Massage Feels Like A Drug
This is not meant to put a negative label on massage, it's quite the opposite. I'm here to sell you the good stuff.
The sensations felt in a massage activate a lot of neurotransmitters in our brain. One minute it's soothing, then it's a bit tender, but then we're back to soothing. If we’re in the hands of a skilled therapist, they may find a deeper layer of tension in our lower back. A job for the mighty elbow. Slowly sinking in deeper with each breath until it releases.
Ahhh, serenity.
Imagine feeling that for an hour straight.
The feeling can be associated with that of being high on drugs. This makes sense with the combined dopamine increase and muscle relief with areas we couldn’t reach on our own. It gives a sense of wholeness. It might feel like a bundle of balloons carrying you out of the room when it's all over. The feeling of being… comfortably numb (Pink Floyd). I've worked on clients who've felt like they were on cloud 9 for 3 days after treatment.
When massage is applied properly, the benefits are limitless:
Reduced stress
Muscle tension relief
Lowers blood pressure
Helps with soreness
Better sleep
Better posture
Reduced headaches/migraines
This list is massive.
So, what's the catch?
Soreness. Chances are you’re going to feel it for a day or two. The same kind of soreness you feel after a hard workout. When the tissue is worked firmly, it causes micro tears which leads to said soreness. That's why it's important to drink lots of water so that that metabolic waste can get flushed out. Those poor muscles need to be nourished.
At the end of the day, the positives outweigh the negatives.
Is it cheap? No, but if you're buying cheap drugs, you get what you pay for.
What about something higher quality? I happen to know a guy.