 One question people ask me quite often is, "How often should I get a massage?". There is no one answer for everyone, as everyone is different. However the general agreement among the massage community is that you should a massage about...
3 Comments
 So like most people, since it's the new year, I have been working on establishing some new habits such as going to the gym every day. However, I didn't start until January 3rd, so I've been playing catch up with my workout plan. Thus, as a result, I went to the gym like five days in a row and skipped the Rest Days so I could catch up to the current day of my workout schedule.
 It's totally up to you. I often find that if it's a client's first time, having a fun conversation with the therapist helps them to relax and feel more comfortable after being more acquainted with the therapist. What usually happens is we'll talk for the first 10-15 minutes of the massages, then we'll slowly talk less and less until we're not talking at all.
 This is something I hear all the time. Most people assume that a massage is not effective if it is not painful. "No pain no gain" right? Wrong. But of course, as with everything, it's not always so black and white.
 Should I wear underwear?
It's totally up to you. I always tell my clients to undress to their comfort level. But usually most everyone does one of two things. Clients take off the shirt, pants, and either leave their underpants on or take them off. I would actually say a majority of my clients opt for no underwear during a massage. I believe most people find it more comfortable that way. But of course, everyone is different.  You've probably been told before to drink a lot of water after your massage. But what's the reasoning behind it? Does it make a difference?
The Myth There are a lot of myths that get thrown around concerning massage, and one of the them is that "You need to drink water to flush out the toxins that get circulated during a massage".  There are a lot of myths about massage that get tossed around. One of the myths is that "Massage increase your circulation". Even I didn't know about this for a long time until I stumbled onto a facebook group for massage therapists, and they cleared it up for me.
 As if we needed another reason why being fit and in shape and healthy is good for you, we have yet another reason.
Exercise is the single best thing you can do for yourself physically. It’s better than any anti-depression drug, it’s better than any high blood pressure medicine, it’s the closest thing to a magic pill that we have.  1. Don't sit for more than 4 hours at a time.
Even that is way too much. Better yet, try to get up every hour for about three to five minutes from your desk. Walk around, get some water, stretch...just so you're not sitting hunched over for hours at a time. Trust me I've done it, I know.  Please note, this is not medical advice. This is simply some tips I found to be effective for myself.
1. Stop Chewing Gum Chewing gum causes your jaw muscles to be overactive and the repetitive movements cause your jaw to become irritated and tight. Chewing gum is one of the worst things you can do if you suffer from TMJ or simply have a tight jaw. 2. Try to break the habit of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. I used to grind my teeth all the time as a kid and it's one of the hardest habits to break because at least for me, I didn't even realize I was doing it. Especially for those people who clench or grind their teeth at night when they're sleeping, it's one of the toughest habits to break. |