What Should I Do After a Massage?
Post massage care is often neglected because people assume that they just had an amazing massage and that’s all that they need to do. Your massage can promote sleep quality and even support anti-aging.
But you may make mistakes afterward that can impact your massage benefits.
We’re going to share some tips for improving your post massage care routine and ask some of the leading questions people have about massages.
4 Tips for Post Massage Care
Maximizing the results of your massage is something that we always recommend because it will make you feel better. You're dedicating time in your massage chair or going to a professional, so you might as well feel your best, too.
You can mix and match any of the tips below to find what works best for you:
1. Shut Off the Noise
If your goal for a massage is to relax and feel better, don’t jump right back into reality when you’re done. For example, if you turn on the news immediately when you’re done with a massage, you’re likely to come across something:
- Worrying
- Stressful
- Sad
Try to be silent for a while after the massage or listen to relaxing music, such as classical music that helps you stay calm.
2. Avoid Heavy Meals
A massage may make you feel relaxed and like your blood is really pumping, but it can also lead to you feeling bloated if you eat too much too fast. Eat a light meal or a snack if you’re hungry during the first hour after a massage.
3. Don’t Exercise Right Away
Your massage will make you feel like you can run a marathon, but that doesn’t mean that you should. Wait at least an hour after your massage is done to exercise, hike or do anything that is especially strenuous.
4. Ignore Any Stressors
Going along with our first point, you’ll also want to avoid any stressors that you may have, such as talking to someone who causes you stress, so you can just soak it all in.
And one last thing, don’t overdo your massages either. You want the experience to be relaxing, so don’t start a massage when you know it will cause you to be late or rush out of the door too quickly.
Schedule your “me time” when it allows you to melt away the stress and anxiety of the day without having to worry about it adding more stress in the process.
Why Is It Good to Drink Water After a Massage?
Mayo Clinic recommends drinking:
- 7 liters of fluid a day if you’re a woman
- 7 liters of fluid a day if you’re a man
However, you will receive around 20% of this intake from the foods that you eat, so you don’t need to drink 11.5 - 15.5 cups of just water per day.
With this in mind, should you drink water after a massage?
Yes.
Water will help:
- Eliminate any of the toxins in the body
- Boost your circulation even more
If you have a deep tissue massage or put your Super Novo X on a high-intensity setting, drinking water is even more important. Some people find that massages will dehydrate them because they’ll deplete the muscles of the water that fills them.
Drinking a glass or two of water before and after your massage is never a bad idea.
Plus, if you’re like most people, you could use a little more water to meet your daily intake recommendations.
Should I Shower After a Massage?
Showering before or after your massage is always a question that is top-of-mind for anyone serious about their wellness. A few trains of thought exist, and each has its own merits that you’ll need to consider for yourself.
- Shower before your massage. If your massage aims to help you get rid of the toxins in your body, you may want to shower beforehand. The idea is that you’ll be able to remove any pollutants that you have on your body to maximize its benefits. You certainly do not want to massage your perfumes or other chemicals deeper into your body. Right?
- Shower after a massage. If you like to use lotions or essential oils during a massage, you may or may not want to take a shower. Any lotions that are meant to help with dry skin or essential oils may be more potent if left on the skin rather than washed off.
Want to shower after your massage? A warm – not hot – shower is often best. If the shower is too hot, it may make you feel dizzy or impact your blood pressure.
If you follow our tips above, you’ll level up your post massage care and be confident in your routine.
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