Water is the elixir of life. In fact - according to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. That's a lot of water!
Depending on your body's needs, we all have a certain amount of water we need to consume each day to keep ourselves in tip-top shape. It varies from person to person, depending on age, gender, and lifestyle.
Water After Massage
After each massage, our therapists remind guests to drink plenty of water. This is two fold:
As the massage therapist manipulates your muscles, substances such as lactic acid, salt, and other minerals are released into your body. Drinking water after your massage helps the body flush these materials out. This is especially important for post deep tissue massage!
Water is hydrating. By drinking water post massage, you are not only flushing out unnecessary materials, but also rehydrating your muscles with what they need. I always tell my guests, "It helps you avoid the post massage 'hangover', or at least helps to minimize soreness after your massage."
All water is the same, right? Can I just drink tap water and be on with my day?
The answer is yes... no... it's complicated. If all you have on hand is tap water, then yes, drink up! If however, you do have the opportunity to get your hands on a bottle of water - I always tell guests to try that instead. Depending on the brand, it can be a post massage game changer.
I always tell my guests to grab a bottle of Fiji water. They call themselves "Earth's Finest Water", and personally, I would have to agree. What makes Fiji so unique is it's natural mineral make up. It has a silky smooth taste (as much as you can taste water), with a PH of 7.5. It is chock full of natural electrolytes that help rehydrate your muscles a little bit quicker than regular tap water.
So I'll be completely honest - the first time I tried Fiji I thought, "Nah, I'm not buying this expensive water, what's the difference?" So anyway, I tried it... and it was a game changer! I tend to get headaches easily after massage, as well as very sore muscles. My headache went away within 15 minutes of my first few sips, and my muscles felt much less sore within the hour of finishing the bottle. Is it magic? Maybe. All I know is that it works wonders for me, and I have had many guests tell me the same after suggesting it to them.
Do I have to buy Fiji water explicitly?
Goodness no! I am by no means a spokes-person for Fiji (even though it would be awesome)! There's a plethora of great bottled waters available on the market. Fiji just so happens to be my personal favorite. Not sold on Fiji? Check out this list below!
According to greenerchoices.org the best bottled water brands are:
Essentia Ionized Water (Best Overall)
Aquafina (Best Budget)
VOSS (Best Premium)
Fiji (Best Flavor)
JUST Water (Best Eco Option)
Perrier (Best Carbonated)
Poland Spring (Best Spring Water)
Icelandic Glacial (Best Natural Water)
Perfect Hydration (Best Alkaline)
SmartWater (Best Sports Water)
It is also important to note that bottled water isn't the end-all answer to proper hydration. When thinking about sustainability, tap water and refillable water bottles are key in reducing plastic waste. We are all very aware that plastics in all shapes and forms are piling up all over the globe, so if bottled water is the only answer (perhaps the tap water isn't the highest quality in your area), I always like to nudge a gentle reminder to always recycle whenever possible.
So whether you're drinking bottled water or tap - at the end of the day your body will thank you - all day, every day, not just after a massage! Staying hydrated helps us sleep, concentrate, lose weight, helps to clear our skin, and so many more benefits than I can list! So grab a glass or bottle of water and drink up! Enjoy the healthy benefits!
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