Things You Shouldn’t Believe About Massage Therapy

Just like other services, massage therapy service has some misconceptions prevailing in the industry. And unfortunately, many people believe them and don’t take advantage of massage therapy.

Massage therapies are good for you. Not only do they relax you but treat many of your health problems. Sometimes, massage therapy improves the result of the treatment you are currently undergoing. You feel better as the pain and difficulties associated with the treatment reduce.

Massage is beneficial, so don’t believe the misconceptions. In this post, we will discuss common misconceptions that people have regarding massage therapy.

Misconception 1:

All massage types are the same 

This can never be true. If this is true, then no massage therapist has to spend years learning techniques. They can learn a method and apply it to all their clients. Some of the massage types are Swedish, sports, deep tissue and refresh therapeutic massage.

Just like their names, their techniques and effects are different. For example, a therapist applies a firmer amount of pressure using slower movements in a deep tissue massage but a light to medium amount of pressure in a Swedish massage.

Misconception 2:

Massage therapy is only for pampering

Massage therapy is for pampering but not only for pampering. Other than self-care, massage therapy treats multiple health conditions. For many people, massage is a part of their daily routine as consistency does wonders for health and wellness.

Massage reduces stress by releasing “feel-good” hormones, and helps people with severe headaches and migraines by targeting specific trigger points in the head and neck and others.

Misconceptions 3:

Body should pain the next day 

The effect of massage varies from a person to person. You might not feel the same as your friend after the massage. Some people feel soreness the day after a massage, especially if it is a deep-tissue massage. And some people don’t feel anything.

It’s said that any pain afterward is a good sign. It means the massage is working and it’s beneficial. But, the fact is that pain after the massage signifies nothing. Even if there is no soreness or pain, the massage is effective.

Misconception 4:

Relief from massage is short term 

Massage therapy provides instant as well as long-term relief. You might feel the impact of a massage for days. Sometimes, it’s for the entire life if you take the recommended number of sessions. Everything depends on your objective to take massage therapy.

The repeated sessions of massage therapy train the muscles in the body, keeping them flexible, strong, and pain-free over time. Massage tells the muscles to feel more relaxed and stretched out, keeping them in a relaxed state for longer periods.

Massage is related to your health. So, you shouldn’t take any step without equipping yourself with accurate information. If you have any doubts, ask professionals and not any random person. Also, you shouldn’t have incomplete information. This is more dangerous than knowing nothing.

 

How to Prepare for Your First Thai Massage Session?

Thai massage is one of the most popular types of massage in the world and with good reason – it’s relaxing, it gets right to the source of your pain, and it’s incredibly therapeutic (and effective).

If you are looking to try out Thai massage in Philadelphia for the first time, here are some tips on how to prepare yourself mentally and physically.

Wear Loose and Comfortable Clothing

Wear loose and comfortable clothing so that the masseuse can move around easily. Avoid tight fitting clothing and jackets as these will restrict movement and make it difficult for the massage therapist to work on your back and shoulders. Put your long hair up in a bun before going for a massage.

Eat Light Before Massage

It’s a good idea to eat lightly before your session because you don’t want anything heavy in your stomach that may affect the effectiveness of your massage. You should not drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the hours leading up to your appointment.

Make Home Stretching

It’s a good idea to do some home stretching before your session. This will help loosen muscles and joints, so you can get the most out of the massage. It might also be a good idea to drink plenty of water before your session, as dehydration can make your muscles tense up.

Hydrate Before & After Session

Drink lots of water before and after your massage session. Getting a massage can make you feel dehydrated, so be sure to drink a lot of water. The more hydrated your body is, the better and longer you’ll enjoy your massage. Be kind to your body and make sure it’s getting enough fluids by drinking plenty of water.

Breathe Normally

One of the most important things you can do before a massage is to breathe. Deep breathing will help you feel more relaxed and it will also help your massage therapist work out any knots that might be hiding in your muscles. When you’re on the table, don’t forget to keep breathing!

Relax before, during, and after massage

It is important to take time in your day before and after massage. To properly relax before your session, make sure you have eaten a healthy meal and taken care of any business that may be on your mind. During the massage, try not to think about anything besides the present moment. After your session, it is vital that you drink plenty of fluids and rest up with some light stretching or reading.

Conclusion

If you are looking forward to trying a Thai massage session, it is important that you prepare well before your appointment. Make note of the tips above and you will be guaranteed maximum benefits during your massage session. Still looking for the best Thai massage in Philadelphia? Get an appointment from Justin Shelley – A Licensed Massage Therapist you can trust..

Can Massage Help Improve My Immunity?

Most of us have heard about the prominent benefits of having regular body massages, such as improved circulation, decreased muscle tension, stimulated lymphatic system, reduced stress, and so on. But, “massage can also work as immunity booster” is an idea that rarely comes to our mind. Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, everybody is looking for different ways to strengthen their immunity. So, it is natural for massage lovers to cerebrate whether massage plays a role in boosting their immunity or not.

If you also wonder whether massage improves immunity, here is our answer.

Yes, Massage Can Help Strengthen Your Immunity. It is not a Myth.      

Thanks to the research conducted by Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, now, we know for sure that people who undergo massage experience significant changes in their immunity and endocrine response.

Even a Single Massage Shows Immediate Impact on Immunity

Though several small studies have been conducted regarding the health benefits of massage, the aforesaid research is considered as the systematic study of a larger group of healthy adults. Based on the research results, immediate massage benefits included anxiety and a long-term increase in the serotonin values – natural killer cell numbers and lymphocytes.

Massage Therapy Helps in Alleviating Pain and Stress that Leads to Improved Immune System.

Massage therapy is popularly known to help alleviate pain. Do you know pain has a major immunosuppressive effect on your body? It is scientifically proven that pain negatively affects the immune system – the system that helps your body deal with infection and fight diseases. The same goes for stress as it increases the levels of cortisol and thereby, inflammation in the body. Since massage helps relieve mental stressors, improve circulation, and decrease inflammation and pain, undergoing massage therapy shows positive effects on your immunity.

Regular Aromatherapy Sessions Have Measurable Impact on Pregnant Women’s Immunity

Massage is said to be the best friend of pregnant women. During pregnancy, the immune system of women undergoes suppression which leads to their decreased ability to fight off infections and diseases decreases significantly. Thus, they become more prone to urinary tract infections, coughs, colds, flu, and postpartum infections. In other words, pregnant women experience substantial immunological changes, including the decreased activity of NK cells, decreased activity of T cells, and decreased production of cytokines. According to a study, aromatherapy massage significantly decreases stress and enhances immune function in pregnant women.

In short, massage not only makes you feel good, but it is also good for you at a physical level.

Find the Best Massage Therapist in Philadelphia

If you want to maximize your massage benefits, it is important that your massage therapist knows the ins and outs of the human body, how the system works, and which massage techniques encourage the production of T cells and promote a healthy lymph system. Staying healthy and having a strong immune system have always been important but have become even more crucial these days. So, when it comes to finding the best massage therapist in Philadelphia or your area, you should ensure that they are certified, licensed, highly trained, and have sufficient experience in this field.

Some Unique Benefits of Massage Therapy You Probably Didn’t Know About!

Out of all the various options for relaxing and relieving stress available in the market today, massage therapy is considered to be somewhere around the very top of that list. Massage therapy is known to be one of the most effective, most relaxing, and most versatile forms of treatment that is available to us.

A majority of the people goes to a Massage Therapist in Harrisburg, PA for a relaxing time, but little do they know about the various unacknowledged benefits of massage therapy. Many people know about some common benefits such as they give you a relaxing sensation, relieve any structural issues in the body, and so on. But massage therapy is known to be helpful in more ways than just these simple aspects.

The following are some of the unique and unexpected benefits associated with massage therapy that goes a long way in helping you achieve physical, as well as mental, peace.

  • Reduced postural stress:
    There are people who spend most part of their days either sitting or standing, and fail to find a good balance between them. No matter what work you are involved in, most probably you indulge in sort kind of repetitive motion or staying in the same posture every day of the week. This results in many people suffering from postural stress, which can be a very serious health problem. To minimize or even relive this stress completely, massage therapy has the capability to play a vital role. The Best Massage Therapist in Philadelphia or wherever you reside, would be able to realign the entire musculoskeletal system and restore the much needed balance to give you relief from postural stress.
  • Better quality of sleep:
    Massage therapy is also known to improve the quality of sleep in numerous ways. First and foremost, it enables you to relax and get some relief from all kinds of stress by providing you with a calm and peaceful feeling. Moreover, it also relieves postural stress as mentioned above along with structural abnormalities and any sort of muscular pain, all of which allows you to fall asleep more quickly and improves the quality of sleep you experience.
  • Regulate anxiety and depression:
    Anxiety and depression are quite prevalent in the modern age as many adults are facing these issues. Massage therapy can be of help in mitigating these conditions by creating a peaceful atmosphere during the session. The healing benefits of skin-to-skin contact in addition to the practical analgesic effects of the massage tend to alleviate certain symptoms of anxiety and depression.

So, if you too want to enjoy all these unique benefits, book a session with a highly reputed massage therapist and get yourself relaxed and calmed.

The 4 Most Frequently Asked Question About Massage Therapy

Quite often, when people consider getting massage therapy to cure their aches and pains, they get confused about whether it is the right option for them or not. If you think the same, you are not alone. When it comes to a private massage therapist, there are a lot of questions that you may have. So, here we’ll try to give you the most accurate information available, so you can get the most out of your therapist services and free yourself of pain.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about massage therapy:

  1. What is the First Appointment Like?

After booking your massage therapy appointment and completing all the formalities, you may be wondering what your first visit will be like. Well, here is a brief description of what your first massage therapy could look like.

Firstly, a massage therapist may perform a short orthopedic assessment. The evaluation is not always necessary, but in some cases, it is crucial to ensure whether the massage therapy treatment is right for your particular needs.

After the initial assessment, the massage therapist will explain what treatment they will perform for your specific needs. Then you will have to give them your consent and ask any question you may have.

Once you are ready and comfortable, the massage therapist will perform the treatment. After the treatment, the therapist will explain to you what they noticed about your tissues, and what future treatment should be like, as well as how often you should visit.

The initial appointment usually requires a little conversation, and in the follow-up appointments, there will be little to no assessment.

  • Does Massage Therapy Hurt?

Generally, NO; massage therapies are designed to work with your comfort level. If the massage is too aggressive, it stimulates your nervous system and causes your tissues to tighten up. This is not the ideal way to achieve the goal of massage. Some of the techniques may cause a small degree of discomfort, but it is always performed within your comfort zone.

In most cases, better results are achieved by guiding the tissues to release and function appropriately, not by forcing them belligerently.

  • Will I Be Sore After the Massage?

In most cases, NO; still, some people who have tight or inflamed tissues may experience mild soreness right after the massage, up to the next day. If a therapist has worked in a specific area a lot, the tissues may be sensitive to the touch. However, these things are normal and part of the healing process.

The pain should go away in one or two days after the massage therapy.

  • What are the Most Common Massage Therapies?

Firstly, look for the best massage therapist in Philadelphia, as they are experienced and trained in many different modalities, including:

  • Myofascial release
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Neuromuscular therapy
  • Sports injuries
  • Work-related injury
  • Back and neck pain
  • Sciatica
  • Muscle training
  • Lymphatic drainage massage

If you have any more doubts about massage therapy, get in touch with the best private massage therapist in Philadelphia. They will offer you quality services and listen to your needs to create custom therapies that meet your requirements.

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