The Best Advice You Can Hear About Deep Tissue Massage
 

The best advice that you can hear about deep tissue massage is this: 

 

If it hurts, you're doing it wrong! 

The key to a successful deep tissue massage is in using a decent amount of pressure so that you do work out all the tension in your muscles and leave them relaxed. However, if you go too easy on yourself during a session or have a practitioner who isn't really paying attention then there's no point in getting the treatment at all because you won't get the results that you're looking for. A good deep tissue massage leaves you feeling great.

 

Do not be afraid of asking your practitioner if they can work deeper or apply more pressure. 

For some people, especially people new to deep tissue massage, the pain might actually increase when they actually do ask their therapist to go deeper. It's important to remember that every person has different levels of tension in their muscles so it's best to speak up if something doesn't feel right and see how your therapist responds. Just remember not to complain during the session unless necessary!

 

It takes time! 

You need at least a half-hour for a full treatment. Any less and you're not going to get the most out of your session. If you're on a tight schedule, then try coming in early or scheduling your appointment for a time that gives you plenty of extra time afterward.

 

Massages are more often than not expensive, but they can be worth every penny! Trust me when I say that no amount of money is too much to pay for one of these treatments. In fact, once you start getting them regularly, it's tough to stop because they make you feel so good from head to toe. Rather than thinking about how much people charge per treatment, think about all the benefits that come with getting an hour massage: stress relief, improved circulation throughout your body, overall relaxation, and maybe even a boost in energy.

 

The last thing you can hear about deep tissue massage is to book your appointment now! Research the places in town that provide this service and contact one or two of them to set up an appointment. You won't regret it because I know that once you go through the process for yourself, you'll be hooked on getting regular sessions!

 

MYTHS ABOUT DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

 

MYTH: Deep tissue means a lot of pressure.

REALITY: Pressure is a personal preference. The depth required to address any particular structure in the body can be achieved with either a light or a hard pressure. That amount of pressure is up to the client; it’s a personal preference, NOT a requirement.

 

MYTH: More pressure means better results.

REALITY: Massage is about applying a particular massage stroke to an area of tissue to get a particular physiological response. A seasoned professional will assess the area in need and find out what is wrong with the tissue: Is it a trigger point? Are there adhesions? Is the tissue fibrotic? From there, the right stroke is the one that creates the physiological response to repair the tissue and bring it back into homeostatic balance.

 

MYTH: Deep tissue massage is painful.

REALITY: Deep tissue work can be intense and in some instances painful depending on how much tissue damage exists. But it should not be so painful and uncomfortable that the client tenses up and tries to pull away from the hands of the therapist. A good pressure is one under which the client is able to breathe and relax without having to cringe or tense any muscles. A painful massage can actually be counterproductive and have the opposite results from what both client and therapist were seeking.

 

MYTH: Bruising is a good thing.

REALITY: Bruising can be pretty complex, but simply put, there are two kinds of bruises that can be caused by massage: subcutaneous bruising which is broken blood vessels, and deep bruising which is more damaging. Bruising means damage and damage is not a good thing. There are instances where a client might be slightly anemic and therefore prone to bruising, but the bruises should never be more than superficial, and care should be taken in follow-up sessions by using less aggressive strokes to minimize bruising. Remember, BRUISING=INJURY, and no one should be bruised after receiving a massage.

 

When searching for the best deep tissue massage, it is important to remember that there are many different modalities, many different versions of deep tissue massage, and every therapist works differently. You might have to try different therapists until you find the one that works best for your particular needs.