It’s hard to imagine getting a massage that wasn’t relaxing. Still, getting the most out of your massage is a two-way street. Your massage therapist needs to do their job, but you have steps you can take as well.
Here are some things you can do to get the most out of your next massage:
Stay hydrated
While it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water after a massage to flush away toxins, it’s also important to drink water before your massage as well. The massage pushes lactic acid into your blood stream. Water helps your blood flow and moves theses toxins away.
Talk to your massage therapist
Let the therapist know about any trouble spots: a bad knee from running, sore back from work, etc. We need to know your needs and expectations. When you’re on the table, don’t be afraid to let your therapist know when a technique is working, or if it’s just not working. And if you’re not sure about something, ask questions.
Breathe
Therapists will tell you to breathe during your massage in order to help focus on the muscle being massaged. But there’s another reason breathing is important.
Breathing keeps us present. By focusing on our breathing, we’re taking a more active part in our massage, which allows for more healing.
Savor the experience
When the massage is over, take a moment to think about how you feel before you hop off the table. Are you happy? Reenergized? Sleepy? All these feelings are a normal part of getting a massage, and signal of the release you experienced.
If you’re interested in a massage, contact Body Restoration.
The massage experts at our Philadelphia spa offer therapeutic massages in 60, 75 and 90 minute sessions, with the goal of helping you feel better in both mind and body.
