Drink plenty of water. Massage and scrubs increase your blood circulation and hydrates your muscle tissues. Kneading and working muscles gets fluid pumping out of the soft tissue and into your circulatory system, where it heads towards your kidneys. Therefore it’s incredibly important to drink water because not only does it flush toxins out of your system, but it ensures that all the good work your massage does doesn’t go to waste!
STRETCH

HAVING JUST HAD A MASSAGE BREAK UP THE ADHESIONS ON YOUR MUSCLES, IT’S NOW UP TO YOU TO STRETCH IN ORDER TO REAP THE BENEFITS. STRETCHING ESSENTIALLY WORKS TO REALIGN YOUR MUSCLE FIBERS AND IMPROVE MUSCLE RECOVERY. IT ALSO HELPS TO TRAIN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE MAIN DETERMINATOR WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR BODY’S FLEXIBILITY.​

HYDROTHERAPY

THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF HYDROTHERAPY ARE BASED ON ITS MECHANICAL AND THERMAL EFFECTS. IT MAKES USE OF THE BODY’S REACTION TO HOT AND COLD STIMULI, THE PROTRACTED APPLICATION OF HEAT, THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY THE WATER, AND THE SENSATION OF THE WATER ITSELF. NERVES CARRY SENSATIONS FELT BY THE SKIN DEEPER INTO THE BODY, WHERE THESE RESPONSES THEN WORK TO STIMULATE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, INFLUENCE THE PRODUCTION OF STRESS HORMONES, ENCOURAGE BLOOD FLOW, AND IMPROVE CIRCULATION AND DIGESTION. ESSENTIALLY, ENJOYING HYDROTHERAPY FOLLOWING A MASSAGE PROLONGS YOUR SENSE OF RELAXATION, HELPS TO INDUCE A DEEPER NIGHT’S SLEEP, AND ENCOURAGES GREATER MUSCLE RECOVERY.

EAT

MASSAGE THERAPY HAS A BIG EFFECT ON THE BODY’S CIRCULATION AND STIMULATES DIGESTION. IF YOU’RE FEELING A LITTLE LIGHT HEADED POST-MASSAGE, THIS MIGHT BE THE RESULT OF NOT EATING. FOLLOWING A MASSAGE YOUR BODY NEEDS TO REFUEL. FOR THIS REASON, CONSIDER TAKING A SNACK TO YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT, SUCH AS A BANANA AND SOME RAW ALMONDS. ENSURE YOU KEEP MEALS LIGHT, AND OPT FOR THINGS SUCH AS STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES AND RICE.

REST

IT’S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO SCHEDULE YOUR MASSAGE APPOINTMENTS AT TIMES WHEN YOU CAN RELAX AFTERWARDS. THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO PROLONG YOUR SENSE OF DEEP RELAXATION FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. IF YOU FEEL LIKE HAVING A SLEEP, SLEEP. IF YOU FEEL LIKE CURLING UP UNDER A BLANKET AND READING A BOOK, DO IT. IF YOU WANT TO STRETCH OUT ON THE SOFA AND WATCH RERUNS OF THE BACHELOR, INDULGE. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO RECOVER, REPAIR AND RE-TUNE YOURSELF.​

HAVE A BATH

HAVING A BATH WILL ENCOURAGE REST, AND IS PARTICULARLY NICE WHEN EPSOM SALTS ARE ADDED. ADDING EPSOM SALTS (MAGNESIUM SULPHATE) WILL HELP HEAL ANY ACHES AND PAINS, OPEN UP YOUR BLOOD VESSELS, AND INCREASE CIRCULATION. A WARM SHOWER WILL SUFFICE IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BATH. JUST REMEMBER – THE KEY WORD HERE IS WARM – NOT COLD, AND NOT SCORCHING HOT! A SUPER HOT BATH WILL INCREASE INFLAMMATION, WHICH ISN’T A GOOD IDEA AFTER A MASSAGE.​

WELCOME ANY EMOTIONS

AS YOUR BODY RELAXES, IT’S NORMAL FOR IT TO RELEASE ANY EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE IT’S HOLDING ONTO. WHILE ON ONE OCCASION YOU MIGHT FEEL ELATED, REFRESHED AND ENERGISED, THERE MAY BE OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL THE NEED TO CRY. THIS IS OKAY. EMBRACE IT. ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. YOU’LL APPRECIATE THE EMOTIONAL RELEASE AFTERWARDS!​

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY'S REACTION

WHILE IT’S NORMAL TO FEEL A LITTLE SORE FOLLOWING A MASSAGE (THINK THE DAY AFTER A GOOD GYM WORKOUT), IT’S NOT NORMAL TO FEEL PAIN SEVERAL DAYS AFTER YOUR MASSAGE. IF YOUR PAIN IS INTENSE AND LONG-LASTING, THIS IS A SIGN YOUR MASSAGE THERAPIST MAY HAVE GONE TOO HARD. MAKE NOTE OF ANY SORE AREAS AND INFORM YOUR THERAPIST DURING YOUR NEXT VISIT. THIS IS IMPORTANT SO YOUR TREATMENTS CAN BE MODIFIED TO BEST SUIT YOU.​

URINATE

AND FINALLY… GO TO THE TOILET. BY URINATING YOU ARE LETTING GO OF YOUR TOXINS, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET RID OF THEM!​