Benefits of Swedish Massage or Relaxation Massage

      As I was running around this last week, all I could think about was Saturday night after I had finished work. Not because I had a fun night planned with the girls, or that I was going out on the town with my husband, or we were going to see a movie together for the first time in five years... Nope. I was excited because I could put my feet up and relax, finish the carload of laundry, and actually eat supper before midnight. Hmmm, the next question is, did I actually accomplish any of those items on my highly charged Saturday night to-do list? Well, I made a start on the laundry, ate supper before midnight, and put my feet up but everything was fit and squashed around sorting files, email, writing web content, maximizing search results, blah, blah, blah, work, work, work, work!

     How often have you looked forward to something relaxing and then denied yourself that time to recharge? This is where the value and the sanctity of the Swedish Massage or Spa Massage comes in. By it's very nature you can't multi-task, work, do chores, be everything to everyone. Did you know that the Roman elite visited the baths and received massage as often as once a day, whereas the poor and the slaves would only be free to go once a week! It certainly puts the once a year vacation or the rare 'treat' massage in perspective, and underlines how necessary it is to find easily accessible stress busters.

  What else can you do when you are dog tired and short on time? Taking an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours to receive a Swedish massage is a sound and easy investment in your health that should be regularly scheduled to keep your body and mind ticking along optimally.

Several published studies that have trialed massage* have drawn several relevant (and hopeful) conclusions.

There were significant decreases in

• tiredness, 
• pain, 
• anxiety, 
• depression (1 and 2)

There were significant improvements in

• vitality, 
• general health, 
• energy, 
• mood, 
• ability to sleep, 
• movement, 
• health,
• general health and physical health. (3)

     The cost benefit ratio for Swedish massage is unbelievable, why not try it for yourself and reap the benefits of Swedish Massage, a natural solution for stress and anxiety.
 

*All articles can be found on pubmed, may need subscription to read full article.

How to get the most out of a massage

Now that you have found your therapist, there are a few things you can do to stretch out the enjoyment of your session and maximize the long-lasting benefit of massage.

It starts with booking your session - don't wait too long between appointments if you are trying to make progress with any particular issue. I know, we all know, from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in life, chores, work, household needs, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. However the harsh reality is all that stuff will still be there, waiting, regardless of whether you deny yourself basic maintenance and try to continually push through it. Ergo, you might as well carve yourself out some mental 'me' time to thoroughly enjoy and experience without the pointless guilt.

Next is showing up at your appointment - just do it! It would be best if you could show up a few minutes early for decompression time, wearing comfy clothes, and being well hydrated. But seriously, the most important thing is just to show up! The number of times I have had clients that desperately need their appointment but decide at the last minute that they have too much work to do and cancel- over and over again. In the end they are sabotaging their own health, making the lives of those around them hell, and ultimately not ever getting 'caught up' or 'done' with work that continually stresses them out.

So now that you have made your appointment, and have arrived, just relax. Use the restroom if you can and have some water. Take two minutes to tell your therapist how you are feeling, if you have any requests, concerns, or want special attention paid to any certain area of your body. Do this to get the session you want! While most therapists are somewhat intuitive, or have a great sense of what the body is saying, your wants have to be addressed as well for you to relax.

During the session, breathe, and let yourself go. Don't worry about hairy legs, falling asleep, snoring, or anything else - trust me, therapists have seen it all before. The one exception is if something is bothering you or you are uncomfortable - SPEAK UP! Don't waste the whole session and your $$ by suffering in silence, you are doing both yourself and your therapist extreme disservice. If you don't like the music, if the temperature isn't right, if you are getting a cramp, if the pressure needs to be adjusted - say something so the session can be righted for you. Then return to your dreamlike state. A mental trick dealing with wayward thoughts is to say to yourself the phrase, 'be present.' Let yourself really be there in that moment, listen to the fountain and music, feel the massage strokes, and smell the silky oil - allow yourself to fully exist only in that moment. A pure definition of sensual without sexual connotations, is: of the body / of the senses. How often do we take small pleasures and experience the world through our senses? How often do we confine our bodies to merely carry our head and frustrations around? 'Be present.'

Finally, after your massage - drink water, perhaps have a mint. Don't rush to get dressed, make use of the towel to wipe your skin if you wish.  Try to still exist in the moment. Depending on your session type there may be some aftercare suggestions that should be followed for maximum results. Rebook to decrease your chance of letting self care get away from you, and drive carefully.

What to look for in a massage therapist... and how to find the goods.

Firstly, a massage therapist has the potential to be a complete aid.
Someone that:  encourages you on your journey to health,
                      is nonjudgmental about any dietary or general life goof-ups,
                      is glad to see you and rejoices with your triumphs,
                      is in tune with what your body says,
                     and listens to the verbal communication as well.
In short, a massage therapist is your body and wellness coach and should be utilized to s/he's full capability.

(This of course does not mean a massage therapist should be a door mat or taken advantage of and there will be a whole follow-up post on rights and reponsibilities between client and therapist.  Instead this is one of the most positive, equal, upfront, dual responsibility, honest, legal relationships allowed in today's society.)

Therefore your new body and wellness coach should be:
1) Personable, presentable, and professional and maintain the same in their environment.
2) Knowledgeable in the areas of bodywork important to you and in anatomy/physiology.
3) A listener and accessible.
4) Reasonably priced, neither the highest nor the lowest in the area.

Now that you have some basics in mind, start cruising the local talent. This may take some time, personal referrals from friends and colleagues help, but view this process as a necessary step to finding a treasure.

Anyone in the biz should know that as soon as their information is in front of a client's eyes they are being evaluated for a possible gig, and should market accordingly. A quick trawl through a therapist's website will tell you a lot about them and their approach to massage. It may sound harsh, but a therapist without a website is a big no-no these days. It says they don't take their profession seriously, or possibly, have been around so long they aren't interested in new clients. Note the posted hours, services, and pay attention to your gut - if something seems fishy keep searching.

Next, call for a quick phone interview. Don't be surprised if you get voicemail or an answering machine as many therapists are trying to cut costs and may no longer have an answering service. Don't give up yet, use it as another measuring stick by leaving your contact information and see how long it takes for them to get back to you. If its over 24hrs move on. When you do get to speak with them, pay attention to their voice, how they answer your questions, if they seem knowledgeable, and if you feel comfortable with them. If everything seems kosher, schedule an appointment and show-up to check out the premises and their touch firsthand.

The room and office should be clean, comfortable, and quiet. You should be greeted with a smile and ushered into the treatment room for paperwork and the start of your session. It is a good idea to mention any areas that you want more time spent on, or areas to avoid. Extra touches are always appreciated, but pay attention to the massage and if your therapist listened to you. To talk or not to talk is completely up to you and your therapist should follow the lead you set.

Finally, after your massage, are you still being treated as a VIP or are you kicked out the door? If you walk back to your car with a smile or feel less pain than you went in with, chances are - you found the goods.