Post-Massage Recovery

So you've had a massage...what now?

For many, getting a massage is the height of relaxation – it’s good for your muscles, it melts away stress, and it provides time for focused self care. What many people don’t know, however, is that massage recovery is almost as important as the massage itself. Taking care of your body properly after a great massage ensures that you reap the ultimate benefits.

After a massage, the ideal window for recovery is 24-48 hours, but if you feel like you need more time, know that every body is different and unique:

1. Stay away from alcohol and caffeine. Drinking alcohol and caffeine in the 24 hours immediately following a massage can slow down your body’s ability to rebuild and recover. Alcohol slows recovery by delaying muscle repair, suppressing immune function, and increasing risk for nutrient deficiencies. Caffeine can affect blood flow regulation, which can keep nutrients from getting to muscles and delay the removal of waste products in your body.

   
   

2. Stay well hydrated. Hydrating before and after a massage helps with muscle recovery, circulation, and toxin removal. Massage stimulates your circulation, which facilitates the release of waste products and toxins from your muscles. Drinking enough water helps your body process and flush these toxins from your body.

   
   

3. Avoid strenuous exercise and activities. It’s generally recommended to wait 24 hours after a massage to get back to strenuous activity like running, weight lifting, HIIT, or other high intensity activities. Jumping back into strenuous activity right after a massage can increase your muscle soreness and get in the way of recovery.

   
   

4. Use ice therapy to ease soreness. After a massage, ice is your best friend for any lingering soreness. Heat increases circulation and can make inflammation worse. It’s great for muscles that are tight due to stress, but ice is the right choice to promote healing and remove metabolic waste.

   
   

5. Engage in gentle activities (like stretching and walking). Gentle activity and exercise is great for your body after a massage. Light exercises can help maintain the increased blood flow promoted by the massage, which can help your body recover effectively. If you generally exercise regularly and find it difficult to skip a day, try getting your workout in before you head to your massage and then take it easy the next day.

6. Listen to your body!! These guidelines are meant to be just that…guidelines! Every person is different, so it’s important to listen to your body as you recover from a massage. If you find that some of the suggestions work for you and others don’t, that’s okay. Just like a great massage, great recovery should be personalized for your needs.

   
   

Remember, what you do after your massage is almost as important as the massage itself. Take the time to care for your body, and you will be amazed at how much you can benefit from incorporating massage – and proper massage recovery – into your routine!