As a spa professional, you work so hard to keep your customers comfortable, relaxed and healthy. But what about you? How does a physically demanding job affect your body? Depending on your role in this industry, doing hands-on work in this area can sometimes be exhausting. When you've had three hour-long back-to-back massages or facials, you can feel it – mild back pain, a tingling sensation in your feet, or strain on your wrists.
We'll explore remedies for body aches and pains and how to take care of your body while performing spa services throughout the day. The better you take care of yourself, the better you can take care of others.
What if I neglect my body?
Working on your feet all day can really cause some discomfort to your feet, back, and legs. And depending on your role as a spa professional, the practical work can sometimes be physically demanding. In the United States, repetitive motion is one of the most common causes of injury. These problems occur when you keep repeating a movement or movement over a long period of time, such as fine motor movements in your hands and wrists. Because many customer treatments require these types of movements, repetitive stress injuries (RSI) can occur. Long-term neglect of personal hygiene can even lead to undesirable conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. To avoid these issues, follow the tips below to help relieve the stress in your hands, wrists, and body throughout the day. Read on for five personal care tips to help prevent and relieve pain.
5 tips to get rid of body aches and pains
1. Tips on hand care
If you're doing jobs like manicuring, facials, or jobs that require you to slouch your hands for an extended period of time, try to keep your arms and wrists straight. Change the type of spa services during the day (as often as you can). If you already feel a tingling sensation or swelling, place an ice pack or cold compress on your wrists and hands. You might also consider wearing a splint at night, but it's best to see your doctor if you experience symptoms such as numbness, pain, ache, or tingling.
2. Choose supportive footwear
If you work in the spa industry, standing is an integral part of your job. Forget strappy shoes, thin ballerinas or shoes with heels when you wear shoes. Support your feet with cushioned shoes or add insoles for more support. Orthotics can also increase your comfort, improve posture and relieve joint strain. In addition, small movements can help, e.g. For example, shift your weight from side to side or bend your knees so they don't block. You can also rock up on your toes and down on your heels to minimize tension in your calves.
3. Stretching
You may be so invested in serving your customers that you are neglecting yourself. Book massages, stretches or baths, everything to relax your body and mind and prevent body aches.
Stretching has many uses. According to Ergonomic Trends, it relieves your body when you stay in one position for a long time. This can especially prevent common hand injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful wrist condition due to compression of the median nerve. It can also prevent muscle fatigue, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons caused by repetitive actions), or varicose veins (enlarged blood vessels).
As Healthline notes, “Muscles can become stiff and painful after standing or walking all day. Stop about every hour to stretch, relax, and lengthen tense muscles. "
Healthline's stretch recommendations include:
- Stand upright on the edge of a step or platform and tighten your abs.
- Secure the balls of your feet firmly on the step with your heels hanging over the edge.
- While standing on your tiptoe, lift your heels a few inches off the step and hold them for a second.
- Lower your heels back to level with the platform.
- Repeat 10 times.
4. Exercise and exercise breaks
Paulo Ferreira, a back pain researcher and professor at the University of Sydney, states that prolonged standing, sitting, or bending over, combined with a lack of exercise, can lead to lower back pain in the long term. When you stand for a long time, your body longs for regular changes of position and posture and the pressure on your feet. The long-term solution is to incorporate exercises that will strengthen your lower body and back. A short term solution is to switch from one pose to the next during the day. Take short walks in between appointments that will make sure you change your posture.
5. Self Care & Massages
As you already know, regular massage reduces stress, body aches, muscle aches and tension, loosens knots and improves blood circulation. It can relieve your muscles of the stress they experience during the work week. The question is, do you take the time to book appointments for yourself? It may seem like a luxury, but the benefits are obvious and you will enjoy a more relaxed, stress-free work life. Don't forget to use heat pads during your massage to relax the sore muscles that cause neck or back pain.
Perform a facial massage two to three times a week for stress and jaw tension. Facial massages promote blood circulation, relieve tension in the face and tighten and tighten your complexion.
Do you have body aches and pains? What self-care rituals do you practice at home? Let us know in the comments below and join the conversation on social media. Here you can also find out how to become an Eminence Organics Spa partner.