4 Ways Massage Can Take Your Workout To The Next Level

Massage. If there’s one word in the English language that suggests relaxation and tranquility, massage is it. It’s all about pampering your body and treating yourself, or is it? Massage is great when it’s time to relax, and indulge in a little luxury, but it can serve another purpose in your life, and that’s healing.

Especially after a workout.

When you’ve committed yourself to a regular workout routine, whether it’s a walk around the block or training for a triathlon, you’ve taking steps towards keeping your body strong and healthy. What too many people fail to recognize is that recovery is a crucial part of this process.

Massage not only helps you recover from physical activity, it also can help increase performance. Let’s look at 4 reasons why you should be including massage therapy into your regular fitness routine.

TO SOOTHE SORE, OVERWORKED MUSCLES

You know the feeling. You’ve had a great workout and are feeling super energized, just to barely be able to move by the time you go to bed. What’s happened?

The answer is lactic acid.

When you exercise, your body release lactic acid which accumulates in muscle tissue, where it causes muscle fatigue and soreness. A post workout massage will help to release lactic acid, flush out toxins and increase circulation, leaving you feeling less sore and stiff the next morning.

TO SPEED UP POST WORKOUT RECOVERY

After a good workout, do you find yourself heading for the ibuprofen or ice pack to relieve inflammation before it even starts? If post workout recovery is rough for you, massage is a natural pain reliever.

In a study, it was determined that massage switches certain genes on and off, working as a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. While ice baths and over the counter medications can have the same effect, they can also slow, or even halt, muscle repair and growth.

Massage, on the other hand, eases discomfort and inflammation while promoting muscular healing and function.

TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE

Post workout massage focuses on healing and repair, but a pre-workout massage can help you to perform better and increase your endurance.

Massage works in much the same way as stretching before a workout.

A short massage, of 10-15 minutes, before a workout will increase blood supply to the muscles, allowing them to work at peak levels of performance. This combined with gentle stretching to support joint flexibility and to warm your muscles up will have you performing in your peak range longer.

TO INCREASE FLEXIBILITY

The nemesis of any good workout is limited flexibility. When you aren’t flexible, you’re putting more stress on the wrong muscles and are more likely to suffer from injury.

Staying flexible is something that everyone needs to continually work out, whether you’re working out regularly or not. Massage helps to stretch and loosen the muscles, meaning tendons and joints won’t be so tight either. Massage, whether it pre or post workout, keeps you flexible and injury free.

Are you ready to take your workouts to the next level? We would love to help. Contact us to learn more about massage and schedule a session today.