Fitness & Massage
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Fitness Expectations     Massage Expectations      

Many people are not familiar with the many benefits that a massage can provide, and many others, while interested, are unsure what to expect in a professional massage session.

 

                                                                                                                                               

 What Are the Health Benefits of Massage and Bodywork?

 

Massage and bodywork can help chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodyworks are also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.

 

According to ABMP and the Mayo Clinic, massage can relieve tension in your muscles, and most people use it for relaxation, relief of stress and anxiety, or to reduce muscle soreness. Massage can also cause your body to release natural painkillers, and it boosts your immune system.

 

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found it helpful for:

  • Anxiety. Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking.
  • Pain. Pain was decreased in studies of people with fibromyalgia, migraines and recent surgeries. Back pain also might be relieved by massage. However, back pain study results have been contradictory, and more research is required.
  • Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain.
  • Infant growth. Massage encouraged weight gain in premature babies and reduced the number of days they stayed in the hospital.
  • Children with diabetes. Children who were massaged every day by their parents were more likely to stick to their medication and diet regimens, which helped reduce their blood glucose levels.
  • Sports-related soreness. Some athletes receive massages after exercise, especially to the muscles they use most in their sport or activity. A massage might help increase blood flow to your muscles and may reduce muscle soreness after you exercise.
  • Alcohol withdrawal. Massage during withdrawal from alcohol has shown benefits when combined with traditional medical treatment by increasing feelings of support, safety and engagement in the therapy.
  • Immune system. People with HIV who participated in massage studies showed an increased number of natural killer cells, which are thought to defend the body from viral and cancer cells.
  • Cancer treatment. People with cancer who received regularly-scheduled massage therapy during treatment reported less anxiety, pain and fatigue.
  • Self-esteem. Because massage involves direct contact with another person through touch, it can make you feel cared for. That special attention can improve self-image in people with physical disabilities and terminal illnesses. And using touch to convey caring can help children with severe physical disabilities

 

What You Should Expect During Your Massage Session 

 

If you have not had an opportunity to  experience professional massage therapy, you might be wondering what to expect.  The following information will hopefully give you an idea about what takes place during a “typical” private massage session.* Please feel free to contact our professional massage therapists for more information or to answer any additional questions you may have at 703-791-3238.

 

If it’s your first time working with BodyWorkx, our massage therepsit will likely begin by asking you some questions; such as 

  • The reasons you are getting a massage
  • Your medical history
  • What your current physical condition is 
  • The type of life style you lead
  • Your current stress level
  • Any experiences with specific areas of pain
  • Whether there is any specific need you want addressed during the massage

 

We need to make sure that there are not any conditions present which would rule out having a massage because of underlying health issues.  Additionally we want to know what your desires and needs are regarding massage.  This information will help us determine what approach and techniques would best meet your needs.

 

Following our discussion, you will be asked to remove your clothing.  Our therapist will leave the room to provide you privacy while you undress.  You should take off only as much as you are comfortable removing. You should also remove any jewelry or other articles that may interfere with your massage.   We will use a sheet to provide draping during your massage.  During the session, we will only uncover the part of the body that is being massaged at that particular time to ensure you that your privacy is respected at all times.  

 

Our private massages take place in a variety of settings, ranging from our private studio, to a room of your choosing in your home. You should expect your massage to be provided in a peaceful and comfortable environment. We will play some music that is composed to help you relax.  Our massages are conducted on a comfortable, padded table specifically designed for professional massage. We may use some extra attachments such as a face rest, which allows you to lie in a face down position without turning your head and neck. Throughout the session we will let you know what position to lie on the table. We will use either a massage lotion or oil, which reduces the drag on your skin while performing the massage.  If you are allergic to any types of oils or lotions be sure to tell us about them before the  session starts so that we can be sure that they do not exist in the oils or lotions that we are using. Depending on your needs we will massage either the full body or specific areas that need attention.  As an example, a general relaxation massage or stress reduction sessions will usually include all major areas of the body, while a session for a localized injury, pain, or tightness will concentrate on a specific area of the body.  It's not uncommon for our therapists to spend most of an entire session on one area of the body.  After the massage has completed, you will have privacy to get dressed.  Please get off the table slowly.  

 

The usual length of our massages is 1 hour. 

 

Please let us know at least 24 hours in advance if you need to reschedule or cancel any appointments.

  

* We also offer chair massages which differ in many aspects from the "typical" private massage depicted above. Chair massages, while private, are "typically" conducted in a professional setting such as an office building or school. Clients do not need to remove any clothing with this type of massage. Our chair massages are conducted by a professional massage therapist on a special massage chair which is typically adjustable to accommodate the many varying bodyy types and sizes. These types of sessions also differ in that a typical session will last typically for 15 - 20 minutes.