Everybody knows that it is important to keep hydrated when engaging in strenuous physical activity. People are less likely to remember to drink water before and after receiving a massage, despite similar health benefits. Here are a few things to keep in mind so you can make the most out of any massage.
For one, hydrated muscles are more flexible. When your body is full of water, your muscles are more pliable, making it easier for a masseuse to soothe them and remove any tension. If your muscles are dehydrated, they will feel stiff and more in need of a massage; however, any actual massaging will be less effective than otherwise.
Hydration also improves the circulation of blood oxygen. Good circulation is one of the primary benefits of massages, and healthy muscle tissue assists in increasing blood flow. This ensures a properly working circulatory system, which is necessary for both physical and mental health. Furthermore, a healthy circulatory system is necessary for a healthy lymphatic system, key to warding off infection.
As blood flows, it carries important nutrients to various parts of the body, most notably the brain. The organs in your body rely on these nutrients to function; if they are lacking, you are liable to feel dizzy and lethargic. Considering the whole point of a massage is to feel relaxed and rejuvenated, you want to make sure that you are creating optimal conditions for nutrient absorption.
Along these same lines, you should leave a massage feeling in peak physical condition. Because your body is nearly 70 percent water, it requires hydration in order to fulfill its ideal functions. Strength, speed, agility and endurance are just a few of the measures that are positively correlated with being properly hydrated.
The most important reason to drink water after a massage is that the mere process of a massage is technically dehydrating. As a masseuse works your muscles, fluids get flushed out of your system. When replenished by drinking water, this is a good thing, since new water replaces metabolic waste and toxins that are expelled from your body. Though you may have to go to the bathroom once your massage is finished, you will end up feeling better than ever.
