by Emily Laguzza

Welcome again to Massage 101. As the title suggests today I will be discussing the meaning behind Deep Tissue Massage and its common misconceptions.

Firstly, it is important to note there is no Deep Tissue Massage technique. Yup, massage therapists do not recognize Deep Tissue as a legitimate series of specialized manipulations. The term Deep Tissue comes from a marketing tool created to attract people who perceive massage as light fluff. People such as athletes and chronic pain individuals who are looking for an intense and fast acting experience are often more willing to try massage if they hear the term Deep Tissue.

When a client comes into a massage asking for Deep Tissue this is often perceived by the therapist as, “Do my normal thing but, with greater force.” While this might sound disappointing the results are in the pudding. What I tell my clients when DT is requested is how everyone is different. Every client has a different threshold of pressure intensity and every therapist has a different idea of what qualifies as Deep. When applying intense pressure, it is vital to keep open communications and for the therapist to start off light before digging in. There may be areas of the body which are more sensitive than others or areas that need more of a warm up before they can handle deeper pressure. This is perfectly normal and every client has the right to let their therapist know if they need more or less pressure.

There will be times a client may find their therapist unable to apply the pressure needed. This can be disappointing but, doesn’t mean there is anything innately wrong with the client or therapist. Much like doctors every therapist is different and once you find one who is right for you your experience will be much improved.

An ideal Deep Tissue experience should feel something like an intense workout. It will be painful but, not outside your tolerance and afterwards you should feel a percentage of immediate relief. For people with a great deal of muscle tension and scar tissue Deep Tissue can be helpful in braking through long years of buildup.

Always remember to communicate with your therapist, let them know you are looking for a Deep massage and don’t be afraid to have them back off if things get too intense.

Thank you again for reading. If you have any questions about this article or massage in general feel free to email me at gracefultempestmassage@gmail.com

Tell next time,

 Emily Laguzza

        Graceful Tempest Massage

        Licensed Massage Practitioner

         West Seattle

         phone:  206.765.7018

         web site:  www.gracefultempestmassage.com