Sarassage Therapeutic Massage

You came in hoping to feel better... but the next day, you're sore.

"Is that normal?"

Sometimes, yes.

Massage can involve sustained pressure, stretching, and manipulation of tissues that may already be sensitive or tender. If your body isn't used to that type of pressure-- or if you've had a particularly focused session-- you may experience some temporary soreness afterward.

Think of it a little like how your body might feel after trying a new activity or doing more physical activity than usual. That said...

More soreness does not mean that you got a better massage. And pain during the massage isn't something you have to "push through" in order to get results.

A therapeutic massage should be adapted to your body. Sometimes deeper pressure is appropriate. Sometimes a lighter touch is exactly what your body needs.

And a note to my current clients: if you've ever left one of my massages feeling more sore than you expected-- or experienced soreness that lasted longer than you'd like-- please tell me.

You aren't hurting my feelings by asking me to use less pressure. You are not being "too sensitive." And you never have to tolerate discomfort because you think I know best or because you've received that level of pressure from me before.

Your body can respond differently from one day to the next, and your feedback helps me provide a better massage for you. If something feels too intense during your session, please speak up. We can always adjust the pressure. And if you realize after your massage that you were more sore than you'd like to be, tell me before your next appointment so we can make adjustments.

The goal of massage isn't to see how much your body can tolerate.

The goal is to support your body in a way that feels helpful. 💛

Sarah says... the thing I wish every new (and returning) massage client knew:

Your massage will be better when you engage in it.

And no, I don't mean that you need to do anything complicated. You don't need to stretch, flex, hold perfectly still or somehow become an expert in your own anatomy.

I mean talk to me-- tell me what's bothering you. Tell me what feels good. Tell me what doesn't. Tell me if the pressure is too much-- or not enough. Don't lie there clenching your jaw and stiffening your whole body because you think I know best.

Pay attention to what you feel. Notice where you're holding tension. Notice how your body feels when you take a deep breath. Notice if something feels different from what you expected.

And don't be afraid to ask questions. Why are you working there? What are you noticing? Is this normal? Should I be feeling this?

There is no prize for being the "perfect" massage client. And you don't have to lie quietly on the table while I try to guess what your body needs. The more information you give me, the more I can tailor your massage to YOU.

Your body is the one I'm working with. You are the one living in it.

So let's work together. 💛

-Sarah

📸: Green Eye's Imaging

You've probably heard it before...

"Make sure you drink lots of water after your massage to flush out toxins!"

But... that's actually not how it works. Massage doesn't squeeze toxins out of your muscles, and drinking extra water afterward doesn't "flush" them from your body.

Your body is already equipped with several incredibly effective systems for processing and eliminating waste:
🍯 Your liver helps process and transform many substances so they can be eliminated from the body.
💉 Your kidneys filter your blood, removig certain waste products and excess substances that leave the body through urine.
🫁 Your lungs remove carbon dioxide every time you exhale.
💩 Your digestive system helps eliminate waste through the gastrointestinal tract.

Water is certainly important to many of these processes-- especially for maintaining kidney function and producing urine-- but drinking an excessive amount of water after a massage doesn't suddenly speed up your body's natural "detox" process.

So why do massage therapists always talk about drinking water?

Hydration is important for overall health, and some people may simply be a little dehydrated before their massage without realizing it. So yes-- having a glass of water after your massage is perfectly fine. But you don't need to drink gallons of water to "flush out toxins" released during your session. That, my friends, is a myth.

Your body has already been managing waste removal all along! 💧

📸: Green Eye's Imaging

Sarah says... Stop telling your body to be quiet. Start listening to what it's telling you.

Your neck is tight. Your shoulders are creeping towards your ears. Your low back has been nagging you for weeks. Your jaw is sore every morning. You keep getting headaches.

So what do you do?

You stretch it. You massage it. You take something for the pain. Maybe you ignore it and hope it goes away. 🙃

And sometimes, that's exactly what you need. But sometimes, your body is trying to tell you something.

🚨 Spoiler Alert 🚨
Pain, tension, stiffness, fatigue and changes in how you move can all be signals worth paying attention to. That doesn't mean every ache is a warning sign or that you need to analyze every sensation your body produces. Bodys are complicated, and sometimes things simply hurt.

But when something keeps showing up in the same place-- or keeps coming back after you've addressed it-- maybe it's worth getting curious:

What has changed?
How are you moving?
Are you asking your body to do something repeatedly?
Are you getting enough rest?
Have you been under more stress?
Did an old injury change the way you move?
Is there something you're compensating for without even realizing it?

Your body is constantly adapting to the life you're asking it to live.

Massage can help you feel better and can give us valuable information about what your body is doing. And I don't want to simply chase the symptom every time it shows up. I want to help you become more aware of your patterns. Because sometimes the most useful question isn't, "How do I make this go away?" it's "What is my body trying to tell me?"

So the next time your body starts talking-- maybe don't immediately tell it to be quiet.

Listen. 💛

-Sarah

📸: Green Eye's Imaging

You're deeply relaxed... and suddenly, you feel like crying.

Why does this happen?

There isn't one simple answer.

Massage can promote relaxation and may reduce stress and anxiety in some people. But just as importantly, a massage session often creates something that's rare in everyday life: stillness.

When you're constantly busy, distracted, or focused on everyone and everything else, you may not have much time to notice how you're actually feeling.

Then you lie down in a quiet room. Your phone is away. Your body begins to relax. You aren't being asked to do anything. And sometimes, emotions show up.

That doesn't necessarily mean your muscles were "holding" a specific emotion or that massage has uncovered a hidden memory. It may simply mean that slowing down gave you the time and space to notice feelings that were already there.

It can also be a response to stress, relief, physical comfort, feeling cared for, or the experience of finally allowing yourself to rest.

Whatever the reason, having an emotional response can be a perfectly human experience.

If it happens during your massage, you don't have to explain it. You can talk about it, sit quietly, take a moment, or simply continue with your session.

There is no "right" way to respond to receiving bodywork.

Your only job is to show up as you are. 💛

One of the questions I hear most often from clients is:

"Why do I keep getting tension in the same place?"

The same shoulder that's always tight. That same spot in your low back that always aches. The same hip that seems to complain no matter how many times you stretch it.

The place where you feel tension isn't always where the problem begins. Your body is constantly responding and adapting to the things you do every day-- how you move, work, exercise, rest, manage stress, and even old patterns your body has learned over time.

Massage can help reduce discomfort and give your body an opportunity to relax and reset. But if the same demands continue, that familiar tension will eventually return.

And that's okay.

Massage isn't about making tension disappear forever. It's about becoming more aware of your patterns, supporting your body's recovery, and understanding what it may need along the way.

Sometimes the most important question isn't, "why is this tight again?"

It's "What keeps bringing me back here?"

A friend recently asked me, "why should I get a massage?"

And honestly? I loved the question.

Massage doesn't have to be something you wait to get until you're hurting, injured, or completely worn out. There are plenty of reasons to make massage therapy a part of your regular self-care routine.

Massage can help:
- Reduce muscle tension and everyday aches and pains
- Support relaxation and stress management
- Ease some types of chronic or recurring pain
- Improve your sense of body awareness and ease of movement
- Provide a dedicated opportunity to slow down and decompress
- Support quality of life when you're dealing with ongoing physical discomfort

Research also supports massage as one option for managing certain musculoskeletal pain conditions, including low back pain-- and studies in specific populations have found improvements in pain, anxiety, and quality of life.

So who benefits from regular massage?

Well, there isn't one "type" of person who needs massage.

It can be especially useful for people who:
- Sit at a desk or spend long hours in one position
- Work physically demanding jobs
- Exercise regularly or participate in sports
- Carry a lot of stress in their body
- Are navigating chronic pain or other ongoing physical discomfort
- Simply enjoy how their body feels after a massage

And here's the part that I think gets overlooked:

You don't need to have a problem to deserve some time taking care of yourself. Massage can be maintenance. It can be recovery. It can be stress relief. It can be a way to reconnect with your body. Or, sometimes, it can simply feel really, really good.

There isn't a magic schedule that works for everyone. Some people benefit from occasional massage when something is bothering them. Others find that regular sessions help them stay ahead of tension and make bodywork a part of their overall wellness routine.

The "why" is personal.

What's yours?