by Mary Everitt
You did it! You did whatever you needed to do to get yourself on the massage table and are (hopefully!) feeling great, attended to, relaxed and slowed down. Now what?
5 Things to say Yes to:
1. Take a walk: Give yourself a buffer before going back to your daily activities, social media and other forms of stimulation. A short, slow walk is a great way to gather yourself back into the world, and to wake up your legs and lower back after being on the table for a prolonged period.
2. Keep drinking water and other hydrating fluids: The idea that massage “flushes toxins” is vague and not rooted in much science, however it is a good idea to stay hydrated in general. Massage has many amazing health benefits, which you can read here.
3. Have a snack that fuels your body: Any one else get a rumbling tummy while on the table? Massage therapy engages the parasympathetic nervous system – which is our “rest and digest mode.” Depending on the type of massage, your body has actually been doing quite a bit of work in the process of receiving this bodywork and would benefit from a fuel refill. Think light snacks rather than a heavy meal.
4. Have an Epsom salt bath: Soaking in warm water can help further relax muscles and loosen stiff joints. The properties in Epsom salts have been used for hundreds of years to ease aches and pains. Conditions commonly treated with this method include arthritis, fibromyalgia, sprains and bruises, muscle soreness, tired, swollen feet and insomnia. If you have any health concerns, check with your doctor before taking a hot bath, particularly with cardiovascular conditions.
5. Gentle Stretching: After your session you may want to ask about stretches you can do at home, or practice gentle movements to check in with how your body is feeling and shifting post-treatment. Sometimes that just looks like a restorative pose or position to slow down at the end of your day. Check in with me post session and we’ll send you home with something that will benefit YOU.
5 Things to Avoid:
1. Jumping off the table: First things first – Get up slowly. It’s normal to feel light-headed after a massage so please move slowly, even when bending down to put on your shoes. Allow your blood flow to readjust.
2. The Gym: Or other types of strenuous activity. Your muscles have relaxed and stretched beyond their normal range, and adding extra loads or exertion puts you at risk for injury. Consider working out before your massage, or schedule on a rest day.
3. Caffeine, Alcohol and Smoking: These substances can increase the risk of dehydration. Caffeine after a massage can cause the muscles that were just worked on to tense up. Consider having your morning or afternoon coffee before your massage rather than after. Alcohol: because massage increases circulation, alcohol can have a stronger effect post session.
4. Ignoring your body’s response to the massage. It’s common to have some post-massage soreness with deeper work, (though that is not a requirement of “a good massage”) or if you have a medical condition that increases your sensitivity. Consider icing areas of soreness for 15-20 minutes, and let your massage therapist know to adjust for next time. We value follow up!
5. Waiting until you hurt to schedule your next massage: Massage is most helpful when utilized as preventative care. To maximize the benefits, consider scheduling your next appointment directly after your appointment. That way, you know it’s built into your schedule; you can plan ahead to prolong the positive effects and to avoid activities that will take away from your over-all experience. Appointments can always be moved as needed, but it’s not a fun spot to be in to realize your massage therapist is all booked up when you’re in a pain-cycle.
Sound good? Great! We do our best to offer scheduling that works FOR you so we can work WITH you.
Click the here for our convenient online scheduling.
