SELF-CARE BETWEEN MASSAGES

Self-care is as important as getting a massage or having an exercise/movement routine. Massage Therapist Jason Bye has a recommendation that he offers to a lot of his clients for self-care that you can do at home in between massages. He also uses this for his own self-care.

The Tennis Ball

You can use a tennis ball on most parts of your body to relieve tension. He recommends that you find an area with a little discomfort or pain and hold the tennis ball there until the you feel a release, which should take about 90 to 120 seconds. You do not want to overdo it because it can cause more discomfort/pain. Also, add in some slow movements to see how it feels. 

Ease Discomfort/Pain

You can ease discomfort/pain at home or at work with a tennis ball. This can be done on the floor or against the wall, whichever is easiest for you. You may roll on the ball or stop on an area of tension. Tennis balls can be great for travel as well. You can use them as you travel or while you are sitting or in the hotel. 

Don’t Overdo It

If you do this too much, you could injure yourself or increase the discomfort/pain. Treat this like you would any exercise/movement routine, and do it every other day or just a couple of times a week.

Further Exploration 

Jill Miller is a person who has a whole routine on using different balls for doing self-care. Katy Bowman has a few books that she has written on the subject of movement and self-care. So if you want to know more, check them out. 

Feel free to ask Jason any questions, and be sure to book your self-care massage with him.