June 14, 2018
How to Get the Most from Your Massage
By: Guadalupe S. Delgado, LMT, CCMA & Stacey Krauss LMT, ATC
We want to make sure that you receive all the benefits during your massage therapy session. Several things can put a damper on your therapeutic experience, ranging from a growling stomach to running late for your appointment. The following are a few tips that will allow you to get the most from your massage.
1. Wear comfortable clothing.
When coming in for an orthopedic or sports massage, it is best to wear shorts and a T-shirt. But certainly not a requirement. Just note, if your appointment is during your work day you will return to work with a case of “massage hair”. We apologize! However, we do have a trick up our sleeve to minimize the appearance of this unwanted benefit!!
2. Don’t come in with a full or empty stomach.
Its uncomfortable to lay on your stomach or back when you’ve just finished a delicious meal. On the other hand, a growling stomach can be distracting, keeping you from relaxing since you’ll most likely have your mind on food. Give yourself 1 hour between your meal and massage appointment.
3. Arrive Early
From the moment you arrive you want to set the tone for the session. Get to your appointment 15 minutes early. There will be paperwork to fill out on the first session. It’s also a good time to ask questions and fill your therapist in on your health history and current issues. We understand that life happens. So if you are running late please call to let us know.
4. Concentrate on Breathing
Deep breathing will help you relax. It allows for deeper pressure to be applied with little to no discomfort. Discomfort causes you to tense up, which is counterproductive to massage. Breathing will also keep your mind from wondering off to your “to do” list.
5. Communicate with Your therapist
Even though we are trained to recognize non-verbal cues we need your input to give you the best therapy session we can. Let us know if we are using too much or not enough pressure, etc. Remember, we are here to help you feel better.