If you have ever had a massage from me, you will have heard me say “Make sure you drink plenty of water.†Most people aren’t sure of the reason why.
Regardless of having a massage, you should be drinking water as water is involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you’re dehydrated, they all run less efficiently. Plain old, pure water is what is needed – none of this “well, there is water in my coffee or beer…â€
How much should you be drinking? The 8 glasses a day rule is good for a lot of people, although it depends on your size/body weight and activity. I usually tell people to drink 1 glass of water per 10kg, so if you weigh 80kg’s drink 8 glasses of water.
How does it relate to massage? Well, looking at hydrated tissues vs dehydrated tissues – hydrated tissues feel soft, almost spongy and allows blood to flow freely throughout the vessels. Dehydrated tissues feel tight, restricted and cause pain and discomfort. It also restricts the amount of blood flow and lymphatic drainage through the tissues by constricting the capillaries. Without a good amount of blood flow through an area, oxygen and nutrient exchange is compromised, allowing metabolic waste to build up and become stuck within the tissues.
During a deep tissue massage, the areas of tension and restriction are usually the areas of focus. The therapist works to break up the adhesions in the dehydrated tissues to improve blood flow, increase movement, and to restore the tissues to a more healthy state. Metabolic waste, released from the tissues, passes out through the lymphatic system whilst nutrients and oxygen are being delivered to the tissues, this process uses water from your blood stream, which may leave you feeling dehydrated. If you have ever experienced a feeling of nausea, headache, or flu-like symptoms after a massage, this is due to the increased amount of metabolic waste being transported out. Drinking more water after your massage can help reduce those symptoms, or even stop it from happening.