When you follow your massage therapist into the room where your massage will take place, the first thing you may notice is the glass of water they have prepared for you while you are slipping out of your clothes.
Although it’s easy to ignore if you think you’re not thirsty, there is a big reason why this is done. And it doesn’t have to do with simply being nice.
In this blog post, I’m going to share with you the reason why drinking water after massage is important, as well as what can happen if you don’t do so.
Drinking Water After Massage
You may think that ignoring the glass of water provided by your massage therapist is really no big deal. However, you’ll be making a mistake if you choose not to take a drink from it.
Massages can be very intense, particularly deep tissue and sports massage. There are many who believe massage releases toxins from the body into the bloodstream, but there’s no real evidence to back this claim up.
Instead, probably what’s happening is a combination of several factors including Post-Massage Soreness, Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness, and potentially even some placebo effect.
It may be partly the immune system reacting to the massage experience, and the agitation of the muscles and lymph nodes. Regardless, rest and hydration generally make these feelings go away pretty quickly.
Drinking water after a massage will help your system to flush these out.
Massages can be very intense, particularly deep tissue and sports massage. There are many who believe massage releases toxins from the body into the bloodstream, but there’s no real evidence to back this claim up.
Having a massage will also stimulate your lymphatic system, which plays a huge part in keeping your immune system functioning properly.
So, if you have any fluid buildup, such as from an injury or edema, which causes parts of your body to swell up, like your breasts or ankles, and it is flushed out of your soft tissue during massage, then you will become dehydrated and need water.
Dehydration After Massage
The physical manipulation that happens to your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective soft tissue during a massage has one big effect — it increases the circulation of blood and lymph in your body.
This is why massages can have a dehydrating effect on the body, because the increase in blood and lymph flow can deplete your cells of water. And since our bodies operate better with adequate hydration, it makes sense that you should drink water after your massage.
Massages can have a dehydrating effect on the body, because the increase in blood and lymph flow can deplete your cells of water. And since our bodies operate better with adequate hydration, it makes sense that you should drink water after your massage.
Our bodies are made of up to 70-80% water, (depending on what scientist you ask), so if you lose any, like you will during a massage, you’ll have to restock your normal levels in order for your body to operate at its optimal level, and benefit from the experience.
Why Drink Water After A Massage?
The reason why it is suggested that you drink water immediately after a massage comes down to the fact that while you were enjoying the masseuse’s hands stroking your tired limbs when it has finished, you’ll want to make sure that any toxins and other waste that are being released will be flushed out of your system as soon as possible.
This is especially important if you’ve had a lymphatic drainage massage, an Indian head massage, or any other massage that involves your head, neck, and shoulders. Because not drinking water immediately after this could cause you to experience a headache or migraine — or even flu-like symptoms.
Other symptoms that you may experience from not drinking water after a massage include muscle pain and fatigue, nausea, and the delayed onset muscle soreness mentioned above, if your body isn’t used to being manipulated.
For more information on what you can do if you feel unwell after having a massage, please read our blog, Feeling Sick After A Massage.
How Much Water To Drink After Massage?
How much water you choose to drink after having a massage is completely up to you. But in general, it is recommended that you take in at least a glass at the end of your treatment.
During the next hour or two, you should try to drink at least two to three more glasses, making sure that you sip at it and don’t gulp it down, otherwise you’ll flush it straight out and will find yourself visiting the toilet more often.
It’s important that you do this!
Otherwise, you may wake up the next day feeling sick, have a headache, or with aching muscles just like you have the flu, which are very common symptoms of being dehydrated after having a massage.
Final Thoughts
The next time that your massage therapist brings you a glass of water at the end of your treatment, you may want to ask them why they want you to drink it.
They will more than likely simply confirm to you at least some of what I’ve shared with you here about drinking water after a massage.
And who knows, you may even learn something else, which is always a good thing!
