Health and wellness spas make up a growing £7 billion industry in the UK, with 68% of us interested in extending our spa stays into two or three-day retreats.
Spa massages in particular are amongst the most popular spa treatments, with different types of massage appearing four times in the top 10 in-demand treatment list for this year.
The hashtag #massage has over 19.7 billion views on TikTok, with the hashtag #spamassage receiving a further 9 million views. It’s clear we’re all searching for ways to enhance our relaxation time.
Therapeutic and calming, a spa massage is the ultimate relaxation treatment, soothing aching muscles and helping you maintain a positive frame of mind. But have you ever left the spa floating on a cloud of comfort only to feel achy and uncomfortable again after only a few days?
Armathwaite Hall, a luxury hotel offering gorgeous spa day experiences in the Lake District, has gathered together some top tips on how to extend the effects of your spa massage.
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is one of the best ways to ensure you reap the extended benefits of your spa massage.
Properly hydrated muscles are less likely to experience tension and stiffness. They are also easier for your massage therapist to manipulate during your massage. Hydrated skin is also less likely to experience dryness, making your massage smoother and more comfortable.
Ensuring you’re properly hydrated both before and after your massage is also important if the spa or therapy room that you’re attending is particularly warm. Your sweat is 99% water, so if you don’t drink enough water, you may experience dehydration or dizzy spells during and after your massage.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…a sports massage. These massages target muscles used during a particular sport or form of exercise. Helping to increase flexibility and release muscle tension, some report sports massages also encourage easier elimination of exercise waste products, such as lactic acid build-up. This is a great ingredient for your skincare routine, but too much in your muscles can cause burning and fatigue!
Ample hydration boosts your blood flow, increasing the amount of oxygen in your muscles. This process also helps to drain waste products like lactic acid from your system. To reap the full benefits of your sports massage, ensure you’re properly hydrated both before and after your treatment.
Love those oils
If your massage therapist uses oils on your skin, resist the urge to wash these off as soon as you leave the spa. Not only do these products smell gorgeous, helping you to bring the atmosphere of the spa home, but they also have the added benefit of soothing dry skin.
Scented massage oils help your therapist’s hands to slide along your skin, a particular benefit for those who have tight or dry skin that feels papery to the touch. If you suffer from skin irritation or allergies, it’s a good idea to inform your massage therapist so they can select oils suitable for sensitive skin. Never apply massage oils to broken skin.
Some believe essential oils actually aid with muscle pain, furthering the tension-relieving effects of your massage. Ginger and tea tree oil in particular can aid with muscle inflammation and soreness.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…an aromatherapy massage. Essential oils are a common addition to any kind of massage, but they’re essential to an aromatherapy massage, which focuses on relaxing both your body and your mind through the use of calming scents. Your skin absorbs essential oils during the treatment and they can improve your mood and help with pain.
If essential oils don’t agree with your skin, ask your therapist to use a diffuser with your chosen scent instead.
Skip the gym
Whether you love or hate the gym, you should definitely skip your regular workout after your massage. It might be beneficial, however, to occasionally follow your workout with a relaxing massage to give your muscles the nourishment they need.
As a basic rule, you should wait at least 24–48 hours after your massage to resume your regular workout. The process of massage involves applying varying amounts of pressure to the muscles, so it mimics the effects of a mild workout.
Allowing your muscles time to recover from your massage will leave them feeling tension-free and give your body ample time to eliminate any metabolic waste products, such as lactic acid, so they don’t affect your next workout.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…a deep tissue massage. A favourite with those who love a workout, deep tissue massages can relax your overworked muscles and loosen any knots throughout your body. Exercising straight after a deep tissue massage can actually put your muscles under extra stress, negating the positive effects from your treatment.
Bring a snack
Massage works to speed up your circulatory system – this in turn increases your other bodily functions, including your digestive system. If you head into your massage feeling hungry, you might experience hunger pains or a feeling of dizziness – not very relaxing!
Equally, if you eat a large meal right before your massage, you might feel sick or uncomfortable as you lie on your stomach. It’s best to eat a medium-sized meal a couple of hours before your massage and remember to bring a small snack to eat straight after your treatment.
Your blood pressure will also drop as your body relaxes during your treatment, helping to combat stress. However, if your blood pressure is already fairly low, this drop can also cause light-headedness or nausea.
Bringing a healthy snack, such as a small amount of fruit or a selection of nuts and seeds, will help to prevent light-headedness and hunger pains.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…a back massage, where you’re likely to be lying on your front. Lying on your stomach when it’s empty or overly full is uncomfortable and will distract you from the mindfulness benefits of your massage.
Aim for perfect posture
Your posture affects almost every aspect of your body, from your circulation and digestion to your energy levels and even your self-confidence. Maintaining great posture after your massage will help to release the tension that builds up during our daily activities and further the effects of your treatment.
After your massage, make a point of maintaining good posture to ensure that you minimise muscle aches, tension in your neck and headaches. Remember to sit with both feet on the floor and your shoulders back and try adding exercises such as bridges and forearm planks into your regular gym routine.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…to return straight to your desk job. Sitting hunched over a computer or laptop is bad for our posture and can bring pain back on quickly – investing in an ergonomic chair or lumbar cushion can help to perfect your posture during work hours.
Try not to spend hours scrolling through social media with your neck bent in an unnatural position and instead lift your chin up.
Listen to your emotions
Massage works to lower cortisol, also known as the ‘stress hormone’, whilst increasing oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’) and serotonin (the ‘feelgood hormone’). This hormone stimulation helps to lower stress levels and leaves you with that happy, blissed-out feeling some experience at the end of a treatment.
This feeling can also lead to a sense of relief and a desire to cry. This instinct is perfectly normal and releasing your emotions can actually boost your mental health. There’s nothing worse than keeping everything bottled up inside.
While emotional release is common, you should never cry due to physical pain during a massage – always alert your massage therapist if something is painful or uncomfortable.
Keep this tip in mind if you’re planning…
…a Swedish massage. Some report this gentle and relaxing form of massage helps lift feelings of stress, anxiety and even depression. Smooth and circular in movement, Swedish massage is a great one to try if you don’t have much experience with massage therapy.
Try utilising some of these tips after your next spa massage and reap the rewards of an extended state of relaxation, comfort and pain relief.
About Armathwaite Hall
Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa has been standing magnificently on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake in one form or another since the 11th century.
Developments on the estate include the opening of the multi-million-pound, award-winning spa facilities in 2009 and continual refurbishments of facilities, including the upscale Lake View Restaurant.
The hotel has recently upgraded eight of its rooms as part of a £1.1 million investment.
Armathwaite Hall was awarded the distinguished title of Best Luxury Spa in the 2019 Candis Spa Awards and was shortlisted for the Large Hotel of the Year Award in the prestigious 2019 Cumbria Tourism Awards.