Under Pressure

One of my instructors said, “You give the type of massage you want to receive.” If that is true, then I want a massage that is firm but gentle tough love.

Many clients think that the deeper the massage, and the more it “hurts”, the better the Massage Therapist.  This is not true. Although some techniques will elicit a “good hurt” feeling that I describe as “uncomfortable, but it is working out the problem”, the gentlest techniques can also provide the same benefit. No tears required. 
 
Every massage can feel different because the Massage Therapist should be providing the type of massage the client needs/ requests that particular day. 
 
It is common that the bulkiest men will request a “deep tissue massage” (because this sounds like the manliest massage) only to realize they can’t handle it. I will admit that I take slight joy when this happens, especially if they doubted my abilities in the first place. Amazingly, it is always the smallest women who can’t get enough pressure, and sometimes I have to tap out and suggest another Massage Therapist that may be able to provide them with the pressure they desire for next time. 

As Therapists, we are trained to listen to the muscles and adapt to the pressure needed to relieve the tension. Just because you want a “deep tissue massage”, doesn’t mean your body needs it. You could be in a lot more discomfort the next day than you came in with.

That being said, it is perfectly normal to feel some soreness in the muscles the day after a massage, and it can sometimes last up to 48-hours. Think about your last workout, maybe not right away, but likely that night or the next day you knew you had worked new muscle groups because they were sore. You expected them to feel sore and recognize that you actually did something during your workout. This is the same concept post massage. The muscles need to repair after a massage the same way the muscles heal after a workout. Just like a workout, they will heal better, and stronger. 

The best way to reduce muscle soreness after a massage is to drink a few extra glasses of water and consider having a hot bath that evening with Epsom salts. Epsom salts can be found at any pharmacy and even at the bulk barn.

I hear many stories of people who see a Massage Therapist for the first time, and it becomes their last because the Massage Therapist applied too much pressure leaving them feeling battered and bruised. The Massage Therapist may be the one with more experience, but that doesn’t always mean they know best.

It is very important you get the massage that you feel will benefit your body the most. If a Massage Therapist is applying more pressure than is comfortable and bordering on painful, speak up and politely ask them to reduce his or her pressure. If they refuse, you have a right to end the treatment and find a new Massage Therapist.  If they are not providing you with the pressure you like, request that he or she provide more pressure on the muscle. Just please give us a few minutes to warm up the tissue before you judge our pressure.