This past Friday, I gave a massage to my client who would be running in the New York City marathon. It was only 36 hours before the race's start time so I had very specific objectives.
Although he had eased his training regime during this last week before the event, his muscles still contained a great deal of tension and chemical waste from burning so much energy. I first massaged his abdomen to stimulate their processes. Then I systematically began to move his joints, testing to make sure certain muscles were not pulling them out of alignment - which is an injury waiting to happen. Then on to flushing the fluids and waste from all of the major muscles in his body. This encourages incredible blood flow (containing new oxygen and nutrients) and relaxation: the perfect combination for cellular healing.
I was thrilled to get his phone call late on Sunday; He enjoyed the race and was proud of his performance: just over 4 hours! He asked for my services Tuesday evening.
Now 2 1/2 days after the event, his muscles are so sore they are tender to touch. I would have to use far less pressure, and be clever about how to address the deeper muscles of the body. This massage was more rhythmic - this is a sedating effect on the mind, which was important because an over-active mind can make sensations feel more intense than they might be otherwise.
He reports excellent recovery and 2 phenomenal nights of sleep. Congratulations to all the runners!
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