So, I recently had my first 'professional' massage and have to say that it felt dang good!
I was really surprised at how much the masseuse really worked my back. At first it was somewhat painful, but about 20 minutes or so into it the pain ceased a little. I could still feel it hurting a little, but it was kind of funny, because when he hit a certain spot that was really knotted up the pain was evident, but i actually started laughing from the pain. it was that "ouch it hurts so bad i can only laugh" laugh.
At the end, i was told to drink lots of water (like 4 x 8oz pints) to make sure i don't vomit.. since this was my first massage, all of the toxins could potentially cause nausea and vomiting.
I didn't vomit, but i was definitely a little sick to my stomach about 2 hours after the massage. This was very interesting to me as I didn't realize that massage could be such a powerful therapy. For the following week or so i had no further lower back problems. Naturally, i didn't exercise and stretch like that masseuse recommended and the lower back pain returned, albeit not as painful, the following week. This led me to make another call to Paul for more massage. The guy is a true pro.
Anyway, the reason i posted this is because i wanted to share some info on getting a massage. It is well worth it.
If you've never had a pro massage your back (arms, legs, neck and shoulders) I would highly recommend it.
About.com is a good place to start if you're looking for a massage therapist.
Steff