What Your Massage Therapist Can Tell About You After Your First Session

When we think about massage therapy, the feelings of healing touch, scented candles, and complete mind relaxation often start wandering in our mind. But while you are lying on the massage table with your closed eyes waiting for the magic of massage to happen, did you know your massage therapist is taking mental notes of your overall health? Yes, it’s true. Massage therapists don’t wait for you to open up about your mental health problems and your body’s functionality; rather, they start observing you as soon as you enter the room.

Sometimes it may seem strange when massage therapists ask questions like, how much time do you spend on screens? What kind of job do you have? You came for massage therapy, after all, not for therapy for your mental health. But there are reasons behind such questions; today we will see how a massage therapist can observe and tell about you after your first session.

A Massage Therapist Notices Your Every Moment.

As soon as you enter their room, they start to notice your movements, right from your walks, postures to your hand movements. They pay attention and make mental notes. When you are asked to have a seat, the way you sit will tell about your sitting postures.

Some massage therapists walk behind their clients to the treatment room just to observe them from behind. While doing this, they observe if their client’s posture is leaning to one side or if their hips and shoulders are uneven and look for other dysfunctions that may exist.

A Massage Therapist Identifies the Area of Weakness.

Before your massage therapy begins, your massage therapist may ask you to relax or stretch your muscles and suggest you perform a few stretching exercises. It may stretch your muscles, no doubt about it, but the intention of a massage therapist is to see the flexibility of your body and muscles and observe any weak points that could be targeted during the massage therapy.

Suppose you are performing hand stretching smoothly but having difficulty touching your toes by bending down. This will give an indication to your massage therapist that you may have lower back problems or less flexibility in your upper body.

Moreover, during the massage, they observe your facial expression and can tell which area of your body is more sensitive and cannot be pressurized. For example, if you are getting a massage on your shoulders and you frequently ask them to stop and make expressions that it is hurting, your therapists will identify that there might be some underlying problem, such as a slightly dislocated shoulder or torn shoulder muscle.

A Massage Therapist Can Tell If You Are Depressed.

It may sound strange, but a massage therapist can tell if their client is stressed or depressed. When you are stressed, it is difficult to relax your muscles. Massage therapists can indicate that you are stressed by feeling stiffness in your arms and upper body. Therefore, sometimes they ask about your daily routine.

A Massage Therapist Can Tell About the Work You Do.

Moreover, a professional massage therapist can tell what kind of job you do by observing your body. For example, a massage therapist can tell that you have a desk job by looking at your humped back and neck postures.

The above-mentioned are just a handful of secrets that your massage therapist can tell about you after your first session. Meeting with a massage therapist is beneficial because they can even help you identify any underlying bodily issues you may have so you can address them on time. In other words, a massage therapy session is not all about just feeling relaxed and calm but also about knowing your body more deeply.

Have you booked your massage therapy appointment yet? If not, get in touch with a trusted licensed massage therapist near you to get a massage that not only heals you but also informs you about any underlying health issues you may not know.

What is the Difference Between Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage and Which Therapy is Right for You?

When you feel tired, what do you do? Well, most people choose to get a massage. It is one of the best ways to relax. There are many different types of massages, but two of the most common types are deep tissue massage and Swedish massage.

Although they may seem similar, they have several differences. But how do you know which one is the right choice for you?

What’s the Difference between the Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage Therapy?

  1. Technique

In Swedish massage, the professional massage therapist uses light, long strokes to lessen surface tension and stimulate circulation in the muscles.

In the deep tissue massage, the therapist applies the strokes more forcefully.  It helps release tension deep in the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissues, or fascia, beneath the muscles.

  1. Pressure

Swedish massage uses light-to-firm pressure. It provides a more relaxing experience, but the pressure may not be enough for some people.

In contrast, deep tissue massage involves forceful pressure to release tension deep within the muscles and fascia. The pressure can often be too much for people who only want a relaxing massage.

  1. Intended Use

Swedish massage is good for relieving light muscle tension and stress. After the massage, you will feel more rejuvenated.

Deep tissue massage is typically for working out deep muscle tension or aiding recovery from muscle strains.

What Happens in a Swedish Massage?

In Swedish massage, the massage therapist uses long, gliding strokes with kneading and friction to release surface tension. In this type of massage, five basic strokes used are:

  • Effleurage
  • Friction
  • Petrissage
  • Vibration
  • Tapotement

Who Should go with a Swedish Massage?

Swedish massage can be beneficial for people with circulatory issues. It may also be good for people who require stress relief. According to a study, a 4-week course of Swedish massage sessions can reduce heart rate and blood pressure in women with hypertension.

What Happens in a Deep Tissue Massage?

In a deep tissue massage, the therapist applies slow, forceful strokes. It helps release strains and knots in the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.

The aim is to realign the muscles and release chronic muscle tension from injuries or ailments. This type of massage can be uncomfortable at times, especially when the therapist works on a knot in the muscle. However, the massage shouldn’t be too painful, as forcing tight muscles or knots may do severe damage to the delicate areas.

Who Should go with a Deep Tissue Massage?

It is suitable for people who are recovering from muscle injuries due to an accident or sports. Deep tissue massage can also benefit a person who has structural abnormalities of the spine and muscles.

In Conclusion

Deep tissue massage and Swedish massage are popular forms of massage therapy. Although some of their techniques are alike, they vary in the amount of pressure involved and the intended purpose.

To find a massage session beneficial, you must opt for the technique the best suits your needs. A professional massage therapist in Philadelphia can offer you further advice and guidance.

What Is Therapeutic Massage And Its Benefits?

It wasn’t so long ago when getting a professional massage was outside the reach of common people and citizens in different countries. In the early days, getting a massage was considered primarily for just leisure. However, with time, people started realizing that massage can be used for relaxation as well as for therapeutic purposes. Thanks to this realization, massage still continues to transform from a luxury to a widely recognized form of complementary medicine and make some positive strides in the lives of many patients.

Before we move on to talking about the various benefits associated with therapeutic massage, it is important to know what it really is.

What is therapeutic massage?

Therapeutic massage can be defined as the mobilization of soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, fascia, and body fluids, in order to restore normal biochemical and systematic use. This kind of massage is known to be extremely helpful in the treatment of many musculoskeletal and other similar problems. Moreover, if you indulge in a therapeutic massage on a regular basis, you are bound to notice a substantial improvement in lymphatic, circulatory, and neurological functioning.

Now that you all are aware of what therapeutic massage is, let’s dive right into some of the significant benefits associated with it, which are mentioned below.

  • Reduction in anxiety:
    The heightened sense of elation that you get after a massage session is not just limited to your physical body. As a matter of fact, it is believed and proved that a therapeutic massage session can work wonders for patients suffering from any emotional distress. Similarly, therapeutic massage is also known to be quite effective when it comes to correcting some deep anxiety for many patients.
  • Improved sleep quality:
    If you wish to maintain a good lifestyle and optimal health, then you must know that it is not possible without adequate sleep each day. So, if you suffer from sleep issues such as insomnia, you might not be able to fully live a healthy life even if you want to. Fortunate enough for you, certain researches and studies have proved the fact that therapeutic massage can reduce the effects of insomnia in a person and consequently, increase the hours of sleep.
  • Relieve muscle tension:
    The modern fast-paced life has made everyone tenser than ever, both physically as well as psychologically. Consequently, more and more people can be seen suffering from chronic back pains, muscle tension, and joint stiffness. Therapeutic massage is yet again the savior for people suffering from these issues. By regularly indulging in these sessions, one can notice their muscle stiffness softening gradually.
  • Improved blood circulation:
    Another significant benefit associated with therapeutic massage is that it is known to enhance blood circulation by directing oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to all parts of the body. This, in turn, leads to quicker growth and recovery of the body.

These were some of the significant benefits associated with therapeutic massage and how they help all kinds of patients recover from their sufferings.

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