We often associate massages and self-care in general with women. Many mothers are huge fans of massage, since it’s a great way for them to relax and take care of their bodies. But we rarely hear about men who indulge in self-care. It’s an unfortunate fact that stigma exists around men and their mental health. This extends to any self-care practices that they may want to do, but don’t out of fear of being looked down on or mocked. But the fact is, men need and deserve to indulge in self-care too.
The men in the family have heavy and important responsibilities to take care of everyday, and they may not be taking the time to care for themselves in their downtime. If your husband needs a self-care day, why not treat him to a massage appointment? Here are the best types of massage for every kind of husband.
For the Active Husband: Sports Massage
If your husband loves sports, then this massage is a definite must-try, but it’s also a great option for men with physically straining jobs, like mechanics or carpenters. Sports massages can relieve tense muscles and help with injury recovery, which your active husband might be at risk of having, whether he’s actually playing any sports or not. He can even talk to the massage therapist about addressing specific needs.
For the Office Working Husband: Swedish Massage
Office jobs can be straining, too! Sitting for too long can cause a huge strain on your back muscles, neck, and spine. It also makes blood pool in your legs, adding more blood pressure in your veins and making them swell. Plus, any job-related stress can lead to worse mental health and future burnout.
You can give your husband a well-deserved break with an appointment for a classic Swedish massage. It’s the most “beginner-friendly” massage because of its gentleness, making it the perfect choice for anyone who’s never tried a massage before. It can also help your back muscles relax and encourage better blood flow, undoing all of the negative effects of sitting for too long.
For the Househusband: Deep Tissue Massage
It’s becoming more and more common for women to enter the workforce as the sole breadwinner of their family. Usually the husbands have jobs too, resulting in a double-income household. Some husbands, though, have embraced the ‘househusband’ lifestyle. Instead of working a job, these husbands take care of the children in the house full-time. But being a full-time parent requires just as much energy and focus as being a full-time employee, whether you’re a mom or a dad.
Housedads, especially those with younger children, have a heavy workload to get through every day. This can cause a toll in the body later in your later years. If you think your husband needs a well-earned break, consider booking him an appointment for a deep tissue massage.
For the Husbands with Empty Nest Syndrome: Family Massage
Empty nest syndrome is the grief or depression that parents can fall into once all of their kids have moved out of home. Parents with empty nest syndrome often feel extremely lonely, especially if all of their kids have left the home. After decades of having your kids live under the same roof as you, it can be hard to adjust to their lack of presence.
While moms are more likely to develop empty nest syndrome, many dads can experience it too. If you think your husband feels the same, you can surprise him (and the rest of your family!) with a family massage appointment. It’s a great way to reunite the whole family and create new memories, even once all the kids in the family have left the nest. Most of all, it can help your husband feel less alone and give him the opportunity to bond properly with his kids again.