Do you partake in a therapeutic massage every now and then and wonder how you can really make the most of each session? How you can reach the ultimate stage of relaxation and stress relief? How to make the benefits of each massage last even longer and ease nagging pain?
We’ve put together some helpful tips to help you experience the best massage possible and reap the lasting effects. Don’t forget, it’s important to set the stage for relaxing before you even arrive to your appointment. Schedule your appointment a few days in advance so you can look forward to it and ensure you’ll be able to arrive early. Running late and feeling frazzled right before your massage makes it that much more difficult to truly relax.
- 1. Drink water before and after.
Besides arriving early, you’ll want to make sure you stay extra hydrated prior to your massage. Massage therapy helps push lactic acid out of your muscle tissue and into your bloodstream, where it circulates throughout your body. If you’re not hydrated enough, your blood flow can be sluggish and not able to process these toxins as optimally as it should. Drinking water after your massage is just as important, to continue to help flush out the minerals that were released during your massage while rehydrating your muscles and reducing potential soreness.
- 2. Open communication with your massage therapist.
When you arrive to your appointment, it’s important to talk openly with your therapist. Do you have an old injury that constantly plagues you? Are you experiencing pain in certain areas? Do you have regular headaches or trouble sleeping? It’s imperative to let your therapist know these things and to be specific. Also, be open about areas you want them to avoid or focus on. During your massage, the more feedback you provide, the more they will be able to help you. If the pressure is too much or not enough, let your therapist know. Same when something feels good, feel free to communicate that to help get the most from your massage.
- 3. Clear your mind and breathe.
With our busy lives, it’s often hard to let go of worries and ease the mind. Focusing on your breathing technique during your massage session can help you reach a state of relaxation and alleviate overwhelming thoughts of daily tasks and responsibilities. It’s important to take deep, regular breaths. especially when the massage therapist is working on a muscle knot or tender area. If you do not, it’s more difficult to get the muscle to release its tension.
- 4. Partake in massages often.
The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative, so its greatest benefits are seen over time. The more often you get a massage, the quicker your body will respond and chronic patterns of stress or pain can be released. If you usually go a few times a year, try going once a month over a certain period of time and track how your body responds. Chances are, you’ll see your body reach its optimal level of comfort. FBN
Mark Love is co-owner of Massage Envy Flagstaff. For more information on the benefits of massage, go to MassageEnvy.com or Facebook.com/MEFlag.
For additional tips or to schedule an appointment, visit massageenvy.com, call 928-526-ENVY (3689), or visit one of Arizona’s 32 Massage Envy locations. The Flagstaff location is at 1235 S. Plaza Way in the University Plaza Shopping Center off Milton Road next to Ross and Safeway.