Well, well, well, look who’s just had a hot stone massage. You feel good, and you feel relaxed. But if you don’t do things right for the next few days, that feeling of relaxation will soon peter out. This post focuses on seven important Dos and Don’ts after a refreshing hot stone massage.
Do: Drink Plenty of Water before Hot Stone Massage
You can’t underestimate the power of hydration in a post-hot stone massage situation (or any kind of massage, for that matter). One of the beneficial effects of most massages is that they drive toxins such as free radicals out of the body. And basic biology says water is the primary cleanser of the body. Drinking plenty of water augments the massage’s ability to drive toxins from your body. It flushes out everything unwanted out of your system. Water also helps keep the skin moisturized, which is connected to the benefits of ways massage. A massage encourages more blood to flow to the treatment site. And when more blood flows to a particular area of the body, the skin in that area receives plenty of nutrients that the blood carries. Plenty of water in your system means plenty of moisture goes around your body. The skin becomes more moisturized, again augmenting the beautifying effects of massage. Finally, a hot stone massage occurs in a warm environment. The masseuse encourages your body to expel water – which carries toxins – out of your system. Hydrating after a massage is a natural and beneficial activity.
Don’t: Drink Caffeine or Alcohol after Hot Stone Massage
Did you know that the feelings induced by a hangover are the same as the feelings you have when dehydrated? Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on human biology. It depletes the body of the good old H2O. Coffee and other sources of caffeine also do the same. Both substances rob your systems of their much-needed water, thus making some benefits of massage practically nonexistent. Additionally, caffeine and alcohol are also considered toxic to the body. Therefore, instead of cleaning your body after the massage, you are essentially chugging down toxins into your system when you drink caffeine or alcohol.
Do: Stay Relaxed after Hot Stone Massage
You feel relaxed after the massage, don’t you? That’s good. Stay that way.
One of the best tips for a relaxing and beneficial post-massage experience is to decide to stay relaxed aggressively. Take it easy and do go rushing back to the hustle and bustle of ordinary life. Instead, tuck yourself into bed or throw yourself to the couch, binge some relaxing shows or read a book, and have no cares in the world. It’s also good practice to relax your mind. Putting on peaceful or mellow music, meditation, or simple deep breaths will do you a lot of good.
Don’t: Shower Immediately after Hot Stone Massage
You might tend to take a shower after a massage because of how hot you might feel. But trust us, you should NOT shower immediately after a massage, and there are several reasons why. For one, the heated environment in a hot stone massage is intentionally designed so you can reap all the benefits of the massage. The heat relaxes your muscles. Taking a shower after a massage will cool your core temperature and make a massage partially ineffective. But what if you only take warm showers? Warm or hot showers will not lower your body temperature; that’s true. However, it will remove the oil applied to your body during the massage. Washing off the oil is actually one of the reasons why some people shower after a massage. But those oils are important. They must seep deep into the skin so you can reap all the benefits of the massage. Then massage heats the oil and lets it penetrate the skin. You should wait for about an hour or so for the oil to set into your skin before taking a shower.
Do: Hold Stretches after Hot Stone Massage
Most massage therapies loosen up your muscles. The loosening up of muscles contributes to a more relaxed state because it releases physical tension in the body. The best way to capitalize the loose muscles in the next several hours after a massage is to stretch them. Stretching is one of the most surefire ways to keep the muscles relaxed, free of tension, and flexible. It also helps eliminate muscular pains due to cramps. Massage helps release the stress from the muscles, but the old-fashioned stretching will help augment that particular benefit of a massage. For best results, hold your stretches for thirty seconds at the very least.
Don’t: Eat a Heavy Meal after Hot Stone Massage
Aside from the deep relaxation, another feeling you might have after a nice hot stone massage is ravening hunger. That is because the massage initiates an increased level of blood circulation. And in turn, increased circulation puts your bodily systems – including the digestive system – into a high-performance state. But, believe it or not, a heavy meal will not do you any good. It will make you feel sluggish and depleted of energy. This feeling is what we commonly call a food coma. However, a few light bites of veggies will do you good. It will help you feel energized and ready to take on the world. But you have to remember to take it easy in the next several hours after the massage.
Do: Correct Your Posture after it
We’ve repeatedly mentioned above that a massage will loosen your muscles. This loosened stage is like a brand new slate for you to correct your posture. Bad posture contributes to chronic muscle pains. A relaxed body helps you set better posture habits and reap the benefit of massage in the long run.
Extra Tip: Get More Massages
Massages are incredibly beneficial to the health of both the mind and body. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly have a massage, especially with the stressful lifestyles and environments typical in society.
InBalance Yoga & Wellness offers the best hot stone massage, among many others, in Utah. Contact us at 801-691-1090 or [email protected] to schedule a massage.
