By Courtney Slivka

Many people turn to massage therapy as a way to let go of stress and increase relaxation. Ask most people and they will agree that massage is supposed to feel good. They are indeed correct, but oftentimes an effective massage session provides more than mere relaxation.

In fact, sometimes massage and bodywork can lead to outright discomfort. But do not be alarmed because many of the uncomfortable sensations following a session are signs of an effective massage.

As you will learn in massage school, most productive massage therapy leads the body to enter a state of detoxification. The level of detoxification varies greatly from person to person, depending on both the state of the body prior to the massage and the actual session itself. Because stress, diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors all lead to unhealthy build-ups within the body, one would be hard pressed to find someone without any toxins in their body.

In theory, the act of massage increases circulation and helps to dissolve these unhealthy build-ups throughout the human body. As these actions occur, the body begins an attempt to cleanse itself. For better or worse, this cleansing process sometimes feels quite unpleasant.

Many times a person experiences headaches, nausea, soreness, or overall fatigue after any detoxification, massage included. Though uncomfortable, these signs should not cause worry. They are simply an indication of the body doing its best to rid itself of toxicity, and facilitate healing.

Luckily, adequate hydrate often proves very effective in combating these signs. Always offer your clients water when you are finished with the massage. Be sure to educate them on the possible effects that they may experience over the next few days, and why the effects are occurring. Take care to let them know that hydration is really key to ensure further healing and renewal of cells within their body.

It is very helpful to let your clients know about the detoxification process for a number of reasons. For one, furthering their knowledge provides them with an opportunity to learn more about their bodies and physical health.

Educating your clients on the effects of massage also helps to strengthen their trust and confidence in you. You will find that people respond well when you are open and informative about your work. You may even want to provide new clients with a pamphlet to take home with them so that they can explore the ideas behind massage therapy on their own.

Most importantly, do not panic if you experience these symptoms yourself after receiving a massage in school. They are especially common in people new to massage and detoxification. Help your body take care of itself by maintaining healthy habits, drinking plenty of water, and of course, scheduling regular massages for yourself.

Tagged as: detoxification, health issues, massage and health