6 Ways to Get the Most Benefit out of your Massage – by Heather Vance, RMT

Whether you have had treatments before, or if you are new to the world of Massage Therapy, I’ve created a list of a few tips to help you receive the absolute most benefit from your massage appointments.

1. Do not eat a big meal before your treatment.

Consuming a large meal can leave us feeling uncomfortable and often quite bloated. Not many people want to lay on their stomach while experiencing that discomfort, not to mention having someone apply pressure onto their back!

Apart from the discomfort, it is important to not arrive feeling ‘full’ because while your body is busy trying to digest that meal, your mind is being distracted and therefore unable to fully drift into a relaxed state.

On the other hand, nothing can be as distracting as hunger pains while you are trying to relax and reap the full benefits from your treatment. So, if you must eat, try to have a light snack before your treatment, just to hold you over for a couple of hours.

2. Arrive early, or on time for your appointment.

Try to ensure that you are a few minutes early so that you can begin the relaxation process before you even get on the table. If you arrive late or rushed, it may take longer to ‘shut off your mind’ or to relax during the treatment.

3. Communicate with your Therapist.

• Ensure that you provide your RMT with an accurate health history upon your first visit, especially making aware to your therapist if you have any allergies or sensitivities to lotions or detergents or if you have taken any medications prior to treatment. As RMT’s, we rely on this information to provide the most safe and effective treatment for you.
• If you have previous massage experience, let your therapist know your preferences. For example, RMT’s will often play music during your sessions to aide with the relaxation process. Let them know if you like or dislike the chosen music so that we can choose something more appropriate for your tastes. Furthermore, some clients like to talk during their sessions and others do not, so don’t be afraid to tell your RMT which you prefer. It is your time, and we want you to have the best experience possible.
• Your therapist should be checking in with you periodically throughout your treatment asking for feedback relating to pressure, comfort and any concerns you may have. If they are not, it is still important that you give them this information. Make sure that you speak up if the pressure is too much or not enough, or if there is something that just doesn’t feel right. Massage does NOT need to be painful to be beneficial, and it really just depends on each individual’s preference. What works for some may not work for others, and as RMT’s we need to know which is best suited for you.

4. Relax your muscles and your mind.

You may notice that during your treatment you may be ‘flexing’ your muscles against the techniques that your therapist is performing. It is important to do your best to completely relax your muscles to the techniques, otherwise, each time you tense your muscles, it is like the therapist having to start the relaxation process all over again. Here is where you need to communicate that this is happening with your therapist so that they can take a different approach to treating that muscle.

Almost as important is being able to ‘shut off’ your mind during your massage. Remember: A relaxed mind = a relaxed body and a stressed mind = a tense body. Try not to spend your session thinking about the tasks that you have to complete that day, or how you have to drive your kids all over the city for sports, or what you can’t forget to pick up at the grocery store. As corny as it sounds, try to go to your “happy place”. Let go of all of life’s business and just BE.

5.  Hydrate

I can’t stress enough how important consuming water is to getting the most beneficial results from your massage. As RMT’s we are helping to remove wastes and toxins from your body by encouraging better circulation through your blood and lymph systems. Those systems are fluid based, and therefore need water in order to function properly. You may have heard how consuming lots of water AFTER a massage can be beneficial to flushing out said wastes and toxins post treatment, but it is equally important to consume some water BEFORE your treatment. Your blood is mostly water, and if you are dehydrated, you may have a more sluggish circulation, therefore taking more effort from your bloodstream to receive and move the excess wastes and toxins out of your body.

6. Schedule more treatments.

After your massage, be prepared to schedule more sessions. The therapeutic effects of Massage Therapy are cumulative, meaning that the benefits and effects of massage get better over time with more treatment. So, the more massages you get, the quicker you can relax, the better you will feel, and the more quickly you will respond to the techniques during each session.

Heather Vance, RMT at Campbell Care Centre

Instructor at the D’Arcy Lane Institute of Massage Therapy

Winner – Best of London 2014, 2015

“My name is Heather Vance and I am a Registered Massage Therapist at Campbell Care Centre in London Ontario.  I help people in their  reduction of muscle tension and stiffness, greater flexibility and range of motion, promotion of faster healing of soft tissue injuries such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, reduction in the formation of scar tissue following injury and relief of many conditions including Repetitive Strain Injuries, Back Pain and Headaches.”