Massage Homework?

After you have had a good massage, the last thing you want usually is to have to worry about what you should do after. But if you really want to continue to feel good and let the massage really "absorb", there are a few things you should really do and not do in our estimation.

1) PUSH THE FLUIDS. Water is optimal, but other liquids will do. Alcohol and caffeine are not great, but what can I tell you--your gonna do it anyway! We want to get all those nasty metabolic wastes out of your body instead of allowing them to hang out in your muscle tissue any more, so hence the flush of fluids. I tell clients to act as though you have a cold and need to flush yourself with good stuff to get those germs out!

2) EAT SOMETHING. I have never had anyone have a negative reaction when I give this piece of advice. In my experience of almost 6 years of massage, there seems to be a "magic window" of time-about one (1) hour-after you are off the table that you have before all those metabolic wastes (see #1) re-circulate through your system and reach your stomach. If when they get to your stomach there is not much or nothing in there--you stand a healthy chance of feeling pretty crappy really soon. Nausea, body aches and general malaise are on their way! Now I have had a few clients in the past who have had little or no issues after a massage and no meal--but I have had more clients who HAVE had symptoms and really didn't like it. Do you really want to risk it?

3) HEAT PLEASE. I am a big proponent of heat. If after your massage you feel bruise-y or sore I suggest grabbing your heating pad or getting in a nice, hot shower or bathtub of Epsom salts. I also use a homeopathic topical cream called Traumeel. Here in Austin they sell it at Whole Foods, Central Market and Peoples Pharmacy for sure. It is a little pricey, but you don't need much for it to work well. A small tube lasts me several months usually.

Also if after your massage you have questions about what was done during your session or need more information on what you can do to help yourself--don't hesitate to shoot us an email and just ask! I would say to just call the office, but we could be in session and does anyone really need a game of phone tag after a day of work?

Take care and we'll be seeing you around the office!
Kate