Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone, or as I usually say it- Happy St. Paddy's! Looking over so many of my friend's posts on social media sites (like the one linked on the top right corner of this page), it seems everyone is a little bit Irish today.
This usually means eating corned beef and cabbage, drinking green beer, singing gleefully and tottering around by the end of the evening from maybe one too many Jameson's whiskey shots and Guinness.
Personally, I have always enjoyed having my mom's delicious corned beef and cabbage every year although I have never drank green beer or had too many shots. I have been to parades and Irish clubs and danced to many a tune (which usually means my form of what a 'jig' may be considered) but I have never gotten a massage on this day.
Why, you ask? Well, if you "celebrate" St. Paddy's day with a continuous flow of spirits, massage is really not the best thing for you or your body. Sometimes, even two drinks can be too much before or after a massage... on any day. I bring this topic up today since it reminds me of a time at my current place of employ a couple of St. Paddy's ago: A couple had come in to receive a massage. Although they had been at the bar/restaurant not that far away, they did not appear intoxicated in the least. Once the therapists started working however, anyone who passed by the outside door could undeniably smell the alcohol. The couple fell asleep on their tables and when they had come to and came out of the session space, they were completely intoxicated. Slurred speech, compromised gait, all of the signs showed as if they had been drinking for hours. We had to call them a cab to ensure their safety home. The couple had later stated that prior to their session, each had only drank "a couple of beers." Now, whether or not that amount is correct, it brings me to my point...
Massage and alcohol (or any other narcotic stimulant/depressant) just don't mix. Some say it's ok for one glass of wine before or after, I do not agree with that. My own little case study involved a nice hot bath and one glass of red wine. I could hardly get out of the tub after only 20 minutes or less. The reason being is that heat causes vasodilation, or opening of the blood vessels (When we are cold, we have vasoconstriction- 'tightening' of the blood vessels) This assists the body in distributing heat throughout so you do not become overheated and suffer from the ensuing side effects.
Therapeutic massage increases the heat in the muscles and body in order to relax and lengthen muscles that were tight and tense. Massage also works to pump toxins out of the body as well. Toxins will flow out of the pores of a person receiving good therapeutic- deep tissue- massage. Depending on the person, this may also happen during a regular classic Swedish style massage. What this means bluntly: if you drink in excess regularly, during massage your body will expel alcohol. If you smoke in excess, your body will expel nicotine. It's a 'fun fact' that people aren't too educated about.
Bottom line- when you know you will be receiving a wonderful therapeutic massage, please don't plan to drink before or after. Massage can increase the potency of one drink to equal about 4-6 units of alcohol. You wouldn't ant to work out with a bottle of vodka instead of water, would you?
So please, on this day and every day, drink responsibly and be mindful of what you and your body can take.
...and maybe wait until Tuesday for that massage! :)
This usually means eating corned beef and cabbage, drinking green beer, singing gleefully and tottering around by the end of the evening from maybe one too many Jameson's whiskey shots and Guinness.
Personally, I have always enjoyed having my mom's delicious corned beef and cabbage every year although I have never drank green beer or had too many shots. I have been to parades and Irish clubs and danced to many a tune (which usually means my form of what a 'jig' may be considered) but I have never gotten a massage on this day.
Why, you ask? Well, if you "celebrate" St. Paddy's day with a continuous flow of spirits, massage is really not the best thing for you or your body. Sometimes, even two drinks can be too much before or after a massage... on any day. I bring this topic up today since it reminds me of a time at my current place of employ a couple of St. Paddy's ago: A couple had come in to receive a massage. Although they had been at the bar/restaurant not that far away, they did not appear intoxicated in the least. Once the therapists started working however, anyone who passed by the outside door could undeniably smell the alcohol. The couple fell asleep on their tables and when they had come to and came out of the session space, they were completely intoxicated. Slurred speech, compromised gait, all of the signs showed as if they had been drinking for hours. We had to call them a cab to ensure their safety home. The couple had later stated that prior to their session, each had only drank "a couple of beers." Now, whether or not that amount is correct, it brings me to my point...
Massage and alcohol (or any other narcotic stimulant/depressant) just don't mix. Some say it's ok for one glass of wine before or after, I do not agree with that. My own little case study involved a nice hot bath and one glass of red wine. I could hardly get out of the tub after only 20 minutes or less. The reason being is that heat causes vasodilation, or opening of the blood vessels (When we are cold, we have vasoconstriction- 'tightening' of the blood vessels) This assists the body in distributing heat throughout so you do not become overheated and suffer from the ensuing side effects.
Therapeutic massage increases the heat in the muscles and body in order to relax and lengthen muscles that were tight and tense. Massage also works to pump toxins out of the body as well. Toxins will flow out of the pores of a person receiving good therapeutic- deep tissue- massage. Depending on the person, this may also happen during a regular classic Swedish style massage. What this means bluntly: if you drink in excess regularly, during massage your body will expel alcohol. If you smoke in excess, your body will expel nicotine. It's a 'fun fact' that people aren't too educated about.
Bottom line- when you know you will be receiving a wonderful therapeutic massage, please don't plan to drink before or after. Massage can increase the potency of one drink to equal about 4-6 units of alcohol. You wouldn't ant to work out with a bottle of vodka instead of water, would you?
So please, on this day and every day, drink responsibly and be mindful of what you and your body can take.
...and maybe wait until Tuesday for that massage! :)