Dos and Don’ts of preparing for a massage?
A one-hour massage with your therapist is often over far too quickly. However, even if one massage won’t heal all your ills, preparing yourself in advance can maximize your experience and all its benefits. Here are all our dos and don’ts for when it comes to preparing for your next massage.
How to prepare for your massage
Stay Hydrated
Being well hydrated before your massage is very important for the elimination of toxins that are released into the body’s blood circulation during treatment. Drinking water or herbal teas are excellent methods for staying hydrated. Avoid regular tea, coffee, alcohol, or any other stimulants. Instead stick with water or herbal tea. Teas such as chamomile, lavender or rose are great for relaxation.
Eat Lightly
Although it may not bother your therapist, it can be awkward if your stomach is noisy due to digestion. It’s preferable to eat at least one hour in advance to prepare for your massage or, if you’re afraid you’ll get hungry, eat a fruit or other food that’s easy to digest. Keeping the meal light allows you to feel comfortable when lying on your stomach and enjoy the pressure of the massage. Keep the meals light to keep yourself comfortable during your massage.
Take a Hot Shower
A massage is a hands-on treatment during which your therapist massages your muscles as well as your skin. Therefore, there’s nothing better than feeling clean in preparing for a massage. Yes, you’ll have to take another shower afterwards to remove the excess oil or gel, but hot water on your body will also help relax your muscles and improve blood flow. And we know that improved blood flow means better recovery. So, a shower before and after your massage is a great way to maximize the benefits of your massage.
Dress Comfortably
Since an oil massage is applied to the skin, you might think that the clothes you wear aren’t important. However, wearing comfortable clothes will not only put you in a relaxed state before your massage but will also keep you relaxed afterwards. When your massage is done, easy and comfortable clothes are always the best option to put back on. Shoes are no exception to this rule. Avoid high heels as they may cause your leg muscles to contract unnecessarily.
Arrive in Advance
Arriving 10 to 15 minutes before your massage will allow you to fill out a health questionnaire without impinging on your massage. You’ll also be able to take a moment to go to the restroom or have a glass of water if need be. If you arrive at the last minute, short of breath with your heart beating wildly, you’ll have a harder time relaxing during your massage. This last-minute rush ends ups eating into your massage time and therefore is not ideal in preparing for a massage.
Communicate your Needs
Once you are settled in for your treatment, your therapist will review your health questionnaire with you and will ask you further questions if need be. This is the moment to tell your therapist everything: your preferences, needs, expectations, and so on. Please let your therapist know if you want them to pay special attention to one part of your body or to avoid a specific area. Let them know how much pressure you enjoy. Let them know what you don’t enjoy. The more you communicate your needs, the better your therapist will be able to respond to them. Communication is a vital part of preparing for a massage.
Relax during the massage
During your treatment, concentrate on your breathing, making sure to take long, deep breaths. This will help to reduce stress and chase away negative thoughts. Almost no effort is needed from you. Your therapist will know very well how to lift your arm or your head; your help is not required!
Even when the massage is underway, let your therapist know your preferences or if you feel uncomfortable. By leaving nothing to chance, you’ll get the maximum benefits from your massage. Too hot, too cold; more or less pressure; bright or low lighting; loud or low music; gel or oil; with or without essential oils… It’s your massage – you decide.
And most importantly – Enjoy your massage!
What not to do before a massage?
Don’t Sunburn
When your skin is sunburned, it becomes inflamed and highly irritated, usually over large portions of your body like the back and shoulders. It’s not a good idea to receive a massage while your skin is burned because we have to work through the skin to affect the muscles and also because of the affects to the circulatory system. If you get a sunburn, it’s best to just reschedule your massage.
Don’t “Caffeinate”
Drinking Coffee or caffeinated drinks just before a massage can be enough to prevent you from relaxing completely during your session. In your head you’ll likely be making lists and reviewing things from work instead of lounging on a tropical beach watching the waves. Your body will be tense and will tend to fight against the therapist. Relax and drink plenty of water before you come!
Don’t Eat a Large Meal
This puts pressure on your back and therefore your stomach. It’s not a good idea to have a large meal siting there because you may feel as if you will pop. It’s perfectly ok to eat a normal meal before you come in.
Don’t Run a Marathon
We do a LOT of athletes and many come in before and after a major sporting event. Certain sporting events like Marathons, Triathlons, and Extreme Sports are very hard on the body. Give yourself a day or two of absolute rest before you sic our therapists on your muscles. Your body will appreciate it.
Don’t Apply Lotion or Oil
It is smart, courteous and highly preferred that you shower just before a massage. But remember not to apply any lotion or oil to your skin. During your massage, you will be covered in massage lotion or oil which may or may not mix well with your own personal choice for skin moisturizer.
Don’t Apply Topical Medications, Patches or Tapes
Any topical medication that you apply to your skin could be spread over your entire body during massage. If you need cooling gels remember to wait until after your session to apply them. Performance tapes and patches can cause your massage therapist to avoid the area that really needs focus.
Don’t Have a Half Empty Bladder!
You might think that’s ok because you can “hold it” for hours but during a massage, a lot of fluid is being pushed from your tissues into your bloodstream, and then into your liver and kidneys. The last thing you want to do is feel like you have to pee when our therapists are stretching you or walking on your back. It’s not only uncomfortable but it will hurt, causing you to tense up and beg to use the restroom.
Conclusion
We hope these tips and tricks help you in preparing for your massage and get the maximum benefits out of your massage! We at Knead NYC look to bring you a great experience, and these dos and don’ts allow us to help you even further.
Come in and put these dos to the test! Book your massage today at https://kneadnyc.com
