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What are the do's and don'ts after a massage?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 10, 2026

Don't Head Outside or Do Anything Strenuous. An hour-long massage sets your body and mind to relax-mode. It's best to let it continue in that state of being instead of 'waking them up'. Also, doing any kind of strenuous activity – like gymming – can injure your muscles.

What should you avoid after a massage?

What Not to Do After a Massage Therapy?

  • Not Drinking Enough Water. After massage therapy, decreasing your water intake after the massage therapy is not ideal. ...
  • Take A Shower Immediately. ...
  • Taking Hot Shower. ...
  • Eating A Large Meal. ...
  • Drinking Coffee. ...
  • Drinking Alcohol. ...
  • Doing Strenuous Exercise or Activities. ...
  • Stressing Yourself Out.

What should you do right after a massage?

So, if you missed your massage therapist's little chat, here's a quick recap of what you should be doing post-massage.

  • DRINK WATER. Massage increases your blood circulation and hydrates your muscle tissues. ...
  • STRETCH. ...
  • EAT. ...
  • REST. ...
  • HAVE A BATH. ...
  • WELCOME ANY EMOTIONS. ...
  • PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY'S REACTION. ...
  • URINATE.

Is it okay to take shower after massage?

Whether you receive an oil massage, aromatherapy, or reflexology, the answer is to not shower before a massage or after. Leave a few hour buffer period before doing so. When in the shower or a bath, the surface of the skin has increased blood circulation, which after a massage can lead to surface congestion.

How long should you rest after a massage?

Massage and exercise are both part of a healthy lifestyle

After a massage, it is important to wait at least 24 hours before doing any strenuous exercise. Strenuous exercise includes running, weight lifting, high-intensity aerobics, power yoga and more.

35 related questions found

Why am I so tired the day after a massage?

Sleepiness: After the massage, you may feel tired or fatigued. This may be the case because of muscle relaxation or release of stress after the massage. This effect should not last longer than the day of treatment. A headache: It is not uncommon for clients to experience headaches after a deep tissue massage.

What are the after effects of a massage?

Most Common Side Effects

  • Lingering Pain. Due to the pressurised techniques used in a deep tissue massage, some people have suffered from some version of pain during and/or after their therapy session. ...
  • Headaches/Migraines. ...
  • Fatigue or Sleepiness. ...
  • Inflammation. ...
  • Nausea.

What can a massage therapist tell about you?

A therapist can tell whether you stretch or exercise and what type of activities you participate in based on the length of your muscles or tensions you may have in certain areas. Whether you drink enough water. Dry skin and underlying tissue are indicators of lack of hydration.

Can I take a cold shower after massage?

The bottom line is that you can shower after your massage if it's your preference, but you should shower safely. Take your time getting up from the massage table, listen to your body before stepping into the shower, and monitor the heat of the water to make sure the temp doesn't get too hot.

How often can you get massages?

from Press Modern Massage

For more of a general tuneup, or for stress-relief, every 4-6 weeks is the average time frame. Although Brogan says, ultimately, "It depends on your needs, and that could even be one or twice per year." Another factor to consider is how often you are using your body.

Should you rest after a massage?

After a massage, you should try prolonging the feeling of calmness. Rest, read a book, Netflix and chill, do anything that relaxes you physically and mentally. It's best to book a massage for a day when you know you'll be home for a good 4-6 hours.

Can I drink cold water after massage?

Drinking water after a massage treatment is a good idea, it helps to rehydrate the muscles and soft tissues that have just been worked, I always recommend drinking a few small glasses of water within the following hour and always offer my client a glass of water at the end of the treatment.

How much water should you drink after massage?

It is generally recommended to drink between 1-1.5 litres of water after a treatment, depending on the time of day.

What should you not do before a massage?

5 Things You Should Never Do Before Your Massage (Number 5 Might Surprise You)

  • Drink. Water, yes, but alcohol is a real no-no. ...
  • Sunbathe. This is tough to avoid on vacation, but experts recommend spending the day-of your massage out of direct sunlight to help prevent sunburn. ...
  • Feel ill. ...
  • Self-groom. ...
  • Shower.

What do massage therapists hate?

Top Things Massage Therapists Hate

  • When a client only pays for a Swedish, and then says you can go as hard as you want. ...
  • When you ask a client to get undressed and get under the sheet only to find that when you come back in the room, they are buck naked spread eagle on top of the blanket.

What is the popping feeling during massage?

This popping or crunching feeling is breaking down what has built up, the body is then more able to flush out these toxins. Some clients may wince at this feeling others describe it as a 'good pain' and it instantly feels better once this has been done.

Why do massage therapists slap?

The stimulating movement of beating and pounding increases the blood to the surface of the skin, increasing temperature of the muscles and increasing circulation. Percussion massage techniques such as beating and pounding can increase tone of the muscles by stimulating them to contract.

Is too much massage harmful?

Bottom Line. So, is too much massage harmful? The answer is yes, it can be. The best way to answer this is to listen to your body and talk openly with your massage therapist.

How often should you get a massage for knots?

How often should you massage muscle knots? For the best results, you should massage each muscle group for up to 6 minutes a day. This is entirely dependent on each individual and how bad the muscle knot is. You can massage muscle knots every day, but don't over-do it as this could actually cause more irritation.

Why does therapist always tell to drink lots of water after the massage is over?

It's beneficial to drink water after your massage because as the massage therapist manipulates your muscles, substances are released. Drinking water post massage helps the body flush out any accumulated materials that were released during the massage.

Why do I feel depressed after a massage?

As the body relaxes, it is normal for the body to also release the emotional baggage we are holding on to. While you might feel elated, refreshed or energised, there may be times when you feel a need to cry. This is okay, and it's even normal.

Can you get a headache from a massage?

Too much pressure.

During a deep tissue massage, if the therapist applies too much pressure, it can cause sore muscles, muscle bruising, and increased blood circulation, which may trigger a headache.

Is it normal to throw up after a deep tissue massage?

What is this? In some cases, clients who are feeling sick after a massage may even vomit and experience muscle aches. While it's unpleasant, these symptoms are often a sign that the massage was effective in doing one of its key tasks: removing metabolic waste from the muscle tissue via the lymph nodes.

What happens if you don't hydrate after massage?

When your head, neck and shoulders have been massaged it stimulates the lymphatic system, which in turn drives out toxins. This means water is essential to flush out the toxins, so if you don't drink water after a massage, you can sometimes experience a slight headache.

Are massages healthy?

Benefits of massage

Reducing stress and increasing relaxation. Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension. Improving circulation, energy and alertness. Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.