At New Image Day Spa, if you request a “Deep Tissue Massage,” you will receive a combination of very therapeutic massage strokes used with deeper pressure, myofascial release, trigger point, and other techniques intended to make a change in the body’s holding patterns to provide therapy for the specific muscle groups and fascia which can often cause pain or dysfunction.

This type of massage modality is aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue.

It’s likely to be significantly more uncomfortable, even hurt a little at first, than a classic Swedish massage. You should always feel free to speak up if the pressure is too much for you or if the therapist seems to be moving too quickly. We tell our clients that if it is almost unbearable, but you can handle it, it is a good therapeutic pressure level.

It’s important to drink a lot of water after a deep tissue massage to help flush lactic acid out of the tissues. If you don’t, you might be sore the next day. We also suggest that you take a hot bath in one of our therapeutic baths at the spa or take a bath mix home with you to use, apply a cold compress of ice to the areas of inflammation the evening after your massage. It is normal to feel bruised and tender, but you should not have bruises.

Please note, that even if you DO drink water, you may still be a little sore. This just means a lot of waste products were flushed out of the tissues. It should pass within a day or so. If you find you are still very sore after 3 or 4 days, then you know the pressure was too much and request it to be lighter with your next massage.