15 May 7 Reasons You Should Treat Yourself To A Post Workout Massage

If you’ve been holding out on getting a post workout massage, we’ve got seven really good reasons to just go for it. You’ll feel better, look better, and have more energy if you treat yourself to some bodywork through massage therapy regularly.

Though massage therapy is typically linked with pain or relaxation, many fitness and sports experts believe that the benefits go beyond that. It’s no surprise that many people are starting to include massage as a part of their overall health program.

Additionally, because massage is so beneficial, Complete Body Gym offers in-house massage services to members and the general public. All three of our locations offer Deep tissue/Swedish, Shiatsu, and Prenatal massages, while our Hanover Street location also offers Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology and Sports/Medical massage therapy.

Contact us today to request a post workout massage at one of our locations.

Once you read the following benefits, we’re convinced you’ll agree with us: massage is a must-do. If physical fitness is important to you, you should seriously consider these benefits that a post workout massage can have on your body. Then, book yourself a massage this week and come back and tell us how it was.

7 Benefits of a Post Workout Massage

(1) Post workout massages speed recovery

You can recover more quickly after a workout by getting a massage. Don’t just take our word for it. This benefit is backed by research. A 2015 Ohio State University research study found that massage and bodywork after intense physical activity resulted in less scarring. The study also found that the muscles had more vessel formation after massage.

In order to heal quickly and be ready for the next workout, your muscles need circulation for oxygen and to rebuild cells. A post workout massage speeds up recovery by sending more blood to recovering muscles.

If you’re working on physical conditioning at the gym, massage has even more benefits. According to PCOM, “Massage for sports injuries is a particularly effective way of dealing with the injuries that occur in the tearing down phase.” Warming your muscles with massage helps them relax more quickly, too.

You’ll benefit greatly from a full body massage once a week or every two weeks as a way to ease soreness and to speed up the recovery time after an intense workout.

(2) A post workout massage can decrease inflammation

After a solid workout, reduce inflammation with a post workout massage. According to Men’s Fitness, you should work a 10 minute massage or longer in your after workout plans due to its anti-inflammatory benefits.

What causes inflammation? When you damage tissues in your body, white blood cells near the area help protect the tissue from further damage or infection. This causes the swelling – it’s actually a protective reaction. But too much inflammation, or misdirected inflammation, can cause muscle stiffness or more serious issues.

If you work out often, you’ve probably had some inflammation at least once or twice. To reduce the inflammation, instead of reaching for Ibuprofen or medication, try getting a post workout massage to see how it helps.

(3) Massage can reduce athletic injuries

You should take extra steps to relax stiff muscles and joints, especially if you are preparing for an upcoming competition or event. With a post workout massage, you’ll help maintain that flexibility that’s crucial for avoiding injuries.

Inflexibility is one of the main causes of injuries, after poor training or form. Get a nice, deep tissue massage every week after working out in order to increase flexibility and workout any pressure points. You should also use this time to work with your massage therapist on areas that need extra attention, like tight hamstrings or hips.

Massage therapists are trained in more than just relaxation. If you have chronic pain, or ongoing issues relating to training or athletics, book a 60 minute Sports/Medical massage at Complete Body Gym’s Hanover Street location. Your therapist is specifically trained to create a custom massage program to help you heal and perform at optimal levels.

(4) You’ll have more energy

Believe it or not, a relaxing post workout massage can actually give you more energy. According to Deep Recovery, massages release mitochondria, which “can improve endurance performance by increasing the rate that muscles utilize oxygen.”

In other words, you can use massage to send more oxygen to your muscles. When you do, you increase your energy and endurance. This is one of the reasons post workout massage is so great for your body. You recover faster, which means you’ll feel like hitting the gym again in no time.

(5) Post workout massage improves blood flow

Remember the inflammation we talked about? That’s not good for your muscles as it reduces blood flow in order to heal properly. On the flip side, you can improve blood flow and get all of the benefits of that through a post workout massage.

If you’ve done any research on blood flow before, you know already all of the reasons it’s important. Healthy circulation benefits all of our organs and keeps us looking and feeling young. You’ll have increased energy, potentially fewer headaches, better workouts, and possibly boost your immunity when your circulation is good.

(6) You’ll have less stress and anxiety

Everyday life causes a fair amount of stress and anxiety. Over time, stress and anxiety end up taking a huge toll on our bodies. Too much stress can negate the impact of regular workouts. So if you want to reduce anxiety, get a massage regularly. There’s no better time to get a massage than right after a workout.

Regular exercise is already an awesome way to reduce anxiety. Every now and then, though, you might find yourself in need of a little extra relaxation after a session of HIIT or a couple hours of weightlifting. Book a post workout massage to work out any tension both in your body and your mind.

(7) Massage can relieve pain and improve your mood

When you’re reducing inflammation and getting blood circulating through your body, you should experience some pain relief. Depending on what’s causing the pain, massage can be an ideal way to relieve it. Massage will help you relax, increase flexibility, and generally feel better. The reason is that massage releases serotonin in the brain, which is the chemical that puts you in a better mood.

Working out hard takes a toll on the body. If you push yourself hard on a regular basis, you’re going to be sore – and may have pain – from time to time. Schedule time for a massage to relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation. You’ll feel much better after your time at the gym if you walk out having just had a full hour massage!

Conclusion

Many people realize that massage is therapeutic, but stop short of making it a regular part of their routine. If you already workout a few times a week, it only makes sense to start incorporating massage as an extension of your fitness regimen. A post workout massage is actually part of a solid fitness plan – it’s not just for pain management or relaxation!

You’ll boost your circulation, too, which will improve your health, keep your skin looking better and younger, and improve your endurance. That means you’ll have better results in the gym if you make time for massage every week.

To experience these benefits and more, book a post workout massage at Complete Body Gym. All three locations offer several Spa and Massage Therapy services. You can view our complete menu of therapeutic services online here, or book a massage by email.