What to Expect After a Massage

After your massage, you’ll be feeling relaxed, your blood will be flowing, and your muscles should feel like they have taken a deep breath. Your massage therapist will mention why it’s important to drink plenty of water after a massage, but you might be so relaxed at that moment that you won’t completely take it all in. You’ll want to hang onto that wonderful post-massage feeling as long as possible.

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1. SKIP YOUR LATTE, GRAB YOUR WATER BOTTLE

Massage gets your blood circulating and begins to release metabolic waste. As your therapists loosens your muscles your system starts to process faster and the excrements that are left over start making their way toward your liver and other organs to be released. Staying hydrated prior to and after a massage will help flush out the waste products your now improved circulation has moving through your body.

Caffeine after a massage can be counterproductive to the muscles that were just worked on. So – if you are a coffee drinker, get your caffeine fix in prior to your massage. Water (or Herbal tea) will help keep your newly energized circulation moving at an appropriate pace, and help you hold onto that ‘fresh massage’ feeling longer. Drink more water after a massage than you normally would, to provide the hydration your body will need to flush the newly moving toxins out.

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2. FEELING SORE? ADD ICE

Your massage therapist just released your tight muscles. Deep-rooted muscle tension often requires some deep muscle work that might leave you feeling a little tender or sore after a massage. Stay away from icy-hot or other products that produce heat IF you do not combine it with ice. The muscles are already inflamed after the deep massage session, heat without ice alternation will only inflame the muscles more. The best way to treat sore muscles, post massage, is to apply some ice to the area for a quick 10-15 minutes to decrease soreness. If you want to keep the increased circulation going after a session alternate this ice with 5 min of heat. This creates a pumping effect in the muscle that cause the area to be sore or tender for a shorter period.

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3. FUEL YOUR BODY

A massage session is like jump starting your car – only you are jump starting some of your body’s primary systems. After a massage, your body will be firing on all cylinders, and you’ll want to provide the necessary fuel. Massage causes the release of the ‘feel good’ endorphins that will have you feeling a natural high. You may also be feeling a bit tired, and maybe a little lightheaded, grab a snack to give yourself an added energy boost.

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4. POSTPONE YOUR WORKOUT

You took the time out of your busy schedule find relief. You’re feeling relaxed, your muscles feel loose. It’s best to let your body enjoy how it feels by giving it a chance to rest. Sometime heading back to work or out to dinner with friends is unavoidable. We highly recommend you give your body and mind some downtime after a massage. Your muscles were just worked and loosened, to avoid the risk of injury or overworking a muscle, we suggest you avoid any physical activity for the remainder of the day.

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5. EPSOM SALT BATH

The wonders of Epsom salt have been well known for hundreds of years and, unlike other salts, it has beneficial properties that can soothe the body, mind, and soul. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain, and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating colds and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body. One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of Epsom salt. Some of the notable benefits of Epsom salt include ease of stress and relaxes the body, relieves pain and muscle cramps, helps muscles and nerves function properly, helps prevent hardening of arteries and blood clots, makes insulin more effective, relieves constipation, and eliminates toxins from the body.

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If you have any additional questions about what to expect after a massage, your therapist will be happy to answer them. When massage is a regular part of your life, you are guaranteed to feel the benefits.