About five years ago, Richard Laermer, a public relations executive, had time to spare at Logan Airport in Boston.
大約5年前，公關公司負責人拉爾默在波士頓的洛根機場還有些時間可以打發。

“I was milling around the terminal, and I noticed a place that had massage,” recalled Mr. Laermer, whose firm has offices in New York and Los Angeles. “I thought, hmm, I can go to the food court, or I can get a massage.”
拉爾默的公司在紐約和洛杉磯都設有辦公室，他回憶道：「當時，我在航站大廈隨處逛，突然看到有人在按摩。我心裡想，嗯，我可以去美食街吃點東西，也可以不去吃東西，去按個摩。」

He opted for the massage. A young woman kneaded his back and then worked her fingers deep into the soles of his feet. “It was really expensive, but it felt really good,” Mr. Laermer recalled of his 30-minute massage, which cost $50.
他選擇了按摩。一名年輕女子搓揉他的背，然後以手指用力壓他的腳底。他回憶起這次要價50美元的30分鐘按摩時說：「真的很貴，可是感覺還真好。」

Mr. Laermer, who travels about 280,000 kilometers a year, now gets massages regularly at airports. “After it’s been contorted for hours in those airplane seats, my body is so tight it sort of creaks.” After a massage, he said, “I’m creak-free.”
拉爾默每年大約飛行28萬公里，如今經常在各地的機場享受按摩。「在飛機的座椅上窩了幾個小時之後，我的身體往往緊繃到彷彿一動就會發出咯吱聲。」他說，按摩一番之後，「這種情況也隨之消失」。

Once considered something of dubious value, massage has gained respect. “There’s definitely good evidence that massage reduces anxiety, depression and certain kinds of pain,” said Dr. Christopher Moyer, a research psychologist at the University of Wisconsin in Stout, who has been studying the benefits of massage for almost a decade. “There is also some evidence that it might reduce intensity and frequency of headaches.”
按摩的效果曾經受到懷疑，如今已經獲得尊重。史陶特市威斯康辛大學的心理學研究員莫爾研究按摩的好處將近10年。他說：「有充分的證據顯示，按摩可以減輕焦慮、沮喪與某些疼痛症狀。同時也有部分證據顯示，按摩可以減低頭痛的程度與頻率。」

Considering that regular air travel might be viewed as one huge headache, Dr. Moyer says he’s not surprised at the growing availability of massage in airports.
莫爾說，有鑑於經常搭飛機可能讓人十分頭痛，機場按摩日益普遍的現象並不令他意外。

Massage Bar Inc. – the company widely credited as being the first to offer airport massage – estimates that it gives 300 massages a day at 18 American airports. Another company, XpresSpa, has more than 30 airport locations, including three in Amsterdam.
「按摩吧公司」是公認率先在機場提供按摩服務的業者。該公司估算每天在全美各地的18座機場，平均提供300人次按摩。另外一家業者XpresSpa 在各地機場設有30幾個駐點，包括設在荷蘭阿姆斯特丹機場的3個。

Airport spas offer an array of options: Swedish, therapeutic, sport and deep tissue massage. Ruth Werner, president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, recommends chair massage. In a specially designed chair, you lean forward and the therapist works on the shoulders, back and neck, typically places where most tension is felt. Clients remain clothed and no oil or lotion is used. It takes from 10 to 20 minutes.
設在機場的按摩區提供多種按摩選擇，包括瑞典式、治療型、運動型與組織深度按摩。「按摩治療基金會」會長露絲‧華納建議大家試試椅上按摩。你坐上一張經過特殊設計的椅子，身體往前傾，按摩師在你的肩、背及頸部按摩，因為這些部位最容易緊繃。客人不必脫衣，按摩師也不使用任何油膏或塗劑。全程10到20分鐘不等。

“It’s a good way to start,” Ms. Werner said. “Because you’re clothed it’s a little easier and faster, and the intimacy issue is much less.”
華納說：「這是開始的好方法。由於你並未脫下衣服，整個過程會比較輕鬆、快速。肉體接觸的親密程度也會輕微得多。」

Given massage’s long but often undeserved reputation as part of the sex trade, massage professionals for years have been trying to separate sex-for-hire from legitimate massage therapy. “I wish we could say we’re over it, but massage is still being used as a front for human trafficking,” Ms. Werner conceded.
長久以來，人們多把按摩視為色情交易的一環。正派經營的按摩師不斷試著區隔合法按摩治療與色情交易。華納直言：「多麼希望我們可以說我們已經超越了這一道障礙，事實上人口販子還是在以按摩作幌子，掩飾不法勾當。」

To make sure you’re getting a professional-quality massage, Ms. Werner said, “look for someone who is pushing off with the back leg as they work, using all their body weight, and making firm contact.”
華納說，如果要確定你接受的是專業級的按摩，「你就得找這樣的按摩師：工作時以後面那條腿做支柱、用上全身重量，與客人的身體做扎實的接觸」。

Ms. Werner said that massage at an airport can be as effective as that in the most exclusive spas.
華納說，機場按摩的效果不下於一些頂級的按摩店。

Expect to pay about a dollar a minute for chair massage, plus a 20 percent tip if you’re relaxed and “creak free” at the end. Rates can be much higher, especially for full-body massage, as Mr. Laermer discovered, and keeps rediscovering every chance he gets.
通常椅上按摩1分鐘大約得付1美元。外加結束時如果覺得通體舒暢、「僵硬感覺俱已消失」，再多給20%的小費。拉爾默發現，有時候花費可能會高出許多，尤其是全身按摩。他至今每抓到一次機會時，都還會再次發現。

“It’s expensive,” he conceded. “Especially because they’ve managed to suck me into various add-ons.” The experienced flier said his massages are now often followed by a pedicure.
他說：「很貴。尤其是他們都會設法說服我嘗試其他的服務項目。」搭機經驗豐富的拉爾默說，現在，他按完摩後通常都會再修（或護）個腳。

原文參照：
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/business/massage-calms-the-harried-air-traveler.html

2012-05-15聯合報/G9版/UNITEDDAILYNEWS 陳世欽譯 原文參見紐時週報八版左