What to Do After Massage Therapy Treatments
There is nothing better than getting a soothing massage. Suppose you have had an injury or just need to release some stress and get a little pampering. A massage is a way to go. It is a gift to your body and can have lasting benefits.
This needing and rubbing releases tension and increases blood flow in the body, but you need to be mindful after your massage. After your soothing massage therapy, what should you do next? Here is what to do after a massage:
1. Drink some water after massage
This is the first thing you should do. Your body is around 60% water, and it is needed to help flush out toxins, especially after a massage. You get increased blood, and lymph circulation with a massage, and water helps with that movement and delivers nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
Water helps with waste removal as it assists the lymph and immune systems. Avoid other liquids like caffeine and alcohol for a few hours and let H2O do its magic.
2. Do some stretching after massage
After a massage, you need to stay away from strenuous activities and do some stretching instead. Stretching is something you should add to your daily routine, but it is especially beneficial after a massage because your body has been put into relaxed mode and needs to be woken up gently.
You can realign your muscle fibres to speed up recovery, release tension and gain flexibility with light stretching. Going for a walk is about as strenuous activity as you need.
3. Relax after massage
The whole massage experience is about repairing and easing tension, so it’s time to keep that zen feeling going after you get home. Take some time and catch up on your reading or even take a nap. This will prolong the relaxation in your body and allow it to process the message and let the benefits take place in their own time.
Having a bath is very relaxing after a massage as long as it is not too hot. Keep it warm, so you are not aggravating any injured muscles. Most massages include beneficial oils that need time to absorb, so wait for an hour before sliding into a warm bath.
Laying on the couch and doing a little binge-watching is a great way to keep your body in a relaxed state, and you can even turn down the lights and drift away to some soft music for a few hours.
4. Eat a light meal after massage
After a massage, you may feel light-headed because of increased circulation and digestion, so a light meal is good. This refuelling is important as long as it isn’t too heavy because that can make you feel bloated and take away the rejuvenated feelings from the massage.
Try to stick to veggies and some fruit like a banana because they are easy to digest. You may want to bring a snack for the car ride home, and a few handfuls of nuts or even a protein shake will fill you up nicely. Then you can have a full meal for dinner.
5. Allow emotions to flow after massage
Having a massage can open you up to a release of emotions. It is a natural byproduct of hands-on muscle manipulation and one that is very healing. You can have stored up energy in your muscles and soft tissue, and it causes pain and limited mobility. When these areas are allowed to release that energy, the trapped emotions that go along with them come out too.
This could be positive with laughter, euphoria and a feeling of well-being and tears with anger and sadness. Your body has a memory and stores that in its tissues and nervous system. With the right sensations to the body through massage, these memories are tapped into, and it can “remember” the events.
Don’t be afraid of these emotions and fight them. It’s important to let them happen because you can feel relieved afterward and move on from them once they are released.
6. Schedule another massage
This may sound like a sales pitch, but it is honestly one of the best things to do after your massage. Stress and pain build up over time, and it takes time to release and recover from it. One massage is a great way to spend a day, but having a regular massage routine will benefit you. It doesn’t have to be multiple times a week but rather a few times a month or more.
Regular massage can continue the healing process and retrain your muscles to improve from chronic pain. Many people have jobs that require long periods, hunched over a computer or doing strenuous, repetitive movements all day. Massage is a way to realign your body and release that ongoing tension.
There is no doubt that everyone will benefit from a massage. You are getting one that shows that you care about your body’s mechanics. Follow this guide so you know what to do after your message and continue to reap the benefits from your massage practitioner.
