Massage Therapy FAQs

Hello, lovelies!

I realized the other day that I've never done a blog post about anything massage related, so I thought I'd give it a go! Today I want to answer some common questions I often am asked about massage, so here we go!

 

1. What type of massage do you do?

Alright, this seems like a simple enough question. But the answer is not as straight-forward as you might think. One thing you have to understand about massage therapy is that a lot of therapists, myself included, are constantly attending workshops and classes to learn more. That means that we are always learning new techniques from various modalities (different styles and types of massage and bodywork) to add to our tool belts. Some massage therapists definitely have a specific modality that they consider to be their bread and butter, and that's super cool.  But for a lot of us... we basically offer you a combination of anything we have learned! And THAT'S ME.

When I really have to put a label on it,  I usually say that I offer therapeutic massage. My main focus when designing a massage session is on the needs and goals of the client that day. That might mean relieving pain or discomfort, reducing stress, or focusing on a specific problem area. With that in mind, you could also call what I do integrative massage, because I basically integrate together whatever techniques I think will best serve my client and their goals. That means that every session is tailored to the client and is completely unique!

You could also say that I specialize in Swedish massage (more on that later) because that tends to be the base of most of my massages. Think of it this way: if you're walking down the street, you could just walk in a straight line. OR you could add some skips or jumps to your walk. You're still walking, but you're adding in other things as you go. Swedish massage is my version of walking. I tend to base everything on Swedish, but I also add in other techniques or modalities that are appropriate for that particular session. Make sense? Cool.

Some things that I might throw into the mix include:

• deep tissue (more intense and more specific work)
• body mobilization techniques (mobilizing your joints and finding movement that feels good)
• assisted stretches (helping to stretch and lengthen your muscles to your point of comfort)
• myofascial releases (affecting the fascia/tissue that lies closer to the surface of your body)
• orthopedic work (working to alleviate pain and restore balance in specific trouble areas)
• sports massage work (helping to prepare the body for athletic work and/or helping it recover)
• prenatal work (essentially any of the above techniques, but tweaked to be beneficial and safe for mamas-to-be)
• AND MORE

Long story short, I do therapeutic massage. But as you can see, that can include a lot of different things and could go by many names!

2. What is Swedish Massage?

Alright, the answer to this one really is simple. Basically, when you think about "massage".... whatever you tend to think of is probably Swedish. Many massage therapists use at least some of this in their practice, because it tends to be what you learn first while training to become licensed! This is one of the best-known types of bodywork, with the overall goal of making you feel good. You might also hear it called "Relaxation Massage" or "Circulatory Massage" due to its effects on the body. Swedish massage generally includes a lot of long gliding movements, as well as many other techniques that essentially aim to manipulate the soft tissues of the body in a relaxing way. You can expect to leave a Swedish massage feeling ahhhhh-mazing.

3. What are the benefits of massage?

There are lots of lists out there with MANY benefits of massage. The main one that you'll probably see the most is relaxation. Who doesn't want an hour-long vacation on a massage table? But there are tons of other benefits too. Obviously there is no guarantee that every massage client will experience all of these benefits, but if you decide to get massages even semi-regularly, I would guess that there's a good chance you'd at least notice some of them! Here are some benefits you might experience from regular massages, particularly Swedish massages:

• Reduced muscle soreness
• Improved range of motion
• Reduced scar tissue and adhesions
• Increased blood flow
• Loosened and mobilized phlegm in lungs
• Reduced pain
• Heightened sense of well-being
• Improved nutrient exchange and waste removal
• Increased athletic performance and post-exercise recovery
• Improved lymphatic drainage
• Reduced edema
• Improved immune health
• Reduced headaches
• Improved healing
• Improved sleep
• Improved cognitive and memory functioning
• Increased serotonin (makes you feel happy!)
• Decreased stress, depression, and anxiety

*Note that I created this list based off of the textbook that I used throughout massage school - Massage Therapy Principles and Practice by Susan G Salvo.

4. I have XYZ injury/issue.... can I receive massage?

Alright, listen. If you have something that you think might prevent you from receiving massage, the best advice I can give you is to talk to your doctor. For some specific conditions, your massage therapist will likely know if they can or cannot massage you safely, or if they need to simply make some modifications for it to be safe for you - but every case is unique. We aren't perfect creatures, and sometimes we will require the "okay" from your doctor. And if that's the case, it is ALWAYS with your best interest in mind!

If you are questioning whether or not you can receive massage, it would be beneficial to mention it to your therapist BEFORE showing up for your appointment, if possible - that way if they need to tell you to ask a doctor, you'll have time to do so. If you don't have a chance to mention it to your therapist before the appointment time, no worries - just make sure to mention it to them at the appointment, but know that there's a possibility that they may send you to your doctor for approval before giving you your massage.

I could make a list of examples for this, but let's be real - there are a million conditions out there and I could never make a list with everything on it. Plus, it could be completely unique for every person depending on the factors involved. Talk to your doctor about your specific concerns if you have them, and always keep your massage therapist in the loop on what's going on!  And, of course, always listen to your body as well. If something doesn't feel good, communicate that with your therapist.

 

Alright, that about does it for today. I'm going to close out with a quote that I think sums up massage therapy quite well;

 

 

Thanks for tuning in, friends! If you live in the Austin area please feel free to check out my Therapeutic Massage page or Contact Me to learn more or book your next session! Happy March!