How to Get The Most Out of Your Massage

Before your first massage, it is important to arrive about fifteen minutes early.  Your massage therapist may have you fill out a form.  Your massage therapist will do an intake.  An intake is usually a few questions asking about your aches and pains, trouble areas, allergies, and what your intent is.  

Before any massage, you should set an intent.  You need to know what you are there for.  Is it just to relax?  Are you there because you are in pain?  What would you like your outcome to be?  Better flexibility? Relaxing your mind? Painfree? Fix your posture? 

Always get to your appointment early.  Your session on the table begins at your scheduled time.  This means, if you arrive at your scheduled time, your intake and undressing will be counted as hands-on time.  Basically, if your massage starts at 3, but you arrived at 3, you will lose between 5-10 minutes of massage time because you need to check in, chat with your therapist, undress (or use the toilet first), get on the table, and wait for your therapist who is waiting to enter the room.  Because of this, many massage establishments have stopped doing 1-hour massages and are now doing 50 minute massages. Just be early.

Rest assured, massage therapy will help you.  It may not be a permanent solution, but it is helpful.  You should discuss your aches and pains prior to your massage session.  

If you feel you are tightening your glutes (your buttcheeks), flexing your legs, making straining faces, or balling your fists, you are NOT relaxing.  It is important to know that the term, "No pain, no gain" does not apply to massage therapy.

Massage shouldn't have to hurt to be effective.  If the pressure or technique hurts, you may need it to be knocked down a few notches.  It is important to communicate this to your massage therapist.  If they ask you how you're doing, don't say, "fine," if you are not fine. Your therapist doesn't want you to leave feeling worse or thinking they were a bad massage therapist because they hurt you.  Your massage therapist also doesn't want a bad review on a public forum on the internet.

Aftercare is so important.  After massage, your therapist may discuss future massages or exercises and stretches you can do at home.  This homework is important for your next massage.  If your therapist tells you to stretch and shows you a few stretches, go home and do them as instructed.  It will help with your next massage.  For instance, if your massage therapist notices tightness in your calves and had a difficult time breaking up adhesions in your legs, then I structs you in simple stretches that you adhere to for a month; your next massage should be so much easier to do.  The goal should be to get you feeling and moving better.  If you don't listen to your therapist, you will be back with the same issues, and the same exercises will be instructed.  It will be a broken record of the same story.

That said, namaste.

5 Best Massage Guns for Under $100

It is very important to do your homework after your massage treatments, to continue healing or maintaining what your therapist has assisted you with. Sometimes, that includes having to massage yourself after your exercises and stretches. My personal physical therapist in Oregon used to have me hold a massage gun to my Iliotibial bands (IT Bands) while in mid-stretch. Stretches were to be held for at least 30 seconds for best results.

When I got back to California, my coworkers were using a massage gun between clients. I thought why not? So, here's a list of the 5 best massage guns for under $100.

The DDVWU Deep Tissue Muscle Massager has one of the highest ranking reviews on the internet. It lasts 8-15 hours on a single charge, has 12 massage heads, and 7 speed levels. It is also considerably quiet compared to other massages, and comes with a carrying case.

The TOLOCO Upgrade Percussion Muscle Massage Gun has 20 speed levels, 15 replaceable massage heads, and has an ergonomic silicon handle. It's lightweight and comes with a carry case. It probably has the most reviews online of the 5 massage guns.

The Sonic Handheld Percussion Massage Gun has an LED panel, super quiet and portable, has a 3-6 hour run time on lithium batteries, 5 levels of intensity with 8 massage heads. It also comes with a 100% Satisfaction Lifetime Warranty.

The FlyBy Percussion Muscle Massager has 50 pounds of pressure for a 1.8 pound tool. It has 3 powerful speeds, and comes with a 4+ hour rechargeable battery. It comes with 6 interchangeable massage heads, and is quiet.

The FlyBy F2Pro Percussion Muscle Massager is an upgrade from the FlyBy Percussion Muscle Massage (view in list) and has approximately 2,800 strokes per minute. It comes with a rechargeable battery that has 3.5+ hours of battery power. There are 5 powerful speeds and 4 interchangeable massage heads. It is also quiet and lightweight.

What I Value About My Work

I was recently asked what I value most about my line of work. I enjoy positive feedback. When I worked in retail, I would say at least once a week, I'd have a disgruntled customer come to my line. The lines were too long, the prices were ridiculous, store was too messy, there aren't enough employees, etc. 

 In massage therapy, if I get a complainer, it's very rare. This is such a rewarding career. In the spa atmosphere, clients usually walk away feeling relaxed, better, or energized. They usually love the escape from home. If it were a gift, it was the perfect gift. 

 In the clinical setting, patients usually come to me with concern about their well-being. If I'm working with a doctor, the patient usually does begin to feel better with the multiple types of treatment they receive (chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc). It's always great to watch patients get better with each treatment and to be a part of the team that helped them. 

 As opposed to resort spas, the neighborhood spa and clinic offers an opportunity to really connect with a client/patient. They usually come back and you get to know every individual on a personal level, and really understand why they have the need for relaxation or help with pain. In a resort setting, people are on vacation and so you don't really get to see them again. But, even then, they still usually make me feel like an important part of their vacation. Therefore, what I value most about being a massage therapist, is the way I can help others feel better, and the praises that are received. It's such a rewarding career. I feel VALUED almost all the time.

Shiatsu

 Shiatsu is one of my most favorite modalities to do.  No oils or undress need to happen for a traditional Shiatsu.  It's traditionally done on the floor, but I mix it into my regular oil massages on the table.  I feel like it is very vital for a massage treatment.

What shiatsu is?
Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork derived off the older Japanese bodywork of Anma which is based off traditional Chinese healing methods.  Shiatsu applies finger and palm pressure at the acupoints to improve wellness, by reduction of stress and improving blood flow.  The blocked chi (energy) along the meridians which are called tsubo points in Japanese, are pressed and released.  This helps assist the body in relieving stress and fatigue.  With these releases, range of motion and coordination are improved as well.

Unlike massage treatments that stay off the spine, Shiatsu pressure may be applied gently to the spine and along the spine.  The gentle pressure helps relieve muscle tension and pain.

There are so many chronic and acute disorders that shiatsu can relieve such as fibromyalgia, constipation, headaches and migraine, and anxieties linked to irritable bowel syndrome and heart issues.  It is NOT to replace medical care such as what your doctor ordered or prescriptions you are supposed to take.