Have you ever had a great massage and then wondered to yourself “If only this feeling could last forever”? Well, maybe we can’t make it last forever, but these tips might help you lengthen this post-massage bliss for at least a little while longer!
Stay hydrated, especially for the next 24 hours, and, at least for those first few hours after a massage, avoid caffeine and alcohol which are dehydrating. This can help the body flush out any accumulated materials in the muscles which were released during the massage and reduce next-day soreness.
Rest. Massage does not just work on the body; it works on the mind too. It helps to destress and relax you and, as a result, you may feel tired. Our therapist, Linda, advises guests to accept this and “Avoid strenuous activity and try to take some time to rest a bit after your treatment, even if it is just for a few minutes. This is your time to recover your mind and body, and it is your body’s time to rebalance and retune itself.” If you make time for yourself, your body will thank you. Extend your “me” time and schedule other self-care appointments on the same day. In general, try to avoid any stressful news or events afterwards.
Eat lightly before and after a massage. Avoid eating heavy meals before a massage, but don’t come on an empty stomach either. Eating a banana and a handful of raw almonds or another light snack 1-2 hours before a massage is a good alternative choice. After the massage, try eating a light meal. Heavy meals can make you feel bloated and sluggish, rather than reenergized.
Use Infrared Sauna. Having an infrared sauna session before or after one’s massage allows toxins that were released during the massage to exit via sweat. Infrared therapy stimulates the circulatory system, causing the heart to beat more vigorously and blood vessels to dilate, which helps cleanse the circulatory system and more fully oxygenate the body’s cells.
Welcome different emotions. Both during and after a massage you might feel any number and range of emotions. As the body relaxes, it is normal for it to also release the emotional baggage we are holding on to. You might feel elated, refreshed or energized, and there may be times when you feel a need to cry. This is perfectly okay and even normal. Releasing all these emotions can leave you feeling much better afterwards — we all need a good cry now and then.
Pay attention to your body’s reaction to the massage. You may be sore after the massage. Any soreness should only last for a day or perhaps two, anything more indicates that perhaps your therapist worked on you a little too hard, and this can be adjusted in the next segment. You can help your therapist by stretching before you arrive for your segment and reporting anything particularly painful to your therapist at your next visit.
Keep the visit going. Want to bask in that post-massage feeling while at the spa? Take advantage of our relaxation room, drink some herbal tea, eat some light snacks, enjoy the dim lights, soft music, and aromatherapy in the room, or visit our infrared sauna for some private, quiet me time to rest and relax while reaping the cleansing benefits of the light therapy.
Need to go home? Try taking a bath; a nice warm bath is very soothing after a massage, especially with Epsom Salts. The wonders of Epsom salt have been well known for hundreds of years and, unlike other salts, it has beneficial properties that can relax the nervous system, cure skin problems, soothe back pain and aching limbs, ease muscle strain, heal cuts, treat colds and congestion, and draw toxins from the body. At your convenience, we have made some available at our retail lounge.
