There’s no question that massage therapy reduces stress and eases your muscles. It does much more than that when practiced effectively. According to the American Massage Therapy Association it will aide in various chronic health conditions, such as arthritis.

 

Choosing the right type of massage therapy practice for you takes time and effort. You want to feel comfortable and, quite literally, in good hands. Choose the right type of massage for you, prepare accordingly, and get ready to relax. Here’s what the ideal massage therapy candidate looks like and how you can get the most out of your next massage.

Are You a Good Candidate?

If you can identify with more than 3 of these signs, there’s a good chance you’re a good candidate for massage therapy.

Muscle Aches or Tension

Perhaps you’re an athlete looking for some muscle relief. Athletes can be great candidates for massages due to the high impact stress on their bodies. Or maybe your job is more hands-on, causing extra stress on your body. Soreness can be relieved by simply putting some time aside for yourself.

Poor Posture

Do you sit at a desk all day? Say you’re in the car and this causes you to sit for longer period of time. Additionally, if you’re on your feet for most of the day your body overcompensates when you start to get fatigued. Massage therapy has proven to decrease stress held in your body from these poor posture positions.

Headaches

Headaches are sometimes caused from lack of oxygen to the brain or poor blood circulation. Massages dilate your blood vessels. This causes the flow of oxygen to increase to your organs and muscles. This makes you feel refreshed.

Do’s

Arrive early. You don’t want to be in a rushed state, as it will take you longer to relax. Communicate with your massage therapist on pressure points, or if you want him/her to work on specific areas.

Drink plenty of water afterwards. Your body will thank you. You wouldn’t want to dry out your body after you’ve done such a good job of relaxing.

Don’ts

Don’t consume alcohol before or after your therapy session. Also do not eat prior to your session to avoid discomfort, or risk of getting up to use the restroom. Don’t proceed to do strenuous activity directly after massage therapy.

Contact Us

Have more questions on the best play-by-play to get the most out of your massage? Visit our contact page; we’d love to give you hands on information.