Taking full advantage of a massage

Once people discover the many joys and benefitscan be greatly enhanced. Life really will wait a
of massage, a common question arisescouple of hours for you — and
— "How often should I schedule myyou’ll be in much better shape to deal
massage sessions?" Of course, there is no setwith your responsibilities when you are feeling
answer, but studies indicate that massage atyour best! Other things you can do, as time
regular intervals is most beneficial to your overallallows: Take a relaxing bath or shower before
health.your appointment time Limit consumption of
In a Newsweek article entitled "The Magic ofcaffeine and sugar, as well as other stimulant
Touch," the advantages of frequent massage areAvoid eating immediately before your
considered. The following excerpts help to answerappointment Allow extra time in your schedule so
the question, "How often?" "A weekly massageyou don’t have to rush to be ready
may seem an indulgence, but new researchfor your session. Otherwise, it may take longer to
suggests it can have major health benefits....reach a relaxed state.
"Since instituting a program of massage,Be aware of your current condition so you can
job-specific exercises and ergonomics in 1990, thereport anything that needs attention.
Virginia-based company [Wampler Foods] has cutIt’s important to explain
repetitive-stress injuries by 75 percent....what’s going on healthwise, because
"From assembly lines to corporate headquarters,changing health conditions can affect your
Americans are discovering the magic of massage.massage needs.
At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strainDuring your session Share what’s going
and fatigue have all fallen since the companieson. If you have a tender spot or an injured area,
started bringing in massage therapists . . . Doctorsbring it up so it can be addressed. If you feel you
have started prescribing massage to help patientsneed more pressure or a lighter touch during the
manage stress and pain. And a few HMO's havesession, please say so. If everything is great, you
begun sharing in the cost. ‘Massage iscan lie back and relax. If you find your attention is
medicine, not merely an indulgence,’on something, bring it up so you will be able to lie
says Laura Favin of Not Just a Luxury Onsiteback and relax! Specify your preferences.
Massage in New York....Everyone has different needs and wants, so
"Scientists are now finding that massage canshare yours! Is everything in the massage
reduce blood pressure, boost the immuneenvironment okay? The temperature? The
system, dampen harmful stress hormones andlighting? Any other distractions? Are you
raise mood-elevating brain chemicals such ascompletely at ease? Do you like certain music? Is
serotonin. And you can’t beat massagethe volume okay? Do you like specific techniques?
for relaxation. Babies fall asleep faster whenMore time spent on a certain area? Each session
massaged than when rocked — andis especially for you, so please communicate
they stay asleep, rather than waking the momentabout what you want! If there is anything you
Mom tiptoes away. All these factors, says Tiffanydon’t understand, please ask so we
Field, founder of the Touch Research Institute atcan discuss it.
the University of Miami’s School ofLet it all go and relax! One of the major massage
Medicine, ‘put massage in the samegoals for many people is to lessen tension and
category with proper diet and exercise asstress. Many of those aches and pains that
something that helps maintain overalldemand our attention are linked to stress. In fact
health.’ "The effects aren’t— according to Dr. Sandra McLanahan
always so straightforward. Massage can also— eighty percent of disease is
stimulate nerves that carry signals from the skinstress-related, so maximizing the relaxation in
to the brain, triggering changes throughout theeach session should help you to maintain a much
body.... Field showed that massage (as opposed tohigher level of well-being! One way to quiet your
light touch) stimulates the brain’s vagusmind is to focus your attention on the session
nerve, causing the secretion of food-absorption— really get in tune with your sense of
hormones, including insulin. Nerve stimulationtouch.
probably explains other benefits as well.... Dr.Proper breathing helps you to relax and to reach
James Dillard of Columbia University [says],your session goals. Slow, deep breathing (from
‘Every nerve cell in the body has somethe gut) will provide your body with much-needed
connection to every other nerve cell.’ ...oxygen, while signaling your body to let go of its
"Like exercise, massage does more for you iftensions.
you engage in it regularly... even a monthlyAfter your session If at all possible, allow for
treatment can help maintain general health.some quiet time before you continue your busy
‘Touch is basic to survival,’life.
says Elliot Greene, past president of AMTADrink extra water!! Massage releases waste
[American Massage Therapy Assn.].products and toxins from your muscles. Increasing
That’s all the excuse anyone shouldyour fluid intake lowers this toxicity and lessens
need to indulge." Remember, your body strives tothe strain on filtering organs.
maintain optimum health by keeping all of itsBefore your next session Make your massage
systems in balance. Along with proper nutrition,results last by avoiding as many stressful
exercise and rest, massage relaxes tenseelements as possible.
muscles and stimulates the body’sSchedule your next appointment! When you make
communication lines to help it do its jobbodywork a regular part of your life, you are
— and to keep you feeling your best.helping your body to maintain a better state of
So, make regular massage a priority in your lifebalance. In the long run, you stand to enjoy much
for a healthier tomorrow! Massage can be abetter health gains through consistent sessions.
powerful tool to help your body best perform itsMake note of anything that occurs between
countless functions in its goal to maintain a healthysessions to bring up next time.
balance. Why not do everything you can to getEnjoy your life! Nothing is more important than
the best possible results from every massageyour well-being, so make taking care of yourself a
session? This article is devoted to providing youhigh priority. When you feel your best, you are in
with some hints to make the most from youra much better condition to deal with all of
bodywork sessions.life’s challenges and demands.
Before your session The mood of your sessionHopefully, this list has given you at least a couple
can be affected by the things currently influencingof helpful hints. If there are any other points
your life. You can improve your results byyou’d like to bring up, please do so.
preparing yourself before your massage time. IfAnd if you have any questions regarding your
you can put the events of your life on pause formassage and bodywork sessions or your health,
a little while and truly devote your session time tofeel free to ask
taking care of you, the benefits you experience