Treatment Deep Dive: No.2 Deep Tissue
Penelope Swann is one of MASAJ's expert bodyworkers - exuding positivity and passion for her work, Penelope’s presence in the MASAJ Studios is like a soothing breath of fresh air. She works with an intuitive style, and with a blend of techniques to ensure that each massage is as unique as the human receiving it. Within her treatments she often utilises the skills learnt whilst training for her Level 5 Sports Massage qualification and is quietly building a reputation as one of the strongest pairs of hands at MASAJ. Here we speak to Penelope all about her journey to becoming a bodyworker, what she loves about the practice and her favourite treatment to give, deep diving into our No.2 Deep Tissue massage. In this feature you will gain an insightful overview of one of our most popular massage treatments - covering everything from what to expect, to the biggest misconceptions, from the perspective of an expert MASAJ Therapist.Please introduce yourself and give us an overview of your background as a Therapist.
Hey, I’m Penelope - I trained as a massage therapist over 2020 & 2021. Previously I had been working in accounting for 10 years but I hadn’t felt fulfilled for a while and didn’t know what I wanted to do. The pandemic actually gave me the opportunity to retrain because I was extremely lucky to have been furloughed. I’d always been fascinated with the body and wellness and completed a Yoga Teacher Training course in India in February 2020 just before the world went into lockdown. I realised that I loved Yoga, but didn’t want to teach it. That’s when I did a weekend taster course in massage and I absolutely loved it! I much prefer working on a 1-2-1 basis with people and have this deep desire to help people feel better. The combination of science based anatomy and physiology, coupled with the holistic healing made this my new dream career path!What massage styles have you trained in?
I graduated in Relaxation Massage from The Manchester School of Massage in 2021 but have since gained extra CPD's in Deep Tissue and Indian Head Massage - I am also currently mid-way through studying Sports and Remedial Soft Tissue Therapy at The North London School of Sports Massage.
What do you particularly enjoy about being a Bodyworker?
I enjoy connecting with people on a personal and intimate level - finding out how they’re feeling in their minds as well as their bodies and trying to address their concerns, hopefully leaving them feeling better than they were when they walked in.What’s your favourite treatment type to give?
I really enjoy giving a Relaxation/Deep Tissue blend because I feel satisfied as a therapist when I’ve been able to decrease tension or remove a troublesome ‘knot’ but have also kept the client in a deep state of calm - I often like to end my treatments with a head massage to help with this.How does a Deep Tissue massage differ from Relaxing?
Deep Tissue is more penetrative of the deeper layers of tissues so it allows more change to take place within the fibres such as ‘breaking down’ scar tissue, realigning fibres that have become shortened and are hypertonic and reducing adhesions (knots) to allow better glide of the tissues. It can help increase range of movement, allow for better performance within sports and exercise, release trigger points that may be causing pain and discomfort in the body and flushing through any waste products that the body needs to get rid of.What person would be suited to a Deep Tissue massage?
I would say every person is suited to a Deep Tissue massage because the depth of the pressure is all relative. One person’s pressure level 8, is another person’s 5, so as long as you're working within the limits of that individual deeper pressure can be applied. I have practiced this massage on very athletic people with very hypertonic muscles, to people who are very sedentary with low muscle mass but have lots of ‘knots’ due to poor posture.
What is your process for finding tension in the body?
I like to begin with a light pressure at first to warm the tissues up. While I’m doing this I’m constantly palpating (feeling) for any areas of restriction, tightness, elevation or imbalance. Sometimes people carry tension in areas they didn’t even know about, sometimes it may feel like there isn’t much to work on when I first start but then as I deepen the pressure you always find something! How does Deep Tissue differ from Sports or Focus massage?
Sports massage uses very similar general techniques as Deep Tissue, however there are more techniques that can be used in Sports massage which require more participation from the client such as; contracting their muscle to meet your force, moving a particular body part or performing a range of tests to gather more information about how the muscles are performing. Sports massage is a very good option not only for athletes but also for people recovering from an injury as there is more focus on increasing balance and mobility. Again, Sports massage doesn’t have to be painful!Focus Area massages at MASAJ can be a blend of Relaxation, Deep Tissue & Sports, but the idea is that it focuses on a particular area. This is a good choice for people who have a specific issue they would like addressing such as injury rehab or areas of particular tension. I often see clients under this treatment wanting their back, neck and shoulders focused on and now we are getting into marathon season, a lot of people want their legs focusing on.What after-care would you suggest?
It depends on the type of massage and the individual. With treatments that have created a lot of change in the tissue I would recommend no workouts, physical exertion or heavy lifting for 24 hours. Deep Tissue is almost like a workout for the muscles so you need to allow a rest day to let the tissues heal and recuperate. It’s always good to stay hydrated to allow any metabolic waste to be flushed from the body; avoiding nicotine, alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours also allows the body to rid old toxins before putting new ones in. If someone is going out later and will have a drink I just warn them it may go to their head quicker as their circulation has been increased! It’s great to go for a light walk after a massage if possible as it allows the body to reeducate the tissue on how it wants them to function. Maintaining a relaxed, upright posture for the rest of the day is also beneficial to prevent tissues falling back into old habits of slouching etc.What are some common misconceptions of a Deep Tissue massage?
That it should be painful! There is a preconceived idea that Deep Tissue massage should ‘hurt’ - a ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality. But this is actually counterproductive. When working with deeper tissues it’s extremely important that the client remains calm and relaxed in order to maximise the results of the treatment. This is because there are nerve endings within our fascia that speak directly to our nervous system and vice verser. If the nervous system is relaxed, this will in turn help the tissues to relax also, allowing for more reduction in hypertonic muscles, tension and knots/adhesions. If there is pain the body will ‘guard’ (tense up) to protect itself and this is actually counterintuitive for the treatment. As therapists we’re taught that you can go up to the point of discomfort, but never through pain. There is a numbering scale that can be used 0-10 where 10 in unbearable pain. Usually throughout a massage we’d like the pressure to be around a 6 and no more than an 8 when working on trigger points and tense areas. To find out more about our treatment range and gain a more in-depth knowledge of each massage type head to our at our bodywork menu. If you have any questions or queries prior to coming to MASAJ for a treatment then get in touch with us at hello@masaj.me, we're always happy to help.