So yesterday I had a 50 minute massage, thanks to a gift card Matt gave me for Valentine’s day. I figured my week of relaxation was a good time to redeem it. I’ve actually only had one other massage in my life – a 30 minute Swedish massage in NYC. There was way too much of the chopping motion during the Swedish (I thought that was only in the movies), so I went with a deep tissue this time. All they had left in terms of appointments was a male and I figured they probably have stronger hands, so I went with it. These kinds of experiences are just so interesting to me! You’d think my mind would have been at ease during 50 minutes of relaxation, but my brain was filled with thoughts and questions:
- When’s the last time I shaved my legs? Last Saturday. Whoops
- You know you have huge calves when they fill up a man’s palm.
- Are you supposed to tell them when it hurts or encourage them to move on when you’ve had enough in one area?
- Is a quiet moan every once and a while ok?
- Is he doing something special to my muscle when he stops and just presses in one area? I’m not a fan.
- Why do those instrumental songs with wooden flutes always remind me of the West?
- I’m excited to go out West.
- What’s a couples massage like?
- I’m cold.
- Is he grossed out by my feet?
- How much time has passed?
- Is he going to massage my head?
- Is this oil seeping into my pores?
- I’m sad this is almost over.
- But I’m kind of ready to do something else.
- I think I’ll take an apple from the waiting room for the walk home.
What do you guys think about during a massage? Anyone have any funny stories?
Jess
April 21, 2011 at 2:46 pmI had my first massage last Saturday! I mostly kept thinking about how I wanted my masseuse to talk less…
Anna
April 21, 2011 at 4:59 pmMy dad is a chiropractor and my mom does massages at his office so I am a huge fan! I moved farther away from home in January and I miss the frequent massages that I got. I really enjoy the trigger point therapy (where they stay on one point to help relax the muscles). It hurts but once it is released it feels so much better!
Amy
April 21, 2011 at 5:44 pmhaha this was great! Glad you enjoyed your mini vacation!
gabriella @ embracement
April 21, 2011 at 5:57 pmI’m either the type of person who can’t relax at all. I’ve been told a couple of times when I get massages that I “help” to much in moving my body around instead of letting them do all the work and that I need to get them more often in order to learn how to relax. I don’t have a problem with that suggestion! Trigger point therapy is really good for you in terms of knots, when the muscle starts to actually twitch on its own, the knot is releasing.
Kath
April 21, 2011 at 9:16 pmLOL. I love #2.
So did you enjoy it!?
Laura
April 21, 2011 at 9:17 pmI enjoyed the back part and when he moved to a new area, but other parts of the experience were not enjoyable…
Matt
April 21, 2011 at 9:28 pmGood post Laur-dites!
I frequently have similar thoughts during a massage but I always force myself to fall back into the moment… it’s too easy to spend your time wishing for something else. A massage is too Zen to waste.
And I had the **** beaten out of me once but I pretty much just endured it because I knew I’d feel great afterwards. Swedish massage is great at the time but deep-tissue always leaves a lasting impression.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
April 22, 2011 at 12:16 amI’ve never had a real massage. Kind of sad but my reasons for not are because of all those thoughts you had! I have the same thoughts and questions. I just feel like my mind would be running in circles and I wouldn’t be relaxed.
Mom
April 22, 2011 at 10:52 amI do love your train of thoughts. Reminds me of the other women in the Younger and Kiehne families.
AshinMT
April 22, 2011 at 11:41 amThis was funny as hell. I can totally relate because i can almost never just fully “relax” in situations like that. I assume it gets easier if you see the same masseuse each time? I have been tanning this winter to fight the SAD’s and its warm and nice, so you would think it would be relaxing- but mostly i just lay there for 7 minutes wondering when i will be able to get out and do something else…
Lindsey @ Morningstar Project
April 23, 2011 at 12:40 pmThis post cracked me up! I absolutely love massages, it just took several years to finally relax into them. My train of thought is all over the place when I’m supposed to be “relaxing”. It’s the same thing in yoga, I start planning out my dinner for that night.
Gas
April 24, 2011 at 11:42 amYes he’s doing something special when he stops. It’s called a release and it’s the point of deep massage. It is unpleasant until the release is complete but after it’s complete balance is restored. After you touch about a thousand people you don’t think at all about feet or any other body part. You do think about what you feel under your fingers and how you can restore what you feel to balance.
Yena
April 24, 2011 at 4:59 pmThis is such a great post! I got few good chuckles 🙂