Get the Most Out of Your Massage

This topic may seem odd; what is there to know about getting a massage? It just happens and an hour later you’re relaxed. What’s to know? Well, you may be surprised to learn, there’s actually a lot you can do to make sure your massage is the most enjoyable it can be, before, during, and after your treatment. 

Before Your Massage: It’s All About You 

Start with the small stuff. If you think you’re going to be too hot or too cold in your session, see if there’s anything your therapist can do about that. Sometimes your Massage Therapist may play music to add to the atmosphere, but if that’s going to disturb you, let them know (trust me, if you prefer to change the music from ‘spa’ music we don’t mind one bit). Long story short, this is your massage and you want it to be comfortable. Your Therapist wants that too. Imagine them using all their skills on your muscles, just to find out you couldn’t enjoy yourself because it was too bright in there, you hated the smell of their oils or you just didn’t enjoy the music they were playing. It may feel silly but speak up about your preferences. 

This goes double for anything you don’t feel comfortable getting worked on. Maybe you had a strange experience with a previous Therapist, explain the circumstance so your new Therapist can reassure you they won’t repeat the same situation. Generally, your Massage Therapist will ask you about any concerns, but if they don’t, be sure to give them a heads up. 

Your Massage Therapist may also ask you about any injuries you may have, even if they’re old, or recent changes that your body has gone through like weight loss or gain. This may seem like an odd concept, but the body holds memory of things like injury trauma and stress. Your Therapist may not be able to heal that 20-year-old sports injury in one session but the knowledge of it may change their approach to your whole treatment. 

Now you’re ready to get going! You might hear your Therapist say, “get undressed to your comfort level” and you might really not know what that means. Do I get completely naked? Do I leave my underwear on? What about my bra? The truth is, IT IS YOUR COMFORT LEVEL we are looking for. If it means you need to keep your turtleneck on, then that’s ok. Nobody should ever tell you that you HAVE to get completely undressed in order for them to “do their job properly”. Get out, and find yourself another Therapist!

During Your Massage: Communication is Key 

Once your session starts, you may think you have to be silent. While you may break a little of the ambiance, that’s nothing compared to being quiet and uncomfortable. There are a few things you may want to speak up about during your massage. For example, we all have different thresholds for pressure, if you feel like things are getting a little intense, let your Massage Therapist know they may need to ease up. “No pain, no gain,” doesn’t apply here, more pressure doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better massage, so you don’t have to suffer through anything. 

That being said, if your Massage Therapist starts working on something you didn’t expect to be uncomfortable with, tell them. If they’re working on something for a specific reason as part of your treatment, it can help to understand what they’re doing. They may be able to adjust pressure or have you breathe more to help through the discomfort. 

Speaking of breathing, deep breaths are incredibly important to enjoy your massage. While you may assume your body is doing this naturally, mindful deep breaths help put your neurological system at ease. Let’s get biological for a second, the part of your nervous system that deals with stress is called the autonomic nervous system and it’s divided into two parts, the sympathetic nervous system, and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic system is the one that starts up your fight or flight response when you get scared or stressed by something. It releases hormones like adrenaline and gets your heart pumping and ready to go in an emergency. As a counterbalance, your parasympathetic system is the one that reigns things in and calms you down. Deep breathing helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn helps promote calm. You’re increasing the relaxation of your massage with every breath you take! Now breathe! (Seriously it’s time for a deep breath.)

After Your Massage: Raise a Glass of Water to the Right Questions

So you’re feeling relaxed after your massage, how can you keep feeling good as you head back into the stressful world? One tried and true way is by getting a glass of water after your session. Water not only helps regulate hormones, like the stress hormone cortisol, but it also helps your body process anything that got stirred up in your massage so it doesn’t settle back down into your muscles. It’s also highly probable that you’re already a little dehydrated anyway, so drink up. 

While you’re having a refreshing sip of water, you may realize you’re feeling pretty good. Really good in fact. Wow, so good that you think you should ask your Massage Therapist if you should stop taking your prescriptions. In your euphoria you’ve forgotten a very important thing, your Massage Therapist is not your doctor. It’s really outside of their scope of practice to make those kinds of suggestions. When it comes to things like prescriptions, it’s better to consult your primary care doctor. If you are looking to expand your treatment to include another therapy like chiropractic support or physical therapy, that’s where we can help. Most Massage Therapists have a very well rounded network of people they like to work with. Sure, you can open up google and go to the first practitioner you see, but it’s better to get an informed recommendation from someone you trust and knows what might compliment your current treatment best. 

Your Therapist may also have some input on the best way to support your treatment until your next session. This may involve showing you some stretches that you can follow up with at home or suggesting some products that may help aid your recovery. 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Ultimately, your Massage Therapist wants you to feel comfortable at every stage of your massage and will work with you to get you there. Just like they’re not a doctor though, they’re also not a mind reader, so be sure to communicate your needs and ask questions in their scope of practice to optimize your treatment.

Ready to take a deep breath and get on the massage table? We can help with that! Click here to book your next massage with Kinetric Wellness.

Want to tell us about your concerns first? Send us a message below!

We’re happy to discuss any concerns before your massage to make your visit the most comfortable it can be.