tears are welcome

Tears are welcome!

How to relax into your massage

Do you ever feel that when your massage is just about finished you were just about, almost, nearly ready to disconnect from the thoughts raining in your head? You get off the bed, questioning if the massage really was an hour and you're not sure how you feel. Relaxing, switching off, disconnecting whatever you what to call it, is very difficult and doesn't come easily to some people. Most definitely massage helps you to unwind but it's what you do before and after your massage that will really enhance the benefits of the massage.

Question?
Ask yourself why you want the massage and what type you think you suit you at this time. Sometimes we rush into making a decision when we are in pain or feeling wound up. Do some research into the therapy you are deciding to have, ring the therapist and have a chat with them first. Ring a few therapist and see who you get the best feeling from.

Clear your day
Once you have decided on your treatment, pick a day where you have nothing on. Really make this a day about you. If you can't have a whole day off, try and have nothing planned for after your massage. Some of my clients have little rituals before they come and see me. So you could have a bath, do some mindfulness/meditation, some light stretching or something that starts to prepare your mind to slowly unwind.

Arrive on time
Check with your therapist exactly what time they would like you to arrive. Some therapists tell you to come 15mins or 10mins before hand, it depends on them. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the location. I find when clients have rushed to get to their massage or are late, they take ages to relax. All that adrenaline is running through the body and it's really hard to come down to 'sleepy dozey relax time'.

Snack
Very important both before and after your treatment. Try not to have a heavy meal or too much tea/coffee before or after your massage. Digesting can be uncomfortable sometimes and can take from the experience of your massage. Having a light snack before will stop that uncomfortable feeling of lying on your tummy from a heavy meal. Bring a little snack with you for after your treatment, like nuts. It will stop that light head feeling and refuel you A few hours after your massage, eating foods rich in protein will work together with the massage to repair the muscle and drinking water will hydrate the body giving a greater feeling of wellness.


Comfortable clothing
Please don't wear jeans or tight clothing to your massage it can be really uncomfortable for you and can be difficult for the therapist to massage through. There is nothing more annoying than faffing around with a piece of clothing during a massage. It breaks the flow of the massage and it's distracting for you. With proper draping of towels, you should never feel exposed and the therapist is able to get where they need.

Any concerns?
After you have filled out your consultation form now is the time to talk to your therapist about any questions or concerns you have about the treatment. There is no such thing as a stupid question. You might not like lying down for long on your tummy. You might not like the music their playing. You might not like having a pillow under or feet or need more pillows. What ever the concern is, tell your therapist. You will be amazed how the smallest of annoyance will disrupt your relaxation.

Breathe
Your therapist should do some grounding work with you before the treatment starts, for example, taking a few deep breaths or body palming. To get the most from you massage, be present if you find it hard focusing on your breath or the music, try focusing on the therapist movements/hands or tune into your body. Notice any usual aches or tensions that you hadn't felt before. Focus on the muscle the therapist is working on. How does it feel? Does it feel tight, constricted or smooth and free? Or just find a technique that works for helping you to unwind. Don't be afraid to sleep or drift in and out.

let go....
I welcome tears! Please don't be afraid of any emotions that come up during or after your massage. IT IS NORMAL! We suppress so many emotions and feelings through out the day and week. This does crazy things to our body. If the pressure is making you jerk/jump or clench please tell the therapist to ease off because this is counterproductive to what we want to achieve. Your resisting and this doesn't allow the muscles to relax, which we need in order to work deeper into the muscles.

I hope you have found this topic helpful and remember these are just guidelines. Thank you much for reading.