Why is it Important to Stretch before Receiving a Massage
What does running a marathon and receiving a massage have in common? That seems like a trick question right? A massage is all about relaxation and feeling good, and your role during a massage is pretty easy, just lay there. Running a marathon on the other hand is pretty much the opposite. The thing they do have in common though is stretching. Stretching? Before a massage? Yes! It is actually a very important step of the process, read on and learn why!
Massages are beneficial to so many aspects of life. They help to relax the muscles, rid the body of toxins, increase blood circulation, release feel-good hormones, de-stress, and gain better flexibility. There are countless types of massages available to you including deep tissue, hot stone, Swedish, myofascial release, orthopedic, medical, and more.
Stretching also provides many benefits to your physical well being. These benefits include increasing your flexibility, increasing your range of motion, improving your performance in physical activities, increasing blood flow to your muscles, improving your posture, healing and preventing back pain, relieving stress, and calming your mind.
Notice how many of these benefits are overlapping. This means that stretching before the massage will be immensely helpful in taking advantage of the multitude of benefits the massage is going to provide. When receiving a sports or rehabilitative massage, stretching beforehand helps to relax the muscles and improve circulation. This can lead to quicker recovery from physical stresses and restoration of tissue health. As for a routine massage, these massages will help to improve your flexibility, so stretching beforehand only helps the massage achieve this goal and make your muscles less prone to injury.
Stretches to try before your Massage:
Back stretches. Kneel on all fours (hands and knees) and lift the sternum and tailbone while lowering the abdomen, creating an inward arch.
Hamstring stretches. Sit flat on the floor with legs extended in a V-shape. Lean forward, with arms outstretched directly in front of you and hold that position for a few seconds at a time.
Hip flexors. Lie on your back and slowly bring both of your knees toward your chest. Hold one knee and let the other leg back down toward the floor slowly. Hold the knee for a few seconds and repeat on the other side.
Chest (pectoral) stretches. Stand in a doorway and put your hand up in the air, bending your elbow so that it’s just at shoulder height. Rest your forearm on the door frame and rotate your body away from your arm.
Stretching after the massage is also a good idea. Stretching after you exercise is a way to preserve the benefits of the activity you just did. When you stretch you prevent your muscles from seizing up and retain the strength and elasticity within. The same principles apply to stretching after a massage. Stretching after a massage will help retain the flexibility and relaxation achieved. It will also help to maintain looseness in muscles and tissues while keeping the joints mobile.
Next time you plan on getting a massage, take an extra half hour beforehand to focus on stretching. You will feel a difference in the benefits normally associated with a massage and feel more relaxed and loose afterwards than you normally would. When booking a massage you can also check to see if they offer a stretching service as well. Check out your favorite massage clinic and see what stretching services they may have to offer. You will not regret it!
