Massage on healthy tissue feels good and is almost always a pleasant sensation. Massage in an area of an injury or chronic pain may cause some discomfort at first which usually lessens in the first few minutes. Your massage therapist knows ways to minimize pain and will work carefully within what feels right for you. The saying ‘no pain, no gain’ is not true for massage. The most effective and deepest massage works with the body’s natural responses, not against them. Always tell your massage therapist if you feel any discomfort so she can make adjustments.
How long is a session
An hour is a common session length. This gives time for a deeply relaxing full body massage or more in depth work in a particular area, for example, back, neck and shoulders. A half hour can be an excellent introduction to bodywork with plenty of time for a specific area such as neck and back or legs and feet. An hour and a half is usually enough time to address the whole body with special attention to a problem area.
What should I expect after a session
Massage can be profoundly relaxing, affecting all your body’s systems. Give yourself a moment to re-orient before slowly getting off the table. After a session most people feel very relaxed, almost sleepy. Many experience relief from aches and pains that have built up over months due to tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down people often experience an increase in energy that can last for several days. Following a massage or over the next day or two you may have some soreness similar to having worked out vigorously. This is a normal response of the body to increased circulation and removal of toxic wastes from the muscles.
Sometimes you may not feel dramatic results right away. Watch for changes over the following days such as pain relief, increased mobility, or reduced stress.
Is massage always appropriate
There are some conditions for which massage is not appropriate. Always tell your massage therapist if you have a medical problem, even a minor one. Some conditions require close communication between your massage therapist and your doctor or other health care practitioner. Your written consent is required before any information is released.
How much massage is right
This depends on your general health, when the pain started and what caused it. For long-term benefits you usually need a series of massages. Once you have relief from the pain that brought you in for the first time, then following a maintenance schedule every four to six weeks should keep you pain-free. Follow-up massage in times of stress can help keep old pain from flaring up. You may find massage so beneficial that you make it a regular part of your health and wellness plan.
