5 Things to Consider Before and After Getting a Massage
By Hanna Kim - November 22, 2018
Massage is wonderful for many reasons - it can melt away stress, improve your mood, and relieve muscle tension, to start. A common question clients ask is how they can get the most out of their session. Here are some tips for things you can do before and after your massage to help those effects stay with you longer.
Take A Shower
Taking a warm shower right before your massage can get you a head start on your path to relaxation. The warm water and steam relax your body and help open up your muscles so that your massage therapist can more easily work away the knots. It’s also just common courtesy towards your massage therapist if you’re coming from a sweat-inducing activity like a hot yoga class or ten-mile run up and down the Cherry Creek trail.
Reschedule If You’re Sick
Though it is often quite sunny in Denver, the temperature has begun to cool with the arrival of fall, meaning a greater tendency for people to get sick. If you start to feel your telltale signs of sickness or have a contagious skin condition, give us a call or send a text message as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment. This helps prevent spreading germs to the studio staff and other clients visiting that day.
Stay Hydrated
No, it’s not to help release toxins, which is a myth that will be covered in a future post, but because it’s generally not a bad idea for most of us to drink a little more water. If you’re visiting or new to the Mile High City, you are probably already feeling dehydrated and could use a lot more water. Therapists at LoDo Massage Studio will often offer you a glass of water after your massage to help you feel refreshed after your session.
Try to avoid any coffee or energy drinks - caffeine and other stimulants can undo the relaxing effects of massage.
Keep Up On the Rest & Relaxation
This is your excuse to skip a strenuous workout. It’s important to give your body some time to rest, especially after a more intense massage like deep tissue or myofascial release work. Instead, you can try attending a yin or restorative yoga class or taking an Epsom salt bath. Resume your workouts 12-24 hours after a massage, depending on how your body feels.
Listen to your body
It’s normal to feel a little sore a few hours or the day after a massage. If you feel too uncomfortable during or after the massage, make sure to speak up at your next session so your massage therapist can adjust pressure or techniques to suit you better. Massage therapists have a general idea of what clients like, from past experience and observation, but we cannot read your minds.
It’s good to keep in mind our bodies can hold emotions in different areas; sometimes this may be due to past trauma. Massage may unexpectedly release some of that emotion, so let those feelings pass and be sure to seek out any additional resources if you need help processing them.
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Take A Shower
Taking a warm shower right before your massage can get you a head start on your path to relaxation. The warm water and steam relax your body and help open up your muscles so that your massage therapist can more easily work away the knots. It’s also just common courtesy towards your massage therapist if you’re coming from a sweat-inducing activity like a hot yoga class or ten-mile run up and down the Cherry Creek trail.
Reschedule If You’re Sick
Though it is often quite sunny in Denver, the temperature has begun to cool with the arrival of fall, meaning a greater tendency for people to get sick. If you start to feel your telltale signs of sickness or have a contagious skin condition, give us a call or send a text message as soon as possible so we can reschedule your appointment. This helps prevent spreading germs to the studio staff and other clients visiting that day.
Stay Hydrated
No, it’s not to help release toxins, which is a myth that will be covered in a future post, but because it’s generally not a bad idea for most of us to drink a little more water. If you’re visiting or new to the Mile High City, you are probably already feeling dehydrated and could use a lot more water. Therapists at LoDo Massage Studio will often offer you a glass of water after your massage to help you feel refreshed after your session.
Try to avoid any coffee or energy drinks - caffeine and other stimulants can undo the relaxing effects of massage.
Keep Up On the Rest & Relaxation
This is your excuse to skip a strenuous workout. It’s important to give your body some time to rest, especially after a more intense massage like deep tissue or myofascial release work. Instead, you can try attending a yin or restorative yoga class or taking an Epsom salt bath. Resume your workouts 12-24 hours after a massage, depending on how your body feels.
Listen to your body
It’s normal to feel a little sore a few hours or the day after a massage. If you feel too uncomfortable during or after the massage, make sure to speak up at your next session so your massage therapist can adjust pressure or techniques to suit you better. Massage therapists have a general idea of what clients like, from past experience and observation, but we cannot read your minds.
It’s good to keep in mind our bodies can hold emotions in different areas; sometimes this may be due to past trauma. Massage may unexpectedly release some of that emotion, so let those feelings pass and be sure to seek out any additional resources if you need help processing them.
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