You want to hold on to that post treatment bliss for as long as possible. Not only do you feel relaxed but your body will be busy at a cellular level for several hours and in some cases a few days while it processes, repairs, cleanses, and heals. There’s also the process of sweeping out metabolic waste that massage treatments expedite. It’s important to let that happen and certainly not hinder the cleansing process. Here are my top tips – from why you need to drink water after your massage to how to relieve pain. As always please do get in touch if you have questions or experience unusual effects after your treatment.
Water, Water, and then Water
Water is your post-massage best friend. If you only read one piece of advice, let it be this.
During a massage, built-up metabolic waste is released. Which is great, but it needs a way out from your body. Your kidneys do the brilliant job of eliminating waste from your system and they need water to work and push out what you no longer need. You’ll feel so much better expelling the old. If you’re feeling lingering soreness after a deep tissue massage, water is also the primary solution. Drinking some extra water can help to shift soreness. Removing waste and giving your muscles the fluids to renew and heal. Massages can also be quite dehydrating. They usually take place in a warm environment and I’m actively encouraging your soft tissues to expel water. So the best thing to do after a massage is to have a long drink of water to get your hydration back up. If it makes you wee alot – great. Visualise that you are getting rid of the old and drinking in the new.
Don’t rush back to work
One of the best ways to capitalise on the post-massage feeling is to actively choose to stay relaxed. Don’t rush back out into normal life. Stumble into bed or to the couch for a little while. Keep your mind relaxed. Put on some peaceful music, meditate, or read your book. Try some deep breathing. You’ll feel centred and calm.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine
If you can avoid alcohol and caffeine after a massage for at least 12 hours or so, you will feel fab. Both are dehydrating and won’t help your body eliminate the waste that are on the move thanks to the massage. Imagine your body is happily processing and then you give it extra work to do by reloading it with toxins. An own goal. And you’ll potentially get a stinky headache as your organs complain.
No marathons !
Should you work out after a massage? No. You have permission to skip that run or trip to the gym in the next 12 hours. Strenuous activity is best avoided for 12-24 hours after a massage as it will help ensure you benefit from relaxed muscles and overcome any lingering soreness. Getting back to high impact activity straight after a massage will simply halt the good post-massage feeling you’re trying to hold onto and as already discussed your body is busy healing and processing, don’t overload it with more demands.
What exercise can I do?
Although I’ve just said avoid strenuous exercise I do recommend you don’t stay completely still either. If you’re back at a desk or screen, make sure you get up and move about occasionally. In the few hours after a massage, do some gentle stretches. This is one of the top tips to relieve pain after massage. Move around, or go for a gentle walk. Hold stretches for around 30 seconds each to ensure they are most effective.
Be mindful of your posture
If immediately after a massage you simply go back to your old poor posture habits then the same issue will build up again. It’s difficult as muscles get used to certain positions and it becomes a default… shoulders up around our ears anyone? Chin on chest scrolling your phone? Mentally scan your body. If you can feel a tense muscle then consciously relax it. If that’s tricky to do, tense the muscle more first and this will help you to actively relax it.
Eat lightly for the first meal after your massage
Eat lightly and nutritiously. Your knowledge that you are treating your body in the right way, without processed sugars or carb heavy meals, will add to your sense of wellness. Plus, same as before, your body is busy processing and healing, chomping down a huge kebab and bowl of sticky toffee pudding might sound fabulous but it will likely run straight through you as your body struggles to multitask.
Dealing with soreness
If you’ve had a deep tissue massage, or I was working hard on a particular tense spot, you may be experiencing some discomfort. Pain after a massage isn’t a bad thing per se. Headaches, soreness and sluggishness are all normal after-effects of a good massage, particularly a deep tissue one. They can be signs that muscle tenseness has been released and waste is making its way out of your system. But it’s important to know how to relieve pain after a massage. All of the tips above will help. However, in addition, don’t push yourself. You can use an ice pack or soothe sore muscles in the bath. If it’s a headache that’s plaguing you then drink plenty of water. Some residual soreness, mild headache, increased urination and thirstiness are all normal. But if you are worried then you should get in touch with me.
Emotional Release
It’s not uncommon to feel emotional after your treatment. I’ve had clients burst into tears almost as soon as they sat up. It usually happens if you are going through a difficult time…and I truly believe it’s cathartic, normal, and above all, healthy. Imagine you are a glass and the liquid in you is stress. There comes a point when you have to remove some ‘liquid’ or it will spill over and make you unwell (often seen as a breakdown). Massage helps release that stress naturally and it can manifest as crying or even gasping sobs. Making room for clearer, calmer thoughts and decision making. In short having a big ugly cry is exhausting but very very healthy and I wholeheartedly encourage it.
Please do get in touch if you’d like any clarity or further information on anything I’ve written above.
Please remember that my advice is not medical and is not intended to replace recommendations from your GP. I am not authorised to diagnose any medical conditions.
Breathe Holistic Therapy 