What to do after a massage can be a bit tricky. Some people like to sleep others workout. But, honestly as an experienced therapist I can say the best thing you can do after having a massage is rest up but not before having a fresh shower. Having a fresh shower right after your massage would help soothing your muscles even more, maybe also a herbal tea to help the lymphatic system to remove all the toxins moved around during the massage. Drinking a good amount of water could also help moving around toxins and dead cells accumulated in muscles and lymph.
I usually suggest to my clients not to rush after, so you can dramatically feel those happy hormones kicking in and cortisol levels going down. How about let your body enjoy the feeling of wellbeing and relax a bit more, having a little nap or going to bed for the day. Probably you may even feel more in tune with your body. Pressing attention to your body needs and let go the hight level of stress, aches and pain that you have had being experiencing from staying in the same position at work and daily life.
Working out after a treatment is not really the ideal thing to do, unless is a sport massage to warm up the muscle before exercising. Even though is not recommended, at the end is your decision. Some of my client have a very busy life style and they have a massage just before hitting the gym. Some others neck and shoulders and then go back to work. Some other people would have a corporate massage at work and that is also ok.
To conclude, experiencing the benefits of a massage, and truly feel relaxed, massage should be done in the afternoon with a length of 90min, fallowed by a shower a herbal tea and bedtime.
