From the relaxing music to warm towels, I love everything about spas. Out of all the spa services I’ve received, my favorite is a deep tissue massage. If you’ve ever experienced a deep tissue massage, you know that there’s nothing “relaxing” about it. Unlike a Swedish massage, deep tissue massage is performed with more pressure in order to get deeper into the tissues. It is known to help relieve chronic pain, sports injuries, and areas of tightness.
The best deep tissue massage I receive is from a good friend of mine who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has been treating me for my chronic neck pain (from a car accident years ago) and my wrist pain that has been bothering me for over a year. I know it sounds ironic that I love the relaxing spa atmosphere, yet my favorite massage is a deep tissue massage. The relaxation I experience from a deep tissue massage comes AFTER the actual massage itself. After a PT/massage session with my friend, I feel amazing for several days!
We carry muscular imbalances in our bodies from slouching, sitting cross-legged, sleeping habits (sometimes I wake up looking contorted! 😂), etc. Those imbalances can lead to headaches, neck aches, back pains, sleep disturbances and many other pain-related issues that we sometimes chalk up to aging. Having regular massages can help relieve some of those “aches and pains” that may not necessarily be related to getting older.
If you have never experienced a professional massage before or tend to be sensitive to touch, I highly recommend that you start with a Swedish massage. During the session, you can ask your massage therapist to deepen or lighten the pressure to your preference. If you find that you prefer the deeper pressure, you might enjoy a deep tissue massage. Most spas offer add-on services such as aromatherapy and hot stone massage for a fee.
Massages range from $45 to over $100 depending the length and the type of massage. Location also plays a role in how much you’ll be paying (my first massage was at a spa in Beverly Hills, CA which was about $120 with gratuity in 2004; I spent $60 with gratuity for the same type of massage at a spa in Charlotte last week). Great news is that Groupon is always filled with discounted massage services! Try out different spas and massage therapists until you find one that you really like.
If massages are out of your budget right now, invest in a pair of myofascial release balls (also known as therapy balls). I teach a weekly class at the local YMCA where we use therapy balls to roll out the tightness and “knots” in the neck, shoulders and the arches of the feet (we use a foam roller to roll out the rest of the body). My students have commented on numerous occasions how they feel like they just got a deep tissue massage. As of today, these therapy balls are on sale for $9.98 on Yogaoutlet.com. I know some people that use lacrosse or tennis balls, but these therapy balls are specifically designed to be the perfect sizes and firmness for releasing the fascia. There are several instructional videos on Youtube if you don’t have access to a class that teaches this method. If you’re a member of the YMCA in Charlotte, NC, come check out my class on Mondays at 9 AM in the University location. Another class I would recommend is Jenn’s “Roll & Release” class on Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, “Desk Detox-Roller” class on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, and “IM=X Mat & Rolling” class on Thursdays at 11AM at IM=X Pilates in North Charlotte (where I teach yoga and pilates).
Next week, I will share how you can use simple yoga poses for holistic therapy!
With Gratitude,
Jheni Solis Wellness 