How To Get The Most Out Of Your Massage

The typical massage therapist is the type of person who really wants to make a difference and help people. They are drawn towards this career to influence health and wellness and ease other’s aches and pains. However, they can’t do it alone. They need your help! Here are a few of the things your massage therapist wishes you knew so you can get the most out of your massage appointment.

Be Early.

Your massage time starts at the time you made your appointment for, not whenever you show up.

Scenario 1- Your 1 hour appointment starts at 3:00. You are running late. You get there and decide to use the restroom first and by the time you are undressed and on the massage table it is 3:15. You get a 45 minute massage. You are upset and stressed. The massage therapist is disappointed because they know with those 15 lost minutes they could have made more of a difference.

Scenario 2- Your 2 hour appointment starts at 11:00. You get there early. You have extra time to use the restroom, get complimentary water, relax in the zen environment and prepare for your full 120 minutes of healing bliss. Your massage therapist is excited to have plenty of time to do their best work to aid you on your wellness journey.

Turn Your Cell Phone Off.

Don’t interrupt your scheduled time to rest and rejuvenate by forgetting to turn off your phone. Set aside this time to have a true break.

An article in Scientific American explains that, “Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life. Moments of respite may even be necessary to keep one’s moral compass in working order and maintain a sense of self.”

Stay Hydrated.

Your body needs water! During a massage your body can detoxify at varying degrees and will use the water in your body to do so. After a massage you should replenish your water just as you would after a workout. You can solve so many issues by staying properly hydrated every day.

“Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body’s temperature; it also keeps the tissues in your body properly moist. You know how it feels when your eyes, nose, or mouth gets dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and the brain. In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.” -Everyday Health

Trust Your Massage Therapist.

Massage therapists go through months and years of studying anatomy and several different modalities of massage techniques, history, benefits and contraindications to have the training and experience to know how best to help you with your specific needs. Ideally, you would share with them any health concerns and goals you have for each session and based on that information they will formulate a plan to best utilize the amount of time you have together and do their best to help you reach your goals. If you are unsure about why your massage therapist chose to use a certain technique, ask them!

Do Your Homework.

A good massage therapist will often know many things you can do at home between massage appointments to keep the benefits lasting longer. These could include certain stretches specific to you and your body’s needs, using different tools to help keep the muscles healthy, other alternative treatments that may complement massage on your health journey, strengthening exercises and practicing better posture, among others. Following through with these recommendations will have many potential benefits and could be a huge game changer for you.