16/04/2026
Ever had a massage where youāre not sure if itās supposed to hurt or feel amazing? Letās talk about the difference between bad pain and sweet pain because they are NOT the same.
š« Bad Pain (The āNopeā Zone)
Bad pain is sharp, overwhelming or makes you want to tense up or pull away. This is your body activating the sympathetic nervous system (your fight-or-flight response). Instead of relaxing, your body goes on high alert, muscles guard, breathing becomes shallow and the treatment becomes counterproductive.
Thatās why I always work with a pain tolerance scale from 1ā5:
1ļøā£ = hardly anything
3ļøā£ = hurts a little bit but feels good
5ļøā£ = too much / unbearable
š I always keep the pressure under a 3 because anything above that shifts into stress, not healing.
And hereās the key point:
You do not need to feel pain or reach a 3 for a massage to be effective.
The body responds best when it feels safe not when itās being pushed to its limit.
āØ Sweet Pain (The āGood Pain ā)
Now THIS is where the magic happens.
Sweet pain is when it feels a good painā¦.a little tender, a little intense, but also relieving at the same time. Itās your body releasing tension, improving blood flow and letting go.
Thereās real science behind this:
āļø Tolerable pressure stimulates receptors in the muscles
āļø This helps calm the nervous system and encourages relaxation
āļø Blood flow increases, bringing oxygen
āļø The brain releases endorphins, your natural feel-good chemicals
Thatās why it can feel slightly uncomfortable and deeply satisfying at the same time.
š Going Deeper -The Right Way
A lot of people think deeper is betterā¦.but thatās not quite true.
š Itās not about how deep you can go, itās about how you go deep.
Working deeper into the tissues should be slow, controlled and intentional. When pressure is applied gradually, the muscles have time to soften and allow access to deeper layers naturally.
Forcing depth too quickly?
ā Triggers guarding
ā Increases pain
ā Reduces effectiveness
Easing in properly?
āļø Encourages real release
āļø Allows true deep tissue work
āļø Keeps the body relaxed and receptive
š£ Communication is Key
Every body is different. What feels like a 2 for one person might feel like a 4 for someone else.
š Always speak up during your session
š Pressure should feel effective, not overwhelming
š The goal is relief not endurance
š¬ Breathwork Matters
Your breath is one of your most powerful tools during a massage.
When you exhale slowly, your muscles naturally soften and relax.
Holding your breath = holding tension
Breathing out = letting go
So next time youāre on the table:
šØ Inhaleā¦
šØ Long exhaleā¦
ā¦and feel your body melt into the work
Massage isnāt about chasing pain, itās about creating the right conditions for the body to let go. Stay in that sweet spot, communicate, breatheā¦..and let the release happen š„°
