Wanting a massage today
Added: Mohamed Strub - Date: 24.12.2021 21:33 - Views: 39071 - Clicks: 9541
in. You know your massage therapist was talking to you at the end of the treatment, but you were feeling too sleepy to really take it in. So what to do now? I mean, you had a massage for a reason right?
Maybe you had an injury and you were looking for a way to help speed your recovery. Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your massage session. We also know that getting a massage can help flush some of the toxins out of our bodies. Water is what helps the body to flush out these toxins. Massage helps to increase the circulation of both the blood and the lymphatic system. Your blood needs water in it to keep it moving and doing its job of bringing oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, organs and other tissues.
It also helps to take away the waste products created by the cells in these areas. While your lymphatic system is responsible for maintaining your immune system, it also helps in the removal of toxins. It serves as the fluid transport system between the cells and the bloodstream. This can lead to low immunity as well as aches, pains and fatigue from the build-up of these toxins.
It can be common to need to go to the toilet frequently after a massage, this is because the increase in lymph circulation is helping your body to get rid of any toxic build-up. When I say you should drink water after a massage, I also mean you should increase the amount you would normally drink. Adding an extra glass or two will help your body to get rid of all the nasties and keep you feeling better for longer.
In fact, after a massage I would recommend you avoid these things. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics. Basically this means that you lose more fluid than you gain when you drink it. In fact, because they stop the body from absorbing water effectively, it will do the opposite and your body will struggle to get rid of the toxins.
Yup, have a snack on hand to have after your massage. Because massage speeds up your circulatory systems, other body functions can also be increased — this includes your digestive system. Have you even felt light headed after a massage? This could be because your body needs a fuel boost. But needing an energy boost from a snack is up there on the list. Again, a light snack, an hour or so before your massage, can help too.
If you tend to get light headed, or feel ravenously hungry after or even during a treatment, this could be worth trying. You feel more relaxed, your muscles are looser, you feel calm and content. Heading to work, or out for a night on the town, are both not the best options for you right now. Put your feet up, read a book, watch some TV, have a nap…whatever helps you to continue to feel good and helps to prolong that calm feeling of wellbeing. Listen to your body. If you feel like having a sleep — do it. If you want to stretch out on the couch — go for it. Your muscles have just been worked and manipulated, similar to an intense work out — this is your time to recover, repair and retune yourself.
I also recommend not to do any intense physical activity after a massage. Heading to the gym, or going for run are not the best options for you right now. With the muscles being lengthened and worked, you run the risk of injury if you then go on to do an intense workout. You can go back to your training regimen the next day.
What could be better than that feeling of sinking into a nice warm bath? This can help with the above advice of rest, take a little more time out and allow your body to relax completely. Adding some Epsom salts magnesium sulphate to the bath will also help with easing any aches and pains. The magnesium in the Epsom salts will absorb through skin, while the warm water helps to open your blood vessels, therefore helping to increase circulation.
You can find Epson salts in most super markets and chemists, and they tend to be reasonably priced. If you are having trouble with inflammation including swellingyou should ice the area instead. Using a cold pack wrapped in cloth apply to the swollen or inflamed area for ten minutes, then take it off for ten minutes. The cold should help to reduce the inflammation pain by numbing the area. You can repeat this process, but be sure to give the area those breaks in between. The cold will constrict the blood vessels which helps to reduce the blood flow and therefore swelling to the area.
Both during and after a massage you might feel any of emotions. As the body relaxes, it is normal for the body to also release the emotional baggage we are holding on to. While you might feel elated, refreshed or energised, there may be times when you feel a need to cry. Prolonged stress does crazy things to our bodies, including our hormones, and this manifests in our emotions.
Massage helps the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in. This helps to reduce levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol and increases levels of dopamine and serotonin. Have you ever left a massage feeling a little sore in your muscles? As well as this, when muscles get overly tight, they can constrict the blood vessels in the area.
Over time, this stops the circulatory system from effectively flushing out the waste in that area and you can get a build-up, which causes soreness. If you have regular massage, you might find this decreases over time, however it does depend on what you do between visits or how often you get a massage. This soreness should not be too severe — more like the ache after a big exercise session. If it does last longer, this is can be an indication that the massage therapist might have worked the muscles a little too hard. It is important to tell your massage therapist at your next session if anything was particularly painful so that the treatment can be modified next time.
Each of these little things can help you to get the best out of each treatment. More importantly, it can help you to keep the benefits going for longer — and we all like value for money right?
The final thing to remember, is to talk to your therapist if you need to. If you have a question, a query or a concern, let them know. Find out more about what Susan does at Mind Body Continuum. Remedial massage therapist, infant massage instructor, meditation teacher, blogger. Get started. Open in app. Mind-Body Continuum.
in Get started. Get started Open in app. Drink water! Have a bath. Welcome any emotions. More from Mind-Body Continuum Follow.
Book a massage online with Serenity Massage Therapy in Taradale or Puketapu (Napier), Hawkes Bay, NZ