Massage Therapy / Therapeutic Massage

A type of massage technique which uses deeper pressure. Commonly used to release tension and tightness held deep in your muscles and connective tissues. Typically, the pressure is focused on primary areas of concern. It is important to check in with your therapist if the pressure is too much or not enough.

• Arrive a few minutes early for your appointment and turn off/mute any technology giving your body a moment of calm before the massage.
• Drink plenty of water to help your body eliminate the toxins that have been dislodged during the massage and replace loss fluids.
• Try and keep physical activity to a minimum in the 24h following your treatment to allow your muscles to recover from the work.
• Take a warm bath with Epsom before bed.

• Tips are always appreciated but never expected at our clinic.
• Our therapists encourage patients to incorporate massage into their regular wellness routine in which case a tip each time is not necessary.
• Etiquette experts suggest leaving a 15% to 20% tip to your massage therapist, if you’re able.

• Before your appointment begins, your massage therapist should take a few minutes to get to know your health history, determine how your body is feeling to you, and discuss what you’d like to get out of the session.

  During this discussion, it’s your opportunity to communicate your needs, concerns, and any areas you prefer to have specifically worked with and conversely, the areas you would like the therapist to avoid.

  If you’ve never had a massage before, you may discover you like, dislike or need to adjust something during your session. Always be sure to let the massage therapist know what you need. Whether it’s more pressure, less music or additional draping, there should always be an open line of communication between you and your therapist to make you as comfortable as possible, at all times.

• A good massage should be enjoyable, meaningful and helpful. It’s important you feel empowered to ask for what you need, from the amount of clothing you leave on, to the pressure you want, to the types of oil and lotion you prefer or the temperature on the table. There are many approaches and modalities of massage. So, it depends on you and what type of touch you personally find meaningful and helpful as well as gives you the results you are seeking.

The benefits can include:

• Reducing stress and increasing relaxation.
• Reducing pain, muscle soreness and tension.
• Improving circulation, energy and alertness.
• Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
• Improving immune function.

Depending on your specific ailment (strain, tension, etc.) or preferred results, a general recommendation is every 1-3 weeks. Regular maintenance is 4-8 weeks to avoid tension from building back up. However, many people that just simply enjoy a relaxation massage can come as much or as little as they prefer.

• Massage does not have to hurt to be effective. Many massage therapists are trained in multiple techniques that range in pressure and timing. If a technique does not feel therapeutic to you, but simply feels like pain, please speak up. Therapists may be able to detect a problem area, but they cannot feel the intensity of your pain response.
• Feeling slightly uncomfortable at times is normal and simply means that your muscles are carrying a lot of tension; however, there’s definitely a difference between good and bad pain on the massage table. If it’s hurting, and you’re holding your breath, it could be too much pressure for you.
• It should be a ‘hurt so good’ feeling, not a ‘please stop that.’ feeling.

• Experiencing sore muscles after a massage is normal, especially if it has been a while since your last massage or you’ve never had one before.
• Massage is like exercise: It forces blood into your muscles, bringing nutrients and removing toxins. This process can temporarily increase inflammation (the healing response) to areas that the body feels need attention. This inflammation can bring discomfort.
• Inflammation and discomfort usually last a few hours to about a day and a half. The same things you do to treat sore muscles after exercise may help soreness after a massage- take a warm bath with Epsom salts, or go for a gentle walk to keep the muscles moving.

Signs you could use a massage:

• You’re Feeling Stressed.
  Massage decreases the level of stress hormones in the body. At the same time, it increases levels of endorphins, hormones that make us happy. Making it a great stress reliever and mood lifter.
   
• You’re Getting Headaches.
  If you find you’re getting more headaches than usual, it could be coming from tension. Tension can build up in our neck, shoulders, and trapezoid muscles & this tension causes strain that triggers headaches.
  Getting regular massages can relieve this tension. Relaxing the muscles will promote better blood flow to the head, which will ease headache pains.
   
• You’re Sedentary for Most of the Day/Work a Desk Job.
  Being hunched over a desk or sitting in the same position for too long builds tension in your body. This can lead to poor posture, headaches, or overall pain. Getting a massage can help to relieve this strain and improve your spinal health. It will relax and loosen the muscles that have unknowingly tightened throughout your day.
   
• You Have Poor Posture.
  Massage can help to relieve the tension you feel in your back or neck from poor posture. Not only does it promote better spinal and postural health but also allows muscles to move freely into their natural positions.
   
• You’re in Pain or Don’t Have a Full Range of Motion.
  Pain is a way for your body to signal that something is wrong. Pain in your back, neck, hips, and shoulders could signal a soft tissue injury or muscle pain. A massage therapist can pinpoint certain trigger points, which are bundles of muscle fibers that are restricting blood flow and causing pain. These trigger points are usually referred to as “Knots.” Working these trigger points out will relieve the pain and relax the muscles involved. The increased blood flow will also promote healing of any soft tissue injuries.
   
• You’re Training or Just Started Working out.
  Training and working out result in building new muscles, straining muscles, and even tearing muscle fibers. Cardio activity and weight lifting can put a lot of stress and strain on your body. Getting a massage can help to restore range of motion when muscles get tight and tense. It can also promote better circulation which will aid in a quicker recovery from muscle injuries. Flexibility is also increased with massage. And the better your flexibility, the less likely you’ll encounter muscle strain and injury.
   
• You’re Having Trouble Sleeping.
  Along with relaxing your muscles, massage will increase your circulation, decrease your stress hormones, increase your endorphins, and makes you feel better overall. It’s a natural and effective way to get better rest and deeper sleep.
   
• You’ve Never Had a Massage Before.
  Why not give it a try! It’s a great way to improve your overall health and do something to better yourself and your mood.