We aim to give you the best massage you have ever had.  In order to do that, we need to find out what your favorite massages have been, or the least favorite if you’ve had one.  That way we can customize your experience to give you our very best.

MASSAGE IS PART OF YOUR RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Did you know that your self-care can be directly related to your recovery and performance? Not just for athletes, but for all of us.  It’s a form of self-care to help you unplug, give space in your mind to heal, and come out relaxed, renewed, and restored.  With that comes clarity and greater focus mentally to help you perform better in your field.

Whether you are an athlete, lawyer with high expectations, physician leaning over patients, stressed out stay-at-home-parents, and professionals.

To perform well, you need to think well. You can’t think well if you are constantly slammed with stress and ready to pop.

Include massage, other self-care practices, and little getaways to help your mind unplug and come back to reality with amazing clarity.  That was the heart and soul behind the creation of our massage video and why it is directly related to your performance.

Don’t just get any massage though, get the best massage. Get out that tension, manage that stress, unplug and renew your mind, and have the clarity, perspective, and energy for your best performance.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT MASSAGE

The biggest complaint we hear is that customers have gotten massages all over the city, and even all around the world, to discover it was always disappointing because nobody uses enough pressure on them and was a waste of time and money.

“It seems nobody can get deep enough, or the massage therapist keeps rolling over the knot instead of actually getting it out,” is a very common response when we ask our clients about their past massages.

See, people just want to feel better, not just have lotion smeared all over them.

So if you are wanting a tried and true Deep Tissue Massage, this is how you can get the best massage you have ever had:

DON’T WASTE TIME IF THE THERAPIST CAN’T DO DEEP TISSUE TO BEGIN WITH.

Unfortunately, many will claim that they can, but you will end up being even more disappointed once they get on the massage table. Ask around for reviews and testimonials before taking the word of the front desk.

If you don’t want deeper work, then this shouldn’t apply to you, but finding a massage therapist that gives you your perfect pressure is still important, even if it is on the lighter side.

ASK IF YOUR MASSAGE THERAPIST CAN DO TRIGGER POINT

You don’t necessarily have to get this done, but if you know a therapist can at least do some kind of Trigger Point, they should be able to use a little more pressure than the typical Deep Tissue Massage.

I like to explain Trigger Point  like holding a pressure point to where it’s uncomfortable just in the beginning, but then it releases and feels aaahhhhh-mazing! In most cases, that’s what people want.  They want that tension out even if it means a window of discomfort that leads to the relief they have been craving.

COMMUNICATE DURING YOUR MASSAGE FOR THE PERFECT PRESSURE

Therapists try to be as intuitive as possible but when it comes to Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy.  We want to make it as perfect as absolutely possible for you. Your therapist should be asking plenty to ensure the pressure they are using is PERFECT for you. If not, please ask or guide your therapist.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP

Every single person is absolutely unique, so your massage should be too.

While your therapist should be doing their absolute best to dial in to find your perfect pressure, we are all still human and can use your guidance to make it even better.  Sometimes I’ll ask, “What would make this absolutely perfect for you?  A tad more pressure? Or less?”

You can even say, “Definitely not any more pressure please….”  or “can you add a little bit more pressure to that one spot you just went over?”

Or, “Hey! I loved your forearm on my back! Can you do that one again?”  Help us make it as perfect of a massage as possible for you.

CAN YOU JUST USE YOUR ELBOWS FOR DEEPER MASSAGE PLEASE?

If you aren’t getting the pressure you need after your therapist informed you she or he ‘could’ do Deep Tissue, ask if they can try their elbow instead. Or if the elbow is too much, don’t hesitate to say, “ok ok maybe that’s a little too much….”

While most therapists don’t believe in using deeper work, it’s why people come to us instead… and stay with us.  It’s what clients want and need.  Majority confess they’ve gotten massages all over the world and has been a waste of money and time because they were told the therapist could do deep work and was left disappointed and just lotion smeared over them informed ‘you don’t need deeper.’

MENTALLY RELAX FOR A BETTER MASSAGE

Now being that I’ve worked on numerous professional athletes, bodybuilders, powerlifters, extreme athletes, and fitness professionals, it’s surprising that the ones that ask for the most pressure, are usually the ones who have a difficult time relaxing their mind.

The Type-A personality has the tendency to want to control everything.  These types of massage sessions usually involve more mental coaching and guided meditation techniques to help quiet their mind.

I can easily be using the hardest pressure but they are still asking for more.  However, they are asking for even harder pressure while they are flexing and or tensing every muscle in their body and holding their arms up in the air. It becomes more of a mental game and not-so-much physical anymore.

So if this is you, try meditation every day and different forms of relaxation to train your mind to relax.  Especially if you want to get a good massage!

IT HURTS SO GOOD!

The majority of the clients we work on, they absolutely love the “it hurts soooo good!” feeling of the Deep Tissue.  Especially when you are suffering aches and pains for the longest time and JUST WANT RELIEF.  It just hurts so good!

But any pressure beyond that is not recommended, which is why its so important to have that great communication with your therapist to find the pressure and even techniques that are perfect for you!

TOO MUCH PRESSURE

Remember above when I said if it goes beyond that ‘hurts so good’ feeling? That’s probably too much.  Even that ‘hurt so good’ pressure might be a little much for some and it is a matter of communication to find the perfect pressure that you are comfortable with and can breathe through without tensing up.

On intake forms, we ask if you are on pain medication because if you did take something, you can’t necessarily feel how much pressure we are using during the massage and makes it much more difficult to gauge.

If you can’t breathe through it and have to tense up through it, it’s probably too much.

ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE AND MUSIC DURING YOUR MASSAGE

You know that feeling of crawling into your own bed after a long day to finally fall asleep? You should have that same feeling when crawling onto your massage table.  Too warm? Too cold? Could use another blanket or adjust the table warmer? Music too loud or want a different station?

Your therapist should make sure you are comfortable with the temperature and music, but say something if not. This is your time to be as cozy and relaxed as possible…. even if you are getting Sports Massage or Deep Tissue.

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR MASSAGE SESSION EVEN MORE TO GET THE BEST EXPERIENCE

I love seeing clients on a regular basis.  It’s almost like dating when you get to know someone more, and the things that they love or could do without.  You know, like realizing they hate mushrooms on their pizza? I learn to not get mushrooms on the pizza!

Since we do have a lot of athletes, we tailor the sessions for their sport performance and recovery, plus find the techniques that they love most so they can still relax at the same time.

Or if you are stuck at a desk all day and get those achy traps and neck pain? Sometimes I’ll massage someone’s neck while sitting in a chair, and then massage again once they are on the table so we can help relieve their neck in different muscular angles.

And somedays, you may feel like in the mood where you just want to relax and that you don’t want the deeper work this time and that’s ok too.  I remember this NFL player that I worked on, on a regular basis had a lot on his mind.  He put his head down, looked up, and said, “You know, I think I just need to relax today.”

Afterward, he was like a new man. His eyes lit up and said, “Wow, that was by FAR the best massage I’ve had yet!”

Each session can and should be totally customized uniquely to YOU.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

Deep Tissue does get a little deeper than a Swedish or Relaxation Massage.  It is a therapeutic art and science to help you heal, recover, and perform your best.

Do you know that feeling of working out for the first time in a long time and then you are sore the next day?  This could be a possibility of a Deep Tissue Massage. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but can be expected.

I have found most people I work on love to be able to feel the next day they had great bodywork done.  Sometimes that can be the combination of really great relief and a really great workout! #winning

It takes a few sessions for your mind and body to acclimate to the pressure, just as it takes a few workouts or so to build up your intensity.

That’s one reason it is best to get a great massage on a regular basis.  The more regular you receive them, the more benefits you experience from them.

DEEP TISSUE AND SPORTS MASSAGE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

Hope this article helps you to get the very best massage! And that each one should get better! If in the Columbus, Ohio area, you can schedule with us.  We would love to ease your aches and pains! Schedule online at Bátor Studios, right around the corner from OSU Medical Center.

We offer:

• • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Sports Massage
  • Prenatal Massage
  • Hot Stone Massage
  • Cupping Therapy
  • Online Courses
  • Strength Training and Nutrition Programs
  • Massage Mentoring Program for Massage Therapists

TELL US MORE!

Have you experienced something like this where you signed up for deep tissue and it wasn’t deep at all? Tell us in the comments!