We know that our massage therapist is going to ease muscle tension and help us work through injuries, but that hour on the table reveals so much more than just the stress we asked them to soothe. 

Here are 15 things your massage therapist can tell about your body without you saying a word:

• Type of purse you carry – Your body is tighter on one side when you carry a large purse. Glutes, hamstrings, and quads will be tight and you will also have an unnatural pelvic tilt.
• When you sit at a computer all day – Weak lower back, one hip higher than the other, tight glutes and legs, means you’ve got a desk job.
• The way you sleep – If you are a stomach sleeper, we can see extra strain on your neck.
• Drive a lot – When you rack up those miles, you tend to exhibit “hunched shoulders”.
• Injuries – New or old.  Massage therapist can feel heat and inflammation in an acute injury.  Chronic injuries show in the form of dehydrated muscles that feel tight.  And with repetitive motion injuries, tendons and muscles feel wiry like guitar strings.
• Too much texting – The downward position of your head when texting creates an imbalance in the shoulders.
• Dehydration – Upper back trigger points will be tender if you have not had your recommended eight glasses of water each day. Drink up, especially before and after your massage!
• Always cold – When you are cold, you tend to hunch up your shoulders to your ears, so it I no surprise when you come in with stress in your necks and the tops of your shoulders during winter months.
• You’re a runner – Hips and lower back will feel tight and you might complain about tension in the bottom of your feet.
• Allergy sufferer – The tissue around your eyes, forehead, cheeks, and jaw will feel tender and inflamed.  So will lymph nodes in the chest, neck and underarms.
• Bra is too tight – When you bra strap is too tight and cutting into your shoulder blade, the muscle above the scapula tightens in response to the pressure. 
• Hormonal – Sensitive area (trigger points) in the lower back that feel stickier, tense, hot, or rubbery to your massage therapist – and painful to you could mean you are about to ovulate or having your period.
• Might have skin cancer – As a massage therapist, we have our eyes on the back of your body, where you cannot generally see.  We can spot irregularities in places you cannot, and we’ll let you know if we see anything!
• You need a new pillow – Sleeping on a pillow that is wrong or too-old can throw off the alignment of your spine.  If your head is tilted down or up, it will put a strain on your neck. 

These are just a few things we can tell. When you come in with an area you want to focus on, just let us know! Regular massage will help muscle tension and to heal those imbalances.

Massages have been proved in multiple studies to be extremely beneficial to your mind and body. Not only that, but it is also helpful to your baby, too!

During pregnancy, a woman’s body changes… crazy amazing changes!  With all of these changes, it can result in several uncomfortable conditions.  There are a few things that you can do to relive those aches and pains, and one of them is massage.  Massage during pregnancy not only makes a woman feel pampered and more emotionally grounded but is offers undeniable physical benefits as well.  The overall goal for prenatal massage is to help minimize stress, promote relaxation, and prepare the muscles for childbirth.

Massage during pregnancy also stimulates your lymphatic system, boosting immunity and removing excess toxins while stabilizing hormone levels. A few other benefits of prenatal massage include:  reduced swelling in your feet, legs and hands, relieve lower back pain including sciatic nerve pain, improve sleep by relaxing the nervous system and releasing feel good hormones, prepare you body for labor and birth, and relief pain naturally.

Women with normal, low-risk pregnancies can benefit greatly from massage by a trained pregnancy massage therapist.  However, women in high-risk pregnancies should consult with their doctor before beginning a massage therapy program. 

Postpartum massage is also super beneficial after giving birth to your baby.  Whether you had a difficult birth experience or your baby’s birth went smoothly, a woman’s body undergoes quite a bit of realignment.  Postpartum massage helps restore your muscle tone in the abdomen and reposition the pelvis.

Benefits of a postpartum massage can include:  Reliving tension from the birthing process, clears excess fluids from the body more quickly, hastens recovery, encourages pelvic and abdominal organs to return to pre-pregnancy positions, promotes shift return to digestive function, increases energy levels and reduces fatigue, aids in returning the uterus to normal size, decreases muscle tension from the exertion of labor, provides emotional support, addresses scar healing protocol after c-section, relieves should, neck and arm tension from breastfeeding. 

One of the biggest benefits in getting a massage after giving birth helps maintain a healthy circulation throughout the body.  In return, this helps the flow of breast milk through the body as well.  And increases the overall product of the breast milk.

If you’re looking for a prenatal or postnatal massage, give Precision Wellness a call!

Are you struggling with arthritis and looking for relief?   Look no further!

Massage therapy has been used widely as an aide to reduce pain and promote recovery of injured muscles.  Massage therapy can also help with moderate inflammation and stiffness associated with arthritis by improving circulation.  This translates to enhanced blood flow to arthritic joints, improved movement, and reduced pain.

Studies have shown that having a professional massage just once a week, and doing self-massage once a day, may help reduce the pain associated with many conditions, including arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuropathy.

There are many different types of massage available to you.  The best massage we recommend for arthritis are…

1 – Swedish:  Swedish massage is the most popular, using long strokes, circular movements and kneading to loosen tight muscles.  Pressure can range from very light to deep. With a Swedish massage you really get the blood circulation going.

2 – Shiatsu:  In this form of massage, specific spots are massaged that are said to relieve pain elsewhere in the body.  The areas massaged will depend on what type of pain you are having.  Your limbs may also be stretched lightly.

3 – Lymphatic massage: Also known as lymphatic drainage massage, this massage will use light, patterned strokes to help excess lymphatic fluid drain into the bloodstream.   This is very helpful for people with arthritis because they sometimes have a lot of excess fluid from the inflammatory process.

4 – Petrissage:  During a petrissage, your therapist will gently lift your skin and knead or roll it.  This can help lengthen the tissues that connect to your muscles, enabling them to relax a little.  Adding a little stretch and pliability can cause greater relief from discomfort.

Of course, you can always ask for a customized massage. Do not be afraid to ask your therapist for a treatment that is designed especially for your aches and pains. When you’re ready to work on you, give Precision Wellness a call!

When you invest in yourself, your physical, mental and overall health, by committing to routine massage therapy sessions, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best massage every time.  To ensure this, we suggest adopting the following ten tips to enhance your massage therapy experience.

Tip #1 – Decide what you want to get out of your massage – relaxation or more rehabilitation – before your session can make a big difference in having a satisfying experience.

Tip #2 – Communicate with your therapist before your session about how you are feeling, medical history, and what you expect from the session.  Doing so will help keep your session focused.

Tip #3 – Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time.  This gives you time to prepare your mind and body for the session.

Tip #4 – Be Fully Present.  Try to avoid squeezing in an hour during the work-day or when you have to rush to or from your session.  It will be easier for you to relax and fully immerse yourself in the massage experience if your mind is not worried about missing your next meeting.

Tip #5 – Leave your devices behind.  Getting a massage is one of the few places you can be without any distractions from the outside world.  Clear your mind by leaving your phone and other devices in your car or at home so you can really unplug during your session.

Tip #6 – Drink lots of water. After your massage, you will want to drink plenty of water for the next couple of days.  Your body is releasing toxins and metabolic waste for two to three days after your massage and you’ll need to replenish your fluids.   This will also help you from feeling fatigued.

Tip #7 – Breathe!  Relaxing long breaths from your abdomen does not just help you relax mentally, it also helps your muscles relax as your therapist works out your body’s stiffness and tightness.

Tip #8 – Avoid Stress.  Yes, if it is possible, avoid stressful activities.  This includes your gym workouts.  Try to avoid lifting weights after a deep tissue massage to prevent stressing your muscles.

Tip #9 – Take a bath.  Take a hot bath with Epsom salts.  Epsom salt baths are easy and ideal way to help flush toxins from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate substances.

Tip #10 – Alternate Temperatures.  If your massage therapist uncovered areas of your body that had a lot of tension, you could be feel soreness after your session.  Alternating moist heat and cold compresses on the area of soreness will help.

Now you have the ten tips, you are ready to schedule and enjoy your massage experience with Precision Wellness!