Sarassage Therapeutic Massage

You know the pattern--that familiar ache in your low back that comes and goes. You massage it, stretch it, maybe take some medication and eventually it settles down.

Then, months later... WHAM!

You're knocked out for several days and suddenly you're rearranging your entire life around your back.

If this sounds familar, you're definitely not alone. Managing low back pain isn't just about what you do when it hurts.

Massage can be incredibly helpful for reducing muscle tension, easing discomfort and helping you more more comfortably during a flare-up. But if your low back keeps having the same conversation with you over and over again, it may be worth looking at what happens between those episodes, too.

One of the most helpful things you can do is move your body regularly and build strength and endurance over time. And that doesn't necessarily mean doing hundreds of crunches or spending hours at the gym. Your "core" is much more than your abs. Your trunk, hips, back and pelvis all work together to support movement and stability.

Building strength and improving your ability to move can help your body better tolerate the demands you place on it. And here's the important part: you don't have to wait until your back hurts to start! In fact, gradually building strength and staying physically active between episodes may be a much more useful strategy than repeatedly waiting for the next flare-up and then suffering to put the pieces together.

Don't just manage the next flare-up. Start building the body you want to have between them. 💛

If recurring low back pain is part of your life, start by talking to your healthcare provider or a qualified movement professional about an appropriate strengthening program. And at your next massage, tell me about your pattern of pain and what you've been doing between flare-ups. We can talk about what I'm noticing from a bodywork perspective and whether massage might be a useful part of your overall plan.

And if you're experiencing severe, new or unusual back pain-- or symptoms such as significant weakness, numbness or changes in bladder or bowel function-- massage isn't the place to start. Talk with your healthcare provider. 🏥

Sarah says... YOUR BODY ISN'T BROKEN! 😎

You're not "too old." You're not "falling apart." And you don't have to give up on the things you love just because something hurts.

But I get it.

When your knees ache after a walk... your back complains after a round of golf... your shoulder hurts after you work out... or your hip starts acting up every time you try to get back into a fitness routine. It gets frustrating.

So you stop.

You skip the workout. You take a break from the activity. You tell youself, "I guess I just can't do that anymore." And little by little, your world can start getting smaller.

But what if the goal isn't to stop? What if the goal is to figure out how to keep going?

Maybe the movement needs to be modified. Maybe something needs to get stronger. Maybe something else needs a little more mobility. Maybe your body needs recovery time. Maybe there's a compensation pattern that needs some attention.

There's a big different between, "this hurts, so I can't do it," and "this hurts, so let's figure out why-- and what we can do about it."

Your body is adaptable. You may need to change how you move-- not stop moving altogether. So before you write off that hike, workout, bike ride, round of golf, or whatever makes you feel like yourself...

Don't assume your body is broken! Let's find another way forward. 💛

-Sarah

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. 💛