Sometimes, people may begin to forget what it feels like when stress and muscle strain stop being a routine part of life. Luckily, National Wellness Month can serve as a reminder to slow down, take care of yourself, and give attention to your well-being. Professional massage therapy services are an excellent choice for that.

What This Blog Post Covers

• The reasons why massage therapy can be an integral part of your wellness routine
• The way massage supports relaxation, mobility, and body awareness
• Differences between popular types of massage therapy
• Mistakes that can prevent you from receiving the maximum benefit from your massage
• Tips on choosing massage therapy services

Why National Wellness Month Is Important

People tend to think of wellness as something they will consider only after experiencing exhaustion, stress, and discomfort.

However, the truth is that wellness is developed via regular routines. Such routines can include enough sleep, exercises, healthy diet, breaks, stress management, and self-care.

The idea of National Wellness Month is to make people see wellness as an ongoing process rather than a temporary solution for a certain problem.

Modern life makes people very busy with working, commuting, exercising, taking care of children or parents, watching screens, etc. As a result, some people may experience such issues as:

• Tight shoulders or neck
• Discomfort in the lower back
• Heavy legs
• Being unable to unwind after work
• Loss of flexibility
• Soreness after activity
• Feeling mentally overstimulated
• Being unable to set some time for themselves

Such problems are quite common; however, they don’t necessarily mean you can accept them as normal. Developing restorative habits can help you to recognize tension before it becomes a bigger issue. Moreover, massage therapy services can give you a chance to take time off and pay attention to your well-being.

How Can Massage Therapy Help With Wellness?

There are several ways massage therapy can help with wellness. It may vary according to the type of massage, pressure level, duration of the session, and your needs.

How Does Massage Help With Everyday Muscle Strain?

Repetitive motions, physical activity, long time spent sitting or doing physical work can cause tension in certain parts of the body.

The massage technique applies pressure and movement to the soft tissues of the body and helps the body to relax. In this way, it becomes easier to detect tension.

For example, a person who spends many hours sitting at the computer may suffer from muscle tension in shoulders, upper back, forearms, and neck. A person who spends most of the time standing can feel fatigue in the lower back, hips, legs, and feet.

Massage doesn’t replace medical examination in case of severe, sudden, or chronic pain. However, it may help to relieve muscle tension caused by everyday activity.

How Can Massage Therapy Services Support Relaxation?

A professional massage session gives you an opportunity to rest quietly in a specially created relaxed environment.

It can be really hard for a person to unwind mentally due to work, messages, chores, and other responsibilities. However, during the massage, the rhythm changes and you can forget about outside distractions.

Rest is not just a luxury. Proper rest helps a person to recover and be ready to deal with responsibilities.

Some clients prefer a gentle Swedish massage therapy if they aim at relaxation. Others prefer customized pressure according to their body state.

How Can Massage Help With Body Awareness?

A person gets used to carrying tension in some body parts and does not realize how much he/she is tense.

It may not occur to a client that his/her shoulders are up, jaw is tense, or one part of the body is more stiffened until the massage therapist starts working with those parts.

The massage can help a person to develop body awareness and understand his/her patterns of tension and imbalance.

This knowledge can help to make healthier decisions regarding posture, stretching, movement breaks, or work habits.

Does Massage Support Flexibility and Comfortable Movement?

Tense muscles may make it hard to move normally and comfortably.

The massage technique applied to the soft tissues may help to relieve this feeling of stiffness and increase mobility. It may be especially useful for physically active people and those who exercise regularly.

Massage should be considered as one of the elements of movement and wellness routines. Physical activity, stretching, rest, and following doctor’s recommendations should be kept in mind.

How Can Massage Help With Stress Management?

Stress affects the way people feel.

Some clients feel muscle tension, restlessness, headaches, fatigue, inability to unwind when stressed. Although massage can’t help to resolve the problem, it can create an environment of calmness and physical relaxation.

Moreover, scheduling massage therapy services can remind a person to take care of himself/herself regularly.

Which Massage Therapy Can Help You to Achieve Wellness Goals?

Each massage therapy has its characteristics and can help to create a different experience for the client. Choosing the right massage type depends on the comfort and preferences of a client.

What Is Swedish Massage Therapy?

Swedish massage therapy is a kind of massage that is characterized by flowing movements, kneading, and gentle-to-moderate pressure.

It is commonly chosen by clients who would like to have a relaxing experience and who use massage for the first time.

Swedish massage may be a great choice if your goals are:

• General relaxation
• Relieving feelings of everyday muscle strain
• Having a relaxing experience
• Helping with comfortable movement
• Making time for restorative self-care

It is possible to customize the pressure during the massage.

What Is Deep Tissue Massage Therapy?

Deep tissue massage therapy is characterized by slower and more precise techniques which work with deep layers of muscles and connective tissues.

It may be liked by clients who experience muscle strain in certain areas or prefer more pressure. However, excessive pressure is not necessarily a good thing.

The massage therapist should adjust the session according to the client’s preferences and feedback. If the pressure seems excessive, it is okay to ask about it.

Sometimes, a custom massage therapy session combines deep pressure in certain areas and lighter techniques in the other parts of the body.

What Is Aromatherapy Massage Therapy?

Aromatherapy massage therapy uses techniques of massage along with selected aromatic products to create a sensory experience.

People like it since the smell can create the atmosphere of comfort and relaxation.

It is necessary to talk about products in advance if the client has allergies, asthma, sensitivity, or strong preferences for smells.

Aromatherapy should be a complement to the massage. The main things remain the same – comfort, communication, and goals of the client.

Are You Ready To Take Care of Your Well-Being Intentionally?

Essential Massage Therapy offers a variety of customizable massage therapy services based on your comfort, preferences, and areas of tension. Regardless of the reason you would like to get a massage (relaxation, muscle strain, physical activity, or just making time for yourself), your massage session can be customized.

Call (973) 729-2400 to learn more or to schedule your massage.

Why Regular Visits May Be More Important Than a Single Massage

It is important to remember that one session of massage is a great opportunity to relax, but wellness requires regular efforts.

Waiting for the moment when your body is exhausted and uncomfortable can make it harder to notice tension. Sometimes, people schedule regular massage visits according to their physical activity, stress level, budget, and personal needs.

It doesn the matter of the same frequency of massage for everybody.

Some clients may prefer a monthly visit in the context of general self-care. For physically active clients, massage may be scheduled before or after training. Another client may schedule massage during stressful moments.

The right frequency of visits depends on you.

It is important to find a balance and integrate it into your wellness routine. Massage goes well together with:

• Regular movement
• Hydration
• Balanced nutrition
• Enough sleep
• Effective stress management
• Medical treatment
• Leisure and rest

This approach can help to prevent dependency on one service or activity.

Common Mistakes Related to Massage Therapy

Myth: A Massage is Just a Luxurious Thing

It is commonly thought that massage can be useful during vacation, celebration, or spa day. However, it can also be a part of your wellness routine.

People visit massage for various reasons, such as relaxation, muscle strain, physical activity, or self-care needs.

Mistake: Choosing the Most Forceful Pressure

Just like everything else, massage shouldn’t be done just because of high intensity.

The massage should be customized for your body and comfort level. Excessive pressure may cause you to clench the muscles which prevents the effect of relaxation.

Mistake: Waiting Until There Is Something Wrong

You don’t need to wait until your body becomes uncomfortable.

Massage therapy services can be used prophylactically as a part of wellness routine aimed at relaxation and body awareness. This can help you to find patterns which may relate to your posture, work, or physical activity.

Mistake: Not Informing Your Therapist About Your Health

You massage therapist needs to know about your injuries, surgeries, pregnancy, allergies, medications, skin problems, and diseases. This information can help your massage therapist to adjust the techniques, positioning, products, and pressure.

In case of necessity, you will need medical clearance before getting massage.

Myth: Deep Tissue Massage Should Always Be Painful

Some areas may be sensitive due to deep work, but the massage should not be unbearable.

Pain causes tension in the body and prevents it from relaxing. Your massage therapist should give you an opportunity to communicate and adjust the pressure.

Mistake: Replacing Medical Care With Massage

Massage can help with wellness, but it is not a replacement for medical diagnosis and treatment.

The pain, numbness, swelling, weakness, unexplained symptoms, or injuries should be diagnosed and treated by the appropriate specialist. The responsible massage therapist will refer you to a doctor if necessary.

How to Choose Massage Therapy Services

Choosing the right massage therapist is important for the success of the session.

Find a Trained and Licensed Massage Therapist

Training and appropriate license give a massage therapist a proper base for safe and informed treatment.

A professional massage therapist has knowledge of anatomy, positioning, pressure, contraindications, draping, communication, and professionalism.

Find a Therapist That Can Customize Massage Sessions

Your needs may change with time.

Some sessions can be devoted to relaxation, while others may need special attention to your shoulders, back, legs, or feet.

Customizable massage therapy services can help the massage therapist to adjust his/her technique to your needs instead of following one routine.

Communicate

Good massage therapist should talk with you about your goals, comfort, medical history, pressure preferences, and areas to be worked on or avoided.

Also, you should feel comfortable discussing any changes during the session.

It is important since your massage therapist can’t know what is happening in your body without your feedback.

Environment

The environment of massage should be comfortable and pleasant for the client. It should be clean, professional, private, and welcoming.

Temperature, lights, music, smells, and positioning can influence the comfort of the client.

If you have any preferences or special requirements, discuss them with the therapist before the session.

Ask About Your Options and Additions

Some clients need hot stone, foot treatment, dry brushing, or other additions to the massage.

They should be added according to your preferences and comfort, not to each session of massage.

How to Choose the Right Massage Therapy Services

Making Wellness a Priority This Month

National Wellness Month is a great opportunity to develop the habits that will help you to feel balanced, rested, and connected to your body. Massage therapy services can be used for this purpose as they can give you personal, relaxing, and restorative experience.

Essential Massage Therapy offers customizable massage therapy services, such as Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, aromatherapy massage therapy, and others. Call (973) 729-2400 to schedule your massage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should I Get Massage Therapy?

The frequency depends on your goals, physical activity, budget, and response of your body. Some people schedule a monthly visit, while others schedule more or less often. You can talk about your needs with a massage therapist; however, your plan should be comfortable for you.

What Type of Massage Is Suitable for Stress Relief?

Swedish massage therapy is often chosen for stress relief since it uses flowing movements and moderate pressure. However, the choice of massage should be made based on your preferences. Some clients prefer customized pressure, focused massage, aromatherapy, and others.

Is Deep Tissue Massage Suitable for Everybody?

Deep tissue massage is not the best choice for all people and situations. It can be modified for certain health conditions, injuries, medications, and sensitivities. Discuss your medical history and pressure preferences before the session to know if deep tissue massage is right for you.

What Information Should I Give My Massage Therapist Before the Session?

Tell your massage therapist your goals, areas of tension, injuries, allergies, surgeries, medications, pregnancy, and other medical information. Don’t forget to say the areas that you don’t want to be massaged. It will help your massage therapist to adjust techniques, positioning, products, and pressure.

Can I Ask for Lighter or Firmer Pressure During Massage?

It is possible. You can adjust pressure during the session. Tell your massage therapist when you want him/her to use softer or firmer pressure or to be more cautious in certain areas.