Should Massage Hurt?

Have you ever wondered if a massage has to hurt to be effective?

If so, you are not alone. Many people believe that a massage has to hurt in order to be effective. Well it doesn’t! You’ll be happy to hear that the saying “No pain, no gain” doesn’t apply to massage therapy. Sometimes the most effective massages are the ones that don’t cause you any pain. Something that feels marvelous, and it’s good for you too? It doesn’t get much better than that! #nopainnogain

Pain versus Discomfort

Muscles naturally react to any sort of pain. When your muscles feel that your body is about to be injured or feels pain, the reflex to deflect the pain is stimulated. If your massage therapist is ever applying too much pressure, your muscles tighten to naturally counterattack the force, and that is not a great way to relax. A massage is meant to relieve the tension of your muscles. So, if you feel as though your massage therapist is applying too much pressure, just ask her to use less pressure. Seriously, we want you to.

Don’t go into the massage thinking there won’t be any discomfort at all though. Pain and discomfort are two different things. People usually describe discomfort as a “good hurt” - especially in reference to getting a massage. When you experience pain during a massage, it is more than discomfort and you should let your therapist know immediately.

Everybody has different tolerances for pain, so a massage that is painful for one person may not be painful for you. If you find that your massage therapist isn’t working between your tolerance levels for pain, then it’s important that you say something during the massage. Massages should almost never cause you physical pain and very rarely is it okay for you to be left with marks on your body afterwards.

If you are booking your first massage, you probably don’t want to start out with a deep tissue session. Ease your way into massage therapy and start with light, medium or firm pressure. At the Well Spa, we customize your massage to give you the best results and the best

experience. #massagetherapy

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