What to Expect with the Deep Tissue Massage

Stress From Deep Within

Spas are great places to go if you wish to unwind, relax and reduce the level of stress in your body. From these spas you can enjoy a soothing day as you avail of the rejuvenating and beautifying services like massages. You can choose from many different types of massages such as Deep Tissue Massage.

During the Session

This massage treatment is intended to work on the structures of your body and connective tissues which are situated within the deeper levels of the body so that chronic tensions inside the body will be effectively released. Expect that the massage strokes will be more intensified in Deep Tissue Massage. So when you are going for some deep tissue massaging, the therapist, masseur or masseuse should be in constant communication with you. This means that as you lie there on the massage table, you need to relay and tell the therapist of any pain or discomfort that you might feel with each stroke done to your body. This way, the therapist can adjust the strokes or reduce the amount of pressure in the massage. The therapist may ask that you rate the pain you are feeling using numbers from 1-10 with ten being the most painful. Should you say 10, it would imply that you want the therapist to stop because the pain is becoming unbearable.

Communication is the Key

The rating scale is not only useful for the therapist to change the amount of pressure in his hands. With each number that you say, the therapist will know if you are feeling comfortable during the session or if your stress is just being added with painful strokes. By the numbers or scales, the therapist can coach or instruct you on how to breathe properly. During the massage session, there are appropriate ways by which you need to breathe air so as not to constrict your torso, ribs and lungs with every massage stroke.

You will need to breathe deep with the pressure of the massage stroke. If necessary, you will be coached before the session on how to become aware of the way you breathe and adjust your breathing with each stroke of the massage. You will be asked if you can notice if your ribs move or not with each breath to make, if you are comfortable and feeling good with the air that you inhale or exhale. The therapist should take note if you unconsciously hold your breath at some points and if the rest of the body moves when you breathe.

In general, the deep tissue massaging should not be painful for you. There might be a feeling of discomfort or numbness but it should not pass the border of becoming a pain. This is why it is important that you tell your therapist how you feel during the massage. Also if you don’t feel the hardness of the massage, tell this to the therapist but do not be disillusioned that quicker and better results will be achieved when you are the therapist to put more pressure into the massage. To make it more effective you may need to have a comprehensive program that will include regular exercise routines, posture practices and more massage sessions in spas.

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mulberry1 Level 1 Commenter 21 months ago

Good information for those of us who have never had deep tissue massage.

PaperNotes Hub Author 21 months ago

Thanks mulberry.

BkCreative Level 6 Commenter 20 months ago

I could so use this right now. I wish this was part of health care - it would help us de-stress and more. The rating system makes good sense - so simple to incorporate. The last time I had a deep tissue massage it just felt so good.

And by the way I love that kitty and dog massage video. I had a kitty with big paws that decided to wake me one morning by kneading my back and shoulder - it felt so good - but then I started thinking how weird it was and his paws began to feel like big hands and what not. So one time was enough.

Lovely, relaxing hub. Thanks a million!

PaperNotes Hub Author 20 months ago

Thank you too BkCreative! Being massaged even just occasionally is really great to relieve those tension in our bodies. Yet when the massage gets painful, that's when it would not be considered relaxing so the rating system is surely helpful...A smile is painted on my face too as I was watching that video!

oliversmum Level 3 Commenter 20 months ago

PaperNotes. Hi. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your hub on Deep Tissue Massage.

I've not tried this particular massage before, but will do so in the near future.

The 1-10 method is a great way to communicate with your Therapist on how you are feeling.

Thank you so much for sharing this information with us. :) :)

katiem2 19 months ago

Great guide as to what to expect with a deep tissue massage. I'm thin and find deep tissue massage to be painful. I wonder if those trained hands don't get used to working hard to address others issues. I do communicate, asking them to easy up, they tend to return to the hard touch. Thanks to your useful help I feel more confident approaching deep tissue massage again. Thanks :)