Fit Form Bodywork

THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY

Benefits of Massage

You may have searched styles of massage to get to this image on Fit Form Bodywork. This is a plastic-covered mattress lying on top of a wood floor. This could be used for Thai Massage. There is a pillow wrapped in a deep red towel at the far end and a rolled white towel on top. At the bottom of the mattress is a cream blanket. There are wooden bifold doors behind the mattress that are open, and you can see the edges of a pool in the background.

IS MASSAGE GOOD FOR YOU?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being” and I couldn’t agree more.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen some amazing transformations. One or more massage sessions can feel like a magician breaking open your cage. A skilled massage therapist can turn frozen muscles into putty in their hands.

My clients often tell me that massage therapy makes all the difference in their lives.

So, it’s no surprise that research backs this up. Massage has been shown to affect virtually every body system. Here are some of the benefits you can experience.

Increased circulation, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate
Better stress resistance with decreased cortisol “the stress hormone”
Relief from anxiety and depression
Increased Natural Killer T cells, improving your immune system
Increased muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility
More resistance to physical injury
Improved sleep that comes easier and is more restful
Lowered pain levels, making life more pleasant
Improved lymphatic flow and circulation creating healthier-looking skin
Decreased Inflammation in the body
Improved cognition, making your brain function better

Whether you are hoping for better health, need a stress-free getaway, or want to maintain your body, massage therapy can pave the way to a better life.

WHERE CAN I BOOK?

massages styles

WHAT MASSAGE THERAPY STYLE IS BEST?

If you searched what massage is best, or what is the best type of massage, you may have found this image on the Fit Form Bodywork site. This is an imaged of a small cactus plant on the left, a small vase with non-burning incense stick in it and two lit candles. The background is white.

There are many things to consider when choosing a massage style. The first step is understanding your goals of care and your history.

You may already have an idea of what type of massage you’d like, but it’s also important to understand how the different techniques within therapeutic massage can help.

Every massage therapist uses a variety of maneuvers that can include;

Deep and shallow rubbing strokes that move along the skin and muscle
Rocking or swaying movements that help release blocked areas
Specific positions or movements that help the body re-learn proper mobility
Targeted pressure applied to known points of issue in the body

While your massage therapist understands which techniques provide the most benefit to specific issues, nobody knows your body better than you.

That’s why choosing your best massage style will always be a team effort.

Keep reading to learn more about the seven different massage styles available at Fit Form Bodywork.

This is a close-up image of a pale female right hand getting a massage using pressure points by two male hands. There is a white blanket or towel in the background. This slide describes trigger point therapy and has white text on a semi-transparent tan box over part of the image.

TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

A technique that uses applied pressure to specific painful and sensitive areas to relieve pain both at the trigger point site and in other areas of the body.

The benefits of trigger point massage are too numerous to list. Whether you are suffering from a sports injury, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, or headaches, trigger point therapy is an excellent way to find relief.

Slide show massage styles

FAQ

YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Black round stones are lined up on a flat surface. These types of stones are used for Hot Stone Massage. This image is in the FAQ section of Fit Form Bodywork.

This image shows a man pouring tan oil out of a clear glass container into his left hand. His hand is resting on top of his client’s back.

This is a semi-blurry image of a woman lying flat on her stomach on a massage table, face forward with a slight smile.

This is an image of a massage therapist massaging the bottom of a client’s feet. You only see the feet and the therapist’s hands. The client is laying flat on a massage table covered by a white blanket.

This is an image of a massage table covered by a white blanket. There is a potted tropical-looking plant on the floor in a basket and a white tasseled rug with a black diamond pattern on the wood floor.

This is an image of a candle and some berries.

This is an image of a massage therapist providing a back massage. You see just the client’s back and the skilled massage therapist’s hands.

I’ve had massage therapists that didn’t get it right in the past. How are you different?

There’s no “one size fits all” in massage therapy. Every client has their own situation and requires a unique massage experience. Before your massage, I go through your goals and your health history so we can pick the best massage style for you.

This is a perfect first step, but even the best plans need “tweaking” along the way. In order to help you have your best massage experience, I will ask that you please speak up at any time to provide feedback.

Don’t worry that you’ll hurt my feelings. I promise you won’t.

It’s easy to make adjustments when I know what you need, so until I master mind reading, go ahead and let me know what’s working and what’s not.

Sharing my health-related information makes me nervous. How do you handle these discussions?

There often isn’t anything more personal than our health-related journey. And these challenges can be difficult to talk about. I want you to be comfortable knowing that any information discussed is private and only used in creating the best massage plan for you.

As always, my goal is to help improve your health and wellness through massage therapy.

At your first appointment, we will start with a short health-related questionnaire. It’s very important to relay all health-related issues as there are some conditions where massage therapy is not recommended or where modifications to your plan may be needed.

If you have questions about a specific issue that you’d like to discuss, get ahold of me through the booking page and we can talk further.

I have insurance that covers massage therapy. Do you take insurance?

I don’t take insurance at Fit Form Bodywork, but I do provide an invoice that can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many of my clients use this process to get the massage cost back after their appointment.

Are there good and “not so good” times to get a massage?

I recommended scheduling your massage when you are well. Your body will respond best to the cleansing effects of massage when it’s not already fighting off serious physical or psychological stress.

When choosing a time of day to get a massage, consider what time will fit best in your schedule and when you will be well rested and hydrated.

You should not get a massage if you;

are under the influence or detoxing from alcohol or other drugs
are feeling unwell due to illness
have a fever, cough, or any contagious condition
have any open infectious wounds
have rashes, sunburned skin, boils or welts
have any fresh bruising or trauma to the body which may include tattoos or piercings*

Wait until you have recovered sufficiently from any of these issues before scheduling a massage therapy session. *while massage can improve healing time, this does not apply to freshly injured tissues.

I’ve had a massage before that was too painful. Is this how massage is supposed to be?

Generally speaking, it's not necessary to experience pain with massage therapy in order to see benefits. How we each perceive pain however is a very individual experience. What hurts for one person may be too gentle for another.

With this in mind, I go through a process at the beginning of your session where I ask for direct feedback as I slowly increase pressure to find your comfort level.

Even so, there may be places within your body that hold more tension or feel more sensitive requiring adjustment during your massage. In addition, some deep tissue techniques such as trigger point therapy are more likely to cause some pain or discomfort at times.

It’s always good to remember, that the goal is to release tension in your muscles, not create more through painful manipulations. There are no pain tolerance trophies at the end of your session, so speak up if you are uncomfortable.

Lastly, massage can release lactic acid from your muscles which may lead to pain over the next day or two. To prevent this, make sure to increase your water intake after your massage to help cleanse your system.

What can I expect at my first massage therapy session and how should I prepare?

At your first appointment, we will review your goals and health history. I will answer any questions you have, explain my policies and we will decide on the best massage style for you.

I’ll then provide a brief tour, introduce you to the therapy room and make sure you are comfortable before leaving you to disrobe to your comfort level. After a few minutes, I’ll return, knock on the door, and when you are ready I will begin your massage therapy session.

To prepare for your appointment, it’s best to do the following.

Try and get a good night’s sleep the night before your appointment. A well-rested body will respond better to massage manipulations.
Drink plenty of fluids 24 hours beforehand. A hydrated body is better able to remove any toxins or byproducts released during your session.
Don’t eat a heavy meal for at least two hours before your session. Fruits and nuts an hour or more beforehand is ok. You want a well-relaxed body that’s not focused on heavy digestion.
Don’t overbook yourself. The added stress of rushing to your appointment will make it harder to relax and may delay the soothing effects of your massage.

I’m uncomfortable with the idea of taking my clothes off. Do I have to be undressed and how do you protect my privacy?

I always say you should undress only to the point you are comfortable. While many of the techniques used in massage therapy are easier, and sometimes more effective without a clothing barrier, it’s still possible to provide an effective massage through some layers of clothing.

When it’s time to undress, I leave the room to give you complete privacy, only returning when you are ready. During the massage, I will make sure to keep your body covered at all times with a sheet and/or blanket. I will pull back the blankets just on the body parts I’m working on.

If undressing makes you very uncomfortable, consider Thai massage. It’s an alternative to the table-style massage and is performed in loose-fitting clothing on a mat on the floor.

What happens during the massage and what am I supposed to do?

Your massage session will depend, in part, on the style of massage used, and what body parts are being focused on. All styles of massage, except Thai massage, are performed with you lying on an elevated massage table. Thai is performed on a mat on the floor.

In your session, I will start with softer strokes and slowly increase pressure to find your comfort level. Then I will proceed with your massage. Please speak up throughout the massage, for any reason, so I can adjust my techniques as needed.

During the massage, I will direct any changes in position verbally and by manually moving your limbs at times. The more relaxed you allow your body to get, the easier it is to get into your muscles and relieve tension. I will remind you of this as needed.

In the session, some clients enjoy being quiet and may even fall into a light sleep. Other clients like to talk more during their sessions. There is no right way to be, so just go with what feels natural and beneficial to you.

What will I feel like after the massage and is there anything I should do?

Every massage is a unique experience which means there are no absolute predictions. I’ve had clients feel extremely relaxed, loopy, and even euphoric after their massage while others feel renewed, refreshed, and invigorated.

Some clients experience almost immediate relief from problem areas while others see changes ease in over the following days and sometimes over multiple sessions. The same factors that inform your massage choice will also affect how you feel after your session.

Here are some recommendations for anyone post-massage.

Take your time standing up from the table. You may feel dizzy, tired, or “fuzzy”. Massage can lower your blood pressure, so take it slow as your body transitions.
Drink plenty of water after your appointment. You need to stay hydrated to help remove the lactic acid and other waste products that massage can create.
Consider taking a relaxing bath with Epsom Salts. This can extend your massage experience while helping your muscles relax further.
It's possible to have some soreness after your session. In addition to a relaxing bath, continue light exercise such as walking and stretching to keep your muscles mobile.
Don’t go exercise vigorously after a massage. Your muscles have already gotten a workout through therapeutic manipulation, so don’t overdo it.
Don’t eat right after a massage. When you do eat, choose a lighter, nutrient-dense meal that boosts your electrolytes.
Don’t drink alcohol and avoid caffeine for the next 24-48 hours. Both can worsen dehydration making it harder for your body to detox. You may also be more sensitive to alcohol for a time as your body is already working hard to remove extra waste.

Do you offer mobile massage?

I do offer mobile massage on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in mobile massage and are wondering if it will work for your situation, give me a call and we can discuss your needs further.