How sleep continues the results of your session.
Sleep will have a very powerful and positive effect post treatment. A great massage works on your nervous system...and your NS governs every thing about you. Your emotions, immune system, hormones, movements, pain, tension, positive and negative thoughts... everything! That's why finding a massage therapist that understands how to access your NS is further reaching than therapists that focus on techniques using massage to manipulate your muscles... because your muscles do not work independently. Be under no illusion that effective massage is merely about muscles and physical tension.
Many clients tend to comment on how much better they sleep following their massage session. It's one of the many positive outcomes of building resilience. Feeling lighter, maybe unburdened, free & clearer after your treatment. Sleep is the way our brains process what's happening for us. I have clients who find it useful to make a ritual after their massage. They make an evening of pure comfort, a light tea, comfy clothing (PJ's and batten down the hatches and off to bed early with a great book) It's really wise to avoid alcohol after your massage (or therapy in general) if you want to allow your brain to rest properly and process the events of the day. Alcohol inhibits the REM part of sleep which is the time for thought processing, making sense of events adjusting & moving forward with thought patterns. It's a myth about needing to drink water unless you are thirsty or dehydrated after your massage. Drinking water is really beneficial, but, regarding therapy, It has no magical properties apart from keeping you hydrated. Your body is pretty efficient at detoxing and filtering. Massage does not release unwanted toxins throughout your body and I would bear that in mind when you consider any therapy that claims to do so
