A professional massage is more than an ordinary backrub. The whole point of a therapeutic massage is to release that tension, work out the kinks and help your body relax so it can function at an optimal level. When receiving a massage the actions of the massage ensure that the blood gets pushed through the muscles so that in turn the muscle can start working properly again.
There are several theories, in addition to muscle function, as to why people sometimes experience after-effects from massage. These include;
Massage provides a significant amount of input to the central nervous system and the body responds to that increased information.
Pain and other occasional after-effects may be the result of a system that has received more information than it can handle at that particular time. And because the amount of sensory input we receive during any day or week is always fluctuating, sometimes we may be overloaded and other times not.
It depends on the total stress (emotional, spiritual and physical) being experienced by the body at that moment.
Understand that your body is an organism made up of complex systems that react to a constantly changing influx of external factors.
Take your time getting off the table. Immediately after the massage you may feel light headed or dizzy. We have water available after your massage to help you rehydrate.
Take it easy after your massage. Go home, relax and just allow your body to find its balance naturally. Like exercise, make bodywork a habitual practice for good health. And if you wake up the next morning a little sore, it's probably because you had a really good massage.
You may feel more energetic, have greater focus and productivity at work and home.
There is a possibility you may feel sore for 24-48 hrs after the massage but that will ease and eventually disappear in the next 24-48 hours.
An increase in circulation in your muscles will mean better mobility and range of motion a decrease in pain, stress and tension and also promote a good night’s sleep.
What to do post-massage...
Drink water before and after a massage
Drink plenty of water immediately following your treatment, and continue to do so for the next day or two. This will rehydrate your tissues and ease the effects. Drinking water after a massage is often recommended by massage therapists and other health care practitioners for a variety of reasons. Increase water intake to help flush out waste products that are released into the system after a massage. This will help reduce the feeling of tiredness that may occur. Approximately 1 litre on top of your normal intake is recommended. Avoid excess alcohol, tea, coffee and other toxins for 24 hours after a massage so that you are not further overloading the lymph system while it is trying to effectively eliminate waste products;
Drinking water in general and especially after a massage is a good idea, as the body benefits from proper hydration, and consuming water will help the kidneys and other organs process the various substances which move through the human body on a regular basis.
Drinking water before a massage is also highly recommended, as it will make it easier for the massage therapist to perform deep work by hydrating the muscles so that they are easier to manipulate.
Drinking water after a massage has to do with substances released by the muscles as the massage therapist manipulates them, this helps the body flush out any accumulated materials in the muscles which were released during the massage. Especially in the case of deep tissue massage, massage stimulates circulation in the body while expressing water, salt, and other minerals from the muscles, and circulation is designed to carry away waste materials generated by cells. By providing the body with plenty of water, massage clients can help sweep away these waste materials; otherwise, they might build up, causing muscle aches and soreness after a massage.
After a massage, people can feel a bit spacey and disoriented, so having a glass of water while sitting on the massage table can help bring the body and mind back to the present, and it gives the client time to slowly return to the real world
Take A Bath
A nice warm bath is very soothing after a massage, especially with Epsom Salts. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate, which is a natural muscle relaxer. They are also wonderful at drawing out toxins in the body, as is massage, so you may get a sort of detoxifying effect which is very beneficial to the body.
Rest
You may feel tired, as if you want to lie down and take a nap,this is completely normal. If you can, make sure you have nowhere to go and nothing to do after your massage. Massage is not just work on the body; it is work on the mind too. It helps to destress and relax you; this in turn may make you feel tired. This is your time to recover your mind and body and it is your body's time to rebalance itself and retune.
Different Emotions
Sometimes, if you have been experiencing lots of stress, you may feel emotional or teary after the massage. Alternatively, you may feel elated, on cloud nine, or full of energy. Either response is normal. Try not to suppress these emotions. The massage may channel these feelings and multiply them; whichever way, this is what the body needs. Allow them to come and you will feel that much better afterwards.
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