Massages are good to add to your lifestyle. If you are physically training with weights and muscle toning, massages are great for your overall body relaxing.
If you’re scheduling your first massage appointment, you may not know what to expect. Every massage therapist is slightly different in his or her technique, but there are a few things that ring true no matter who you book with. Put your mind at ease beforehand so that you can fully enjoy your massage moment.
Below are some of the most important things that we should consider before, during and after massages. Let’s take note!
Be on Time
Massage therapists often massage at least 8-10 people on, an average per day. They always make appointments with spaces in between each to relax and restore energy. Making it late to your appointments, you cut down on your treatment time leaving the therapist no choice but finish as soon as possible to get ready for the next appointment. Now, by being way too early (A) you are wasting your time sitting and waiting for the therapist to finish and (B) after they are done with the previous appointment, they don’t get the time to relax and restore themselves. As a result, both ways they end up giving you a terrible massage. Try and make an appointment that is best for you, so the therapists can make it work around it to give you the best massage treatment.
Undressing Is Optional But Normal
A lot of people are uncomfortable getting undressed for a massage appointment. That’s okay, but know that it’s completely normal. Your massage therapist is a licensed professional and using a thin sheet between you and your skin allows the massage therapist to do a more precise job than he or she could do with thick layers of clothing in the way. Your massage therapist will give you space to dress and undress alone.
Hydration Makes The Massage Better
Massage stimulates circulation and the removal of waste from the muscles. In order to properly facilitate that flushing process, the body needs a lot of water. In the aftermath of your massage, your muscles will likely be dehydrated – especially if you weren’t properly hydrated before you came in. Be prepared to hydrate yourself after the massage. If you don’t, you may feel residual soreness after the fact.
Plan Your Workout Beforehand
After a massage, your muscles are relaxed. During a workout, they’re all pumped up. A post-workout massage is very soothing. A pre-workout massage might make your workout a little more difficult. Walking into the gym so loose and limber will put you in too relaxed of a state to have an efficient workout. Save the massage as your reward for an amazing workout session.
Silence is the Key
The mind and body put together to create peace and calm. A lot of people can’t control their excitement when it comes to talking to a new person, but your massage appointment is not the time to socialize. It’s time to feel the therapist working on your tissues and muscles. By talking (A) you distract your therapist and their conscious is now answering your questions rather than working on your tight muscles and (B) you don’t know what happened to your body during the massage and you miss out on relaxing your body and mind.
Pregame With A Shower
A shower is a great idea for a number of reasons – one of which is that you’ll be coming in clean, and you won’t have to worry about any of your natural smells becoming apparent in a confined space with a massage therapist. The other is that a long, hot shower will jumpstart the relaxation process. Your muscles will be ready for the massage, and you’ll be able to make the most of it.
Breathe Like You’re Meditating – It Enhances The Experience
The massage therapist’s job is to work out the tension in your muscles and improve your circulation. Your job is to keep your body properly oxygenated so the massage will address the issues it’s designed to address. Breathing deeply and calmly, almost as though you’re meditating, keeps your blood oxygenated. The rush of the oxygen-rich blood through the muscle being massaged is precisely how a massage works to make you feel better.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For What You Want
Your massage therapist has no way of knowing what the massage feels like for you. He or she can only find muscles that seem to need work. If you have a specific spot that’s giving you trouble, tell your therapist. Problem areas can be specifically addressed. If you need a deep tissue massage or if you have a sports injury you want to be treated, book a massage designed to target that concern.
Don’t Get A Massage On A Full Stomach
Massage manipulates both the muscles and the organs. Getting a massage on a full stomach can be uncomfortable. Eat something light a few hours beforehand, and plan a larger meal for after your massage. Manipulating your organs can have an effect on your digestive system, specifically in the form of gas. It may be embarrassing, but it happens all the time. Your massage therapist already knows it may happen.
Be Vocal If It’s Painful
It’s normal for certain aspects of a massage to feel slightly uncomfortable, but if that discomfort becomes actual pain, you need to tell your massage therapist. Everyone has a different tolerance for pressure and injured or sore muscles may be highly sensitive. Always let your massage therapist know. There is absolutely nothing wrong with telling the therapist what needs to be done, as at the end of the day it is your body. If you do not get comfortable talking to your therapist and be open about your requirements, massage is a bad idea. Almost 60% of the time you end up with the wrong treatment style and make yourself worse. It is also your therapist’s duty to make sure you feel comfortable before you get on the treatment bed.
Massage Isn’t “One and Done”
Getting a massage can provide short-term, temporary relief to aching muscles. The effects of a massage will last a little while, but eventually, you’re going to need to get another one. This is why massage is a therapy, rather than a one-time treatment. It’s designed to be continuously used. One massage is great, but a few massages a year are fantastic.
Ask for Choices in Massage Oils
Most massage places have a lot of choices in their collection of oils. Always ask your therapist to let you try the aroma of each one. There are blended and non-blended oils. If you couldn’t find what you’re looking for in the blended ones, ask for the non-blend options and choose the infusion that relaxes you the most. Some oils that the therapist use can be too strong and end up giving you a headache instead of curing.
Remember That You’re In The Driver’s Seat
Guide your massage therapist. The experience is all for you. If you know what you want, even if it’s to spend the entire session working on only one of your legs, just tell your massage therapist. A great massage is designed to be relaxing, rejuvenating, and therapeutic for you.
We encourage everyone to get a body massage. Usually recommend once in three months to release all the body toxins and relax the tissues that often tighten.