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A lot of people come to me with the assumption that the work I do hurts. They have most often had experiences with other LMTs who use a tremendous amount of force and have therefore braced themselves for the session with me.
I won’t lie. The truth is, resolving injury is not usually a totally comfortable experience, though it is by no means always painful. A good way to think about it is that we’re not creating pain, we’re releasing pain, which, by definition, cannot be painless.
HOWEVER (and, yes, this is a big however), the impact on the body can be greatly reduced by a number of things. First of all, if the therapist is really physically working to get the depth of “deep tissue”, there is something wrong. A well trained therapist knows how to reach down into the deeper layers of the body without undue force. And that same therapist knows when the top layers of tissue are, or are not, adequately prepared for the reach.
Secondly, you have a few responsibilities as a client. One: adequate hydration (minimum 2 liters of water per day!), especially on the day of your session; two: communicate with your therapist. If you’re leery of the work, or if you love the work and are just having a hard time that day and can’t handle the intensity, DO say something. And three: be brave and relax into the work. Remember that a lot of the time when we are resisting change in our bodies, it is because there is emotion caught up in the physical injury.
Lastly, the relief that comes from this type of work is most often profoundly relaxing to the body. Roughly 50% of my clients fall asleep on the table at some point. The experience of feeling restriction and pain leave the body is profound and most people are willing to abide the temporary discomfort for the long-term benefit. But if that isn’t you, don’t worry! There are many incredible treatments from acupuncture to chiropractic to movement therapy that can help you find the answers to your pain. Don’t give up looking.
And lastly lastly (for real this time), if you need a good laugh, you really should check this out.
That’s right, I’m talking to you. The weather’s warmer, the pasty legs are starting to peek out, and we’re all feeling frisky.
As you go through the process of moving into your spring and summer workouts, keep a close eye on your injuries. And think about injury in a broader way than rolling your ankle or dislocating your shoulder.
Pay attention to the small things, the things you normally work through and then forget about once you’re home. Take two minutes (time yourself) after your done with your workouts to recall and write down any little inconsistency you felt. Was your knee feeling tight, was the outside of your foot feeling achy, did you feel a stabbing pain in your shoulder on a couple of your more labored breaths?
Tracking these small things and taking care of them before they become big things can help you avoid a big injury. Or, once you’re injured, they can give your bodyworker or other care provider valuable information about how to help you recover the fastest.
Now, go drink a liter of water!
Having strong “core” muscles is a powerful thing. It is certainly one of the best things we can do to prevent and combat many different kinds of back pain, as well as promote rockin’ posture! Amazingly (for something so important), core strength is pretty easy to gain and maintain.
Even just ten crunches and 5-10 leg lifts a day can make a huge difference in the way you experience your daily life. So what’s the catch? Well, it’s pretty easy to damage yourself when you’re just beginning to strengthen these muscles. The good news? Once you’re on your way (usually within two weeks), it’s pretty hard to damage yourself while building and perfecting these gorgeous sinewy masses.
This article is some food for thought. Is your brain hurting yet? Really, no one has the definitive answer. Do what feels right to you and ASK QUESTIONS when you are uncertain about what you’re doing or what to do next.
Enough lecture for now? I hear you loud and clear. You deserve a lunch-time gin and tonic, girlfriend. Have fun.
