Get a Stretch or Massage?

I get asked on a regular basis: Is stretching better than massage?

First off I will say, any bodywork - whether it be manual therapy, massage, stretching, Rolfing, Myoskeletal, myofascial, yoga - etc., ALL are beneficial and have different affects on different people based on experience, preferences and needs for attaining their own personal health and wellness goals. I love that there are so many types of massage, bodywork, and stretching options out there as there is no "one size fit's all." I don't believe that any one discipline has "all the answers" for healing since we are all so different.

The benefits of massage address things like circulation, release of trigger points (those pesky 'knots!'), relaxation, softening of muscles, aiding in flexibility, decreasing pain, and more.

The benefits of stretching are very similar: relaxation, mobility, flexibility, releasing "stuck" points in fascia or other tight tissues, aligning connective tissue and impacting skeletal alignment, just to name a few things as well.

And just like massage, in stretching there can be lighter applications and deeper applications based on preference and need, as well as how the session is paced - a fast paced massage may be used for pregame events; there are stretching techniques that do the same thing - get the body "game ready"; and there are also stretching techniques - slow and soothing - for post game recovery and calming the nervous system down and for general relaxation.

So which is better?  I will always say that stretching is!  BUT it comes down to my clients preferences and wants and what they are familiar with.  There are longer lasting affects with stretching and when done with proper education and exercises that correct issues in the body - such as bad posture, etc - stretching allows the fascia system to realign better to restore better posture thus eliminating stress and strain on the body for long term relief. Most of my clients once they have a stretch session, typically want the stretch or a combo session as they feel lighter, taller, more open and flexible.

Be sure to CLICK HERE to schedule your session today and feel for yourself the difference of stretching versus massage

Jeremy Cowin#fst, #myoskeletalalignment, #Myoskeletalmassage, #mensbodywork, #menswellness, #menshealth, #mensmassage, #gaywellness, #gaymalemassage, #gaywellnesspasadena, #Benefitsofmassageandstretching, #lastingpainrelief, #massageformenaltadena, #massageformen, #, #massageformenpasadena, #m4mmassage, #m4mmassagepasadena, #m4massistedstretching