Stretched Out
Instead of stressing out, we stretched out at Massage Envy
If you’ve ever tried to touch your toes and found it was a bit harder than you’d thought it’d be… well, you’re not alone. And while any health expert will tell you it’s important to stretch regularly, there are some moves you just can’t do without help. We visited an expert at Massage Envy recently for a 30-minute assisted stretch session that left us pleasantly stretchy (and a little sore).
The session almost feels like a workout, with the specialist contorting you in ways you never thought possible. “Your muscles are so tight!” mine told me as she laced me into a pretzel while I tried to pretend that I had no problem with it. Still, despite shaking like a leaf as she pushed back on my lifted leg and commanded me to breathe deeper and keep my leg straight, I did enjoy the deep ache of a good stretch.
Before we got that far though, we started simple, with easy stretching of my neck and shoulders, using a massage ball to help release the tension in between my shoulder blades and lower back. The spiky rubber ball wasn’t exactly comfortable, lodged as it was between my muscles, but it wasn’t painful.
Throughout the rest of the session, we focused on “problem areas,” which, for me, were my legs, neck, and back. It was enlightening to realize how stiff these areas were, despite regular running and Pilates sessions. Even so, most of the session wasn’t particularly strenuous (we promise).
You’re probably familiar with dynamic stretching, which is when you move your muscles and joints slowly in a simulation of the physical activity you are about to engage in, to help improve coordination, circulation, and flexibility, or with static active stretching, which is when you hold a stretch for as long as you can – or for a set length of time – to improve flexibility and balance. Assisted stretching, however, is best for increasing your range of motion; it helps prevent injuries and increases the flexibility of the tissues that surround your joints.
When you stretch, receptors in your brain tell your muscles to relax and contract, which eventually leads to the permanent elongation of your muscles as they expand. And while you won’t get taller through this elongation, you will, with regular sessions, experience long-term effects. Though sometimes difficult, assisted stretching is also a component of massage and physical therapy, meaning that while you may experience that “hurts so good” feeling during the session, you’ll also feel much better (and more flexible!) afterward.
During my session, I felt a range of sensations, including an awareness of my circulation, which sometimes manifested as a tingling sensation in my extremities (like when your arm falls “asleep”) and as a contracted feeling like when you get your blood pressure taken and the cuff squeezes your arm.
After my session, I could touch my toes! But before I could revel too much in my newfound elasticity, I was back to my normal struggles the next day, which is why practitioners of assisted stretching recommend regular sessions – even if it’s only using a resistance band at home.
Massage Envy
256 Miracle Mile
305.648.7149
locations.massageenvy.com