Sports Massage Kalispell Mt.

Not only am I a massage therapist in Kalispell, Montana, I’m also an athlete.  I understand the challenges of pain after a bicycle crash, sore muscles from a gym workout, and wondering when the first day of ski season will be!  In my medically oriented practice, I work with a wide variety of clients but really gravitate to helping athletes go stronger, longer.  So just how is sports massage different from a spa session, and how can it benefit you?

First understand that YOU are an athlete.  You don’t have to be a gym-rat-iron-man-yoga-chick with a lifetime gym membership.  If you work a physical job here in the Flathead Valley, play sports only on the weekends, or had a track scholarship outta high school, to me you are an athlete.  There are very few true spectators in life.  We are all IN the arena in some fashion, so begin to think of yourself in this manner, as an athlete, and give your body the care it needs to keep you coaching, cheering, or loading your Whitefish kids in the van.  Every part of your life stands to improve when you give yourself the credit you deserve, and begin seeing yourself as an athlete.

By definition, sports massage is “a form of bodywork geared toward participants in athletics. It is used to help prevent injuries, to prepare the body for athletic activity and maintain it in optimal condition, and to help athletes recover from workouts and injuries.”  To that, we say “duh”, right?  Really, how is a sports massage session different from a spa session?  I know this word is overly used, but “intention” is everything when it comes to these sessions.  Are we trying to “wake up” somebody, stimulate them before an event?  Are we trying to calm the nervous system after your Bigfork bowling team’s defeat?  My intention, and the desired outcome of a session is all about you, for you.  Why are you in my office?  Why am I at your event?  What is the scenario?  You and I will look at the situation, and together determine if this needs to be a session with brisk strokes, cheery music, and minimal stretching, or slow, deep strokes with calm, soothing music and post event stretching.

Kinesio taping and chair massage!  If you’re not familiar with either of these great options, see the applicable pages on my website, johnnycmassage.com.  Both can be offered on-site at your Kalispell, Bigfork, or Whitefish sporting event.  If you’ve been to the Spartan race in Bigfork, watched the CrossFit games on tv, or tried physical therapy, you’ve probably seen kinesio taping.  Regarding chair massage, if you’ve ever been through a major airport, ski area, or farmers market, you’ve probably watched this type of mobile massage.  Check with the governing authorities before your event, as kinesio tape may not be allowed to be worn by athletes, but on-site chair massage at your Whitefish soccer game would always be a welcome option for participants, or spectators, right?

Stretching is an important part of any athletes routine, and can be included in office sessions at my Kalispell massage therapy practice.  For ASHIATSU, barefoot massage using an overhead support system, I have parallel bars installed in the ceiling over my massage table.  With my coaching, clients are given the option to hang from the bars, stretching back, shoulder, and neck muscles.  I also incorporate active and passive stretching into sessions, working to reduce the possibility of hamstring and quad injuries, and can suggest pre- and post-event stretching ideas to help athletes get the most from their workouts.  No matter what your game, sports massage offers benefits that you deserve.  Book online at my website,  https://www.johnnycmassage.com/GO TEAM!