Since the Romans and other Ancient Civilizations, massage has played a key role in the training of warriors, for battle and for defense. Compared to modern day training, Ancient armies were subject to very intense training involving what we see today as an Olympic athlete accomplishment. Running 26 miles for most is a lifetime challenge, but go back 3000 years and 26 miles was a basic challenge all warriors undertook on a regular basis.
The intensity of the training brought about injuries and had an impact on the soldiers recovery. Massage was not only essential for the recovery of the soldiers, but became a regular activity that is now seen as a leisure activity. The trend became very popular, with the Romans inventing the Roman bath houses. Then those in power and the rich saw it as a leisure activity to indulge in which made it widely popular.
Many sports men and women today have a regular massage either before or after their training. To fully see the long term benefits of a massage, you must see your masseuse on a regular basis. Once a year may relieve the tension and stress but seeing them once a month or even every two weeks will radically reduce long term stress, improve physical performance and speed up recovery after training. Making you stronger, fitter and ready to take on that 26 miles (lol).
So the big question is before or after a workout…..
The actual thought of the massage can be somewhat blurred, it helps me relax, it loosens my muscles and that last thought is, it makes me tired. So why would I go for a massage before my workout. Well a massage before a workout allows muscles to warm up in a controlled and safe manner. Sometimes stretches don’t hit every muscle that you plan to train. A massage before your workout also helps change your mindset. Having a clear and relaxed mind improves the quality of your work out. Key is the pre-workout massage will ultimately make the session more productive, start you off on the right foot and reduces the chance of injury.
What about after your workout? Having a massage after your workout has many benefits. Many of the major sports men and women have on hand sports masseurs after a workout, training session or game. This is because they want to aid recovery and reduce the amount of time it takes for muscles to become stronger. After a workout your muscles have been stretched (torn) and have lactic acid build up. This is natural, as your body after a workout then rebuilds and repairs these tears and reduces lactic acid. A massage stimulates the removal of lactic acid and improves circulation, meaning your muscles gets the vital oxygen to recover. The massage also helps the body relax and improve the quality of recovery by reducing the mental stress. It is essential that the massage happens as soon as possible after your workout, as this reduces the delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOM’s).
Regular massage for pre or post workouts or just for relaxation are essential and beneficial to everyone. Key is to plan your massage into your weekly or monthly routine. Take the time to enjoy some relaxation and we highly recommend a male to male gay massage in Manchester from Adonis Massage..
Making the most of the gym….
Massages and working out or training for a sport go hand in hand. A regular massage planned into any exercise routine you complete has a number of amazing advantages. Every sports person semi-professional or professional will have or use a massage therapist. We have previously blogged about the difference between deep tissue and sports massage and this leads nicely into the balance of having a regular massage alongside your training.
When you book a massage there should be clear and concise communication between you the client and your massage therapist about what your purpose is for getting the massage.
If you have a serious injury or movement issue, then consult a sports massage therapist or sports rehab therapist. If you have niggles and knots, then a good massage therapist with a good reputation will be ideal. If you are after the full relaxation and benefits from your massage, then booking in with a gay masseur or an Adonis masseur for the best hands in Manchester is the right choice.
Talk with your Manchester Adonis masseur about your training programme, we are all experienced gym goers and personal trainers so we can match your aches and pains to the best massage pressure and techniques.
Just because your massage says full body does not mean it has to be full body. We have many regular clients working hard in the gym that come in for a particular muscle group massage. For instance, coming in for a good back massage with legs, or a shoulder, head massage with chest. We tailor out gay massages to your needs.
All our Swedish, naturist and deluxe massages are about getting you want you want to help you relax, remove knots and be your best at your next gym session. You may even want the full body but want to focus more on your back, so ask for this. Do not be shy with your requests.
Pressure; this is one most guys don’t seem to understand or communicate effectively, and you need to work on this to ensure we offer you the best gay massage money can buy. We both have firm hands and we can apply a lot of pressure if required, you need to be prepared for a little pain as we previously discussed in our blogs about should a massage hurt. Talk about the sensations, moan and let your masseur know when the pressure is right, too much or sometimes too little. We work with you and your body.
Hitting the gym and having a massage…
Be careful with when you have your massage and your next training session. Good Personal Trainers will tell you to plan your week with your workouts, rest days and recovery. A massage should be booked after your last session before a rest or recovery period. This means your body has time to recover from the workout and also from the massage. The massage should work the muscles you have just worked to help remove lactic acid from the muscle fibres and help remove toxins.
A rest or recovery period should be based on no high intensity exercise or weight training but maintain a good step count. It should also be a day of mental detox and look to do more stretching. Your Adonis massage will leave you feeling relaxed and sleepy thus you should maximise that by having a lazy day in bed or getting some sun.
Planning this is essential you don’t really want to be having a massage then hitting the gym as the body will be relaxed and if you force it to workout out you could cause a more serious injury, or your workout will not be as epic as it should be. Massage is about muscle recovery thus use it to recover and make you stop for some time.
Many top sports people use massage after a long game, competition to help get them ready for the next game or competition. They will have a very strict plan of training, build up, the event and the rest and recovery. Train like a top sports person and reap the benefits of a good massage. Start your week off from the gym, or your holiday with a gay massage. You won’t regret it and I guarantee your training will be more epic, letting your reach your goals faster.