Located in historic Inglewood – Calgary, Alberta

Massage misconception #2: water and toxins and massage – oh my!

Massage misconception #2: water and toxins and massage – oh my!

by | Mar 17, 2021 | Misconception

Drinking water is, without question, one of the best things you can do for your body. Not only are we made of it (roughly 60-70% depending on which health journal you read), but water provides many other benefits to the body including:  

– Maintaining homeostasis (the self-regulation of internal processes),  

– Supporting and enabling digestion,  

– Delivering oxygen to the body’s numerous cells,  

– Lubricating joints, and   

– Aiding in the recycling of waste 

It is not surprising then that many massage therapists will advocate the importance of water consumption to their clients. However, two statements that often get caught up in the mix (and taken in support of drinking water) are:

  1. a client should always drink lots of water after a massage and
  2. that “drinking water helps flush out any toxins that were released during a massage.” 

Both of these statements will be explored below because both are, to varying degrees, massage misconceptions.   

Let’s start by talking briefly about the role of our kidneys. When the kidneys are doing what they do best, this can include the regulation of pH levels, excretion of waste, production of hormones, as well as movement of extracellular fluid to keep blood flowing to other vital organs*. In simplest terms, the kidneys (as well as organs like the liver and other bodily systems) filter out the bad and recirculate the good. 

Though there is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to encourage prime bodily function, it must be reminded that water consumption (and absorption) is not the same for everybody. While some people can drink 1L without batting an eyelash, others are running to the washroom after two glasses. There are many reasons why a person can only handle so much, and context can be everything. That is why, as therapists, additional care must be exercised when telling our clients to “drink plenty of water today” post massage. One client might take our advice to mean “the more water the better” and try to drink a gallon of water on the way home. This may sound extreme but with results ranging from a mild headache to that of kidney overwhelm known as hyponatremia***, it is worth the call for caution. And please know, I reference this extreme scenario not as a scare tactic to deter anyone from drinking water after a massage, or anytime really, but that there are many factors around water consumption, and it is crucial that we recognize them and not generalize.

Next, we have the sometimes-popular belief that declares massage and water consumption to be the “dream team” for toxin removal. According to some, which can include some massage therapists, one benefit of massage is explained as helping to release toxins from the tissues with water being the ideal exiting vehicle. This is simply not true. 

Two main reasons being first, there is still little consensus as to what a ‘toxin’ is (which is quite fundamental to the argument for it) and second, there is even less evidence to explain how a massage technique can aid in a toxin’s specific expulsion. If we consider caffeine to be a toxin for example, to suggest that a massage will magically expel this from one’s body through touch alone (no matter the pressure) is an exaggeration and oversimplification of science. It also adds extra fuel to any fire that says massage therapy is not on level with the rest of the health industry if we continue to defend such claims**.  

As a massage therapist, I know the value of massage and for that same reason I have great hesitancy (and disbelief) in stating that a toxin – which is synonymous with ‘poison’ – can be so easily got rid of. There is just not enough evidence to support this. 

So, if we (the therapist) must say anything about water consumption, as I learned in school, we should encourage our clients to “stay hydrated” and please stop talking about toxins.   

 

*https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Kidneyhealth/Documents/kidney%20guide.pdf  

** https://www.painscience.com/articles/drinking-water-after-massage.php   

*** This happens when the sodium is too low in the bloodstream which causes an imbalance that can dangerously overwhelm the kidneys.    

  

Massage Misconception #1: Pain versus Gain

Massage Misconception #1: Pain versus Gain

by | Feb 2, 2021 | Misconception

You may be familiar with the expression “no pain, no gain.” Well-known to the fitness industry, it promotes the idea that without pain we will never achieve our fullest potential. Even if we are left battered and bruised in the process, we must still be willing to do anything necessary to get an excellent result.   

The massage industry is not immune to this motto either, with many people eagerly lining up ready to hurt because they believe that is what their muscles need. However, this way of thinking is potentially harmful*.  

This is because many of us think that to see the results we want we must really feel it happening. However, when we ignore our body’s adverse reaction to something and push through anyway, we are more likely to endure injury or have an area overworked. Yet, as opposed to evaluating what is going on, we largely assume and accept that “this is what is supposed to happen”.   

Let’s say you arrive with a stiff neck and pain between your shoulder blades. Even before I physically assess any muscle, one of the many questions I will ask you is what kind of work you do. Let’s say your answer is desk work. Although some of my attention will be to focus on your back and delve into other details of your health history, my education and experience will tell me to look to your front first. That is, for as much as you might love me to drive my elbow in between your shoulder blades and torque on your neck for the next sixty minutes with the deepest, most intense, and pain-inducing techniques I can muster, I am going to refuse.  

What? Refuse? But it hurts! Hurt me more so I hurt less!!  

I will refuse because more times than not, your pectoral muscles (via your work posture) are likely to be the main culprit and prioritizing them can increase your body awareness and create a more effective massage. Think about it. When we sit in front of a computer all day our shoulders roll inward, our heads crane forward and our backs get stretched and stiff. Everything has moved forward and caved inward.   

If I only focus on where the pain feels most prominent, in this case your mid-back, I am immediately doing you a disservice. Similarly, if I only apply techniques with an intention to satisfy your desire for pain by adding more pain, not only might I (unintentionally) injure you, but I bypass the bodily responses that should be informing my actions in the first place! As your massage therapist, I want your muscles to “let me in” so I can do my work and by the end of the treatment I want you, my client, to not only have a better understanding of the postural imbalances you contribute to daily, but feel empowered using tools you now have, to create better habits. I should not be out to hurt you, and you should not be out to hurt you either.   

Being someone in the business of pain management and relief, my overarching want is to prove that a massage does not have to leave you breathless, squirming in pain, and/or sore for days after you see me. (I have a had at least a handful of my clients shudder as they recall treatments where they asked for pressure that left them hurting.)** 

Muscles deserve attention and the nervous system should be stimulated, but never should either feel under attack. That is why I am always happy when I have a client who originally wanted me to “bring ALL the pain” become noticeably impressed with how pain-free their experience was, and yet their muscles felt “worked” and a longer-term benefit remained.

So, the next time you are in pain and booking an appointment, know that you do not have to be in extreme pain to have a good massage and get the results you want.  

     

*’Harmful’ because in some situations, like someone who has osteoarthritis or who is pregnant, deep pressure is not advised. Always check with your doctor as well as your massage therapist if you are unsure about how your condition(s) can affect your massage.    

**Massage is a shared responsibility and pain is very subjective. Please speak up if you are in pain because if you do not tell us, we do not know. 

Self-care is not selfish

Self-care is not selfish

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Self-care

Many of us are familiar with the adage “you cannot pour from an empty cup”. In simplest terms, this means that you cannot give to others (in time or effort) when you have not taken care of yourself first.

Especially true for women, many of us have been taught that we are the primary caregivers of society. With a long-held belief that all women should recognize the signs of exhaustion and pain in others and be ready to come to their aid at a moment’s notice, the idea of prioritizing our own needs over that of our family, for instance, is often seen as selfish. Since selfishness is not an admirable quality to have, the myth of ‘putting others first (and only)’ has been long perpetuated and the acts of burying our own desire for selfcare or running ourselves into the ground, are instead rewarded.

Thankfully, perhaps in part due to the pandemic, selfcare is starting a renaissance. Not only for women, but for society at large, we are broadening our definition of “health” and including concepts like “wellbeing”. This addition goes beyond our fundamental needs (like employment and housing) and acknowledges the emotional and spiritual realms as well. Now more than ever we are seeing the importance of work/life balance beyond the buzz words and since “stress” is an unavoidable, and some might argue necessary part of our lives, we are consciously (re)learning practices which help us establish (and maintain) that balance.

Though the idea of making healthier choices might seem a bit daunting, especially if you are not in the habit of “listening” to your body, the following might offer a useful place to start.

1. Start by asking yourself what activity you could enjoy. For me, I know I enjoy walking. It is low maintenance, gets me outside, and “grounds” me by allowing my mind to either completely wander or problem solve the thoughts in my head that need figuring.

2. Consider how much time you can commit to this activity and then schedule it. The key is not to get so overwhelmed by all the things you can do. Start small, pick one or two, see what resonates, and then repeat.

Here are some examples of what I do.

  1. If I have 5 minutes, I will listen to a guided meditation that focuses on my breathing. Because I know myself well enough to know I am easily distracted, 5 minutes is just enough time for me to take a mental break, reclaim my calm and feel focused for any tasks ahead. Plus, I often feel I “forget” to breathe so this helps me reconnect.

    Another idea I have used is starting a “Gratitude Journal”. (I highly recommend the Dollar store if you want to buy a cheap and colourful journal although they have solid colours, too). Start by writing 3-4 bullet points of things (people, experiences, etc.) that make you feel thankful. It can be a word, sentence or paragraph. Try to write every day. 

  2. If I have ten minutes, I think about food prep. Lately, as part of my goal to consume more vegetables and keep my immune system strong, I have started making batches of “green” ice cubes for my morning smoothies. Blitzing fresh kale, spinach and a bit of water until a vibrant green liquid is created, I freeze this liquid into ice cube trays and then combine it with chunks of fruit in small freezer bags. The next morning before I dash out the door (I love sleep), I blend it all together with a scoop of unflavoured protein powder and a touch more liquid (milk, water, juice) and I am good to go!
  3. If I have 30 minutes, as noted, I love to walk. I always have my running shoes (and a clean pair of socks) by the front door. After a long day, I lace up my shoes and beeline it for outside. You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to go fast. Your body is moving, and your lungs are filling with air. That’s all that matters.
  4. If I have an hour, I might consider doing something for my body that has more impact. Like working out, dancing in my living room, or getting a massage. The best massages leave my body feeling “worked on” but lighter. Because I know my muscles are moving better, I feel energized, relaxed, and ready to take on the world. If that sounds appealing to you, I might just know a place…

Habits, whether helpful or hindering, take time to form as well as break. Learning to care about yourself is not decided in an instant. It is not a “go big or go home” kind of experience either. It is often making small, continuous changes. Go gently. Try to be consistent. You are worth the effort.