What NOT to Do After Your Deep Tissue Massage
Massage therapy is a highly beneficial modality to prevent, treat, and manage a variety of health conditions. It can promote a sense of overall wellness and alleviate stress, chronic pain, and inflammation, which are all intimately interconnected.
However, if you receive a deep tissue massage, there are specific actions you should and shouldn’t take to ensure you get the most out of your treatment. In this article, our licensed massage therapist shares what NOT to do after your session. Let’s learn more!
What NOT to Do to Get the Most Out of Your Massage
When you receive a deep tissue massage, chances are you will experience some soreness, especially if you were previously experiencing a lot of pain and tension. To receive the maximum benefits from your session with Steven, our licensed massage therapist, here are 10 things you should avoid for a few days.
1. Dehydration (Hint: You Need More Water than You Might Think)
When you receive a massage, your lymphatic system is stimulated to remove cellular waste and toxins from the body through sweat, urine, bowel movements, and breath. Lymphatic fluid is primarily made up of water, so dehydration can significantly slow down this process.
Make sure you are drinking enough water both before and after a massage. Drinking water will additionally help with any muscle discomfort you may experience from your massage.
2. Taking a Shower Immediately
If you take a shower right after your therapy session, you are stripping your skin of the oils applied by your massage therapist.
To let them fully absorb into your skin to provide hydrating nutrients, wait at least an hour after your session to shower.
3. Taking a Hot Shower
Once you are ready to take your shower, opting for warm or even cold water is best, especially if you are suffering from a muscle injury. Hot water can increase inflammation, therefore increasing pain. Hot water is also likely to strip your skin of both natural oils and massage oils, drying you out. This can lead to uncomfortable itchiness and redness.
4. Eating a Large Meal
You might feel hungry after a massage since your body is doing more work than you might think with increased blood and lymphatic circulation. These trigger other systems to work harder, stimulating the digestive tract.
However, eating a large meal is likely to result in you only feeling bloated, sluggish, or lethargic. Libertas Massage instead recommends snacking on light, healthy, and nutritious foods to feel more energized after your session.
5. Drinking Coffee
Since you might feel sleepy and in need of an energy boost after a massage, you may be tempted to stop by your local coffee shop for a pick-me-up. But we advise against drinking coffee after a massage, as this hinders the detoxification and rehydration process.
If you do decide to drink coffee, make sure to wait at least a few hours and double your water intake. But we recommend challenging yourself to wait. You can do it!
6. Drinking Alcohol
Like coffee, alcoholic beverages prevent the detox and rehydration process. Alcohol typically does more harm than good when it comes to your health, so we strongly suggest avoiding it for the day. Drinking alcohol may even contribute to next-day aches and pains.
7. Engaging in Strenuous Exercise or Activities
You may feel tired after your massage, but you might feel quite the opposite! The increase in blood flow may have you ready to jump up and hit the gym, but this can lead to more muscle soreness and even cause injury.
After your massage, stick to light activities such as walking or gentle restorative stretching.
After your massage is the time to unwind and relax. Light activities such as a nice walk or restorative yoga flow can be wonderful, but you also can use this time as an excuse to catch up on your favorite Netflix series! If you feel sleepy, go ahead and take a nap. Your body deserves it!
8. Stressing Out
One of the main purposes of massage therapy is to relieve stress, which can help reduce inflammation and give your body the best conditions for healing. So, after you get a massage, avoiding potential triggers that you know will lead to stress and anxiety is a good idea.
Plan the day of your massage without any potential stressors so you can experience the full benefits of your session.
When you book your massage with Libertas Massage, plan some downtime for the rest of the day. Avoid scheduling any post-therapy meetings or errands so you can just go home and take a chill pill.
9. Forgetting to Stretch
After your massage, you’ll hopefully feel relaxed and jelly-like since the treatment helped to loosen stiff muscles and knots. By stretching, you will help prolong this impact. It’s a good idea to do some light stretches as soon as your massage is over before you even leave the spa! Engage and lengthen your muscles with some lunges, torso rotations, and hamstring stretches.
When you get home, consider diving into a restorative yoga flow. It will help you prevent any post-massage soreness and keep you feeling nice and limber until you can book your next session.
10. Avoiding Your Homework
After your massage, your licensed massage therapist will likely give you some homework and advice to get the most out of your session. Be sure to follow their instructions to feel the long-lasting effects of your deep tissue massage!
Learn More > What to Do if You’re Sore After a Massage
Listen to Your Body
More than anything, it’s important to listen to your body after receiving a massage. Doing so will ensure you avoid injury and get the most healing benefits from your experience.
If you’re ready to let go of stress and improve your overall health, book your appointment at Libertas Massage (formerly SF Active Bodyworks) today. You deserve to feel stellar!
