Self-Care – Looking After Yourself Between Massages

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could have a massage every day of the

week? Right now we can make the most of massage treatments by taking care of ourselves in between massages.

First rule – drink the water!

There’s a reason why your therapist gives you a refreshing glass of cool

water after a treatment; it’s to help hydrate your body and keep your

muscles relaxed. Water is great for your skin and your muscles, plus

staying hydrated can even help to prevent headaches.

Keep up the stretching

It’s a very common problem, but there’s a very simple solution…if you

are one of the many people who feel achy and tight after a day at work,

stretch!

If you make a habit of including stretching in your daily routine, it will

really help you with any muscle aches and soreness, and will make the

effects of your massage last longer. In between sessions, having a good stretch helps support the work that’s been done to relax your muscles on the treatment table. It doesn’t matter when you fit your stretches in, as long as you make a habit of it.

Stretches shouldn’t ever hurt, so don’t overdo it. Easing into stretches

gently, and holding them for at least a minute will give you better

results than shorter, deeper stretches.

Epsom Salts

Epsom salt baths are great for keeping any muscle aches and stiff joints

at bay – they contain magnesium which is also good for relieving stress.

To prevent soreness after a massage, add Epsom salts to your bath as

directed and relax.

Feeling hot and cold

In between massages you might start feeling that tell-tale build-up of

tension – nip it in the bud with heat therapy. Applying heat can help to

sooth aching muscles and relieve any tightness and tension. Heat can

also improve and stimulate blood flow to the area. Try a heat pad, or

heat up a damp towel in the microwave using 30 second intervals to check the temperature.

 If you injure yourself in between massage sessions, try using cold therapy to numb the pain. Cold therapy is good for strains, sprains and other minor injuries (if you’re unsure, or are in serious pain, see your healthcare provider). 

For severe pain and/or swelling, take a cold pack (or you can use a

frozen bottle of water, or even frozen vegetables in a bag) and wrap it

in a towel to avoid cold burns. If you’re using a frozen bottle as a cold

pack, a thick sock works well as a barrier, if you’ve been overdoing

it and you have sore feet, try rolling the frozen bottle under your foot.

You can alternate between hot and cold therapy but always leave a

period in between for your body to adjust.

One last and very important tip; make your massage sessions part of your regular self-care routine. If you’re unsure about how often you

need a massage, the best person to ask is your therapist. She will know

if you need extra sessions or just maintenance care, and will make sure

your massage is tailored to your needs.