cupping, prenatal massage, and treatment for TMJ syndrome. The therapists are members of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals and follow the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork code of ethics, and several hold the Certified Medical Cupping Practitioner credential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Therapists in Memphis

Q: Who licenses and regulates massage therapists in Memphis and Tennessee?

Massage therapists in Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the Tennessee Massage Licensure Board, which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health. The board sets the education, examination, and conduct standards a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) must meet to practice anywhere in the state, including Memphis, and it also licenses the massage establishments where therapists work.

Q: How do I verify that a Memphis massage therapist is licensed?

You can confirm a therapist’s or an establishment’s license through the Tennessee Department of Health license-verification system at apps.health.tn.gov. The system shows whether a license is active and reports any disciplinary action on record, which is a useful check before booking a first appointment with a new provider.

Q: What training does a Licensed Massage Therapist need in Tennessee?

As of July 1, 2024, a Tennessee LMT must complete an approved program of 650 hours of education, up from the previous 500-hour standard. The curriculum includes coursework in sciences, massage theory, allied modalities, ethics, and Tennessee massage law. Applicants must pass a national examination such as the MBLEx, clear a background check, and renew the license every two years with continuing education.

Q: Should I choose a Memphis therapist in the city or in a suburb like Germantown?

Several established Memphis-area therapists practice in suburban communities such as Germantown and Bartlett while serving clients from across the metro. Because specialties vary, it is often more useful to match a therapist’s training and focus, whether medical massage, sports recovery, or prenatal work, to your goal, and then weigh travel distance. Confirming the therapist’s active Tennessee license applies the same regardless of which community the studio is in.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a massage therapist in Memphis?

Complaints about a therapist’s conduct or care are filed with the Tennessee Department of Health and its Health Related Boards through the Office of Investigations, reachable at 1-800-852-2187, not with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Disputes that are purely commercial, such as a billing or package dispute, may instead involve the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

Q: Is massage therapy taxed in Tennessee?

A professional therapeutic massage is generally treated as a healthcare service rather than a taxable retail sale. Retail products sold alongside a session, such as oils, lotions, or supplements, are subject to sales tax, which reaches a combined 9.75% in Shelby County. Clients should request an itemized receipt that separates the service from any taxable products. This information is general and not tax or medical advice; consult a licensed provider or tax professional for your situation.