5 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Treatments

I’ve given countless treatments over the past three decades, and among the many things I’ve learned is that what patients do before and after their treatments influences the outcome of the treatments.

Whether you are getting acupuncture or bodywork (or any other type of treatment), these tips will help enhance the benefits you receive.

1. Arrive 10 minutes early. This is both practical - you never know when you’ll run into roadwork on your way - and energetic: arriving early allows you to start slowing down and settling in even before you get on the treatment table.
2. Don’t look at your phone immediately after your treatment. I know, this is a hard one! But I have seen many a patient get jolted out of relaxation bliss into nervous system red alert immediately after from a stressful text or notification. Turning your phone all the way off before your treatment will help. Do tip #3 and #4 before turning your phone back on.
3. Give yourself a 15 minute cushion post-treatment. Give yourself permission to sit in our waiting room post-treatment, or to take a stroll around the block before jumping back into the fray. This allows your mind, body and spirit the opportunity to begin integrating the benefits of your treatment.
4. Hydrate: Getting a treatment is a kind of workout for your body. You can support your body’s post-treatment integration by hydrating well immediately afterwards and throughout the rest of the day.
5. No vigorous work out immediately afterwards. Just as you probably would not schedule cardio kickboxing right after a yoga class, you don’t want to jolt your body out of the state of nervous system calm that comes post-treatment. Plan your vigorous work out a few hours later or the next day, and enjoy that leisurely stroll instead.