Why does your back hurt after the holidays?
September marks the return to routine, and with it comes post-vacation back tension. Many people come looking for Relief with personalized massages in Granada for a tense, stiff, or back with accumulated discomfort. And it's no coincidence.
Although summer is often associated with rest, the reality is that it often involves radical changes in our posture and movement habits. Back tension after vacation: Causes and solutionsAre you coming back from vacation with back tension? Discover how to release tension with stretching, breathing, and massage. Changing beds, carrying suitcases, sitting for hours in a car or plane, walking in unstable sandals, or spending more time in unergonomic positions are common practices that directly impact your muscles.
Furthermore, heat promotes muscle dehydration, and many people reduce or abandon their regular physical activity, leading to a loss of tone. This combination of factors creates the perfect setting for the onset of physical discomfort and a feeling of muscle tightness in various areas, especially the back, neck, and lumbar region.
Summer and bad posture: the origin of many contractures
During the summer, we leave behind the structures that sustain our routine. We sleep in unfamiliar beds, sometimes soft, sometimes too hard, we use pillows that don't fit our cervical needs, and we expose ourselves to long journeys in uncomfortable positions.
A common example is the use of beach chairs or hammocks, which, while they may seem comfortable, do not offer the necessary support to maintain a proper posture for long periods. It is also common to carry weight in an unbalanced manner, such as with ill-fitting backpacks or carrying children without alternating arms.
Furthermore, it alternates between days of intense physical activity (hiking, swimming, occasional sports) and others of complete inactivity, generating an evident muscular imbalance.
All of these factors cause overload or imbalances that the body manifests through discomfort or accumulated tension. What begins as mild discomfort can intensify if not addressed promptly, leading to increased stiffness or loss of mobility.
Signs of accumulated tension that you should not ignore
The body is wise and always gives us warnings. The problem is that we often don't know how to interpret these warnings, or we normalize them. Here are some signs that your muscles are asking for attention:
- Difficulty moving smoothly in the morning: That stiffness that seems to “rust” the body upon waking is a clear sign that the muscles are not relaxing properly during sleep.
- Feeling of “weight” in the shoulders or upper back: Even if there is no acute pain, this constant tiredness indicates a build-up of tension in key areas.
- Headache that appears after several hours in front of the computer: So-called “tension headaches” may be related to the accumulation of tension in the cervical area.
- Discomfort when turning, bending down, or raising your arms: Everyday movements that feel restricted or uncomfortable are a clear sign of contracted muscles.
Relaxing massage: back tension after vacation. You don't have to reach the point of intense pain to ask for help. The sooner you act, the faster and easier it will be to regain your balance.
What is a muscle-relaxing massage and why do you need one in September?
The relaxing massage It is a manual technique focused on releasing deep muscle tension and restoring mobility. Unlike cosmetic or relaxation massage, it focuses on areas where the muscles have overload points or "knots."
In September, after a period of physical and emotional imbalance, this type of massage becomes a key tool. It's like hitting the reset button for your body. It helps promote circulation and overall tissue well-being.
Many people come to a consultation feeling "heavy" or "misaligned." Massage not only works on the muscles, but also restores the body's sense of integration, balance, and well-being.
How a relaxing massage works on muscle knots
"Knots" or contractures are areas where prolonged tension is felt, often accompanied by discomfort when touched or moved. Sometimes, these areas feel like small, hard, hypersensitive points, which can even cause discomfort in other parts of the body when pressed.
The relaxing massage works on these areas with precision, using techniques such as:
- Slow, deep pressures to deactivate tension points.
- Kneading with drag, which mobilizes the fascia and helps restore the elasticity of the connective tissue.
- Gentle passive stretching, which restore length and relief to compromised muscle chains.
In addition to its physical benefits, many people notice a feeling of mental clarity and emotional lightness at the end of the session. Because freeing the body also means freeing what we carry inside.
Muscle-relieving massage vs. relaxing massage: which one to choose after the summer?
Although both provide well-being, they have different approaches and objectives:
- The relaxing massage It works on a superficial level, generating a general feeling of calm. It is especially recommended for people with emotional stress or anxiety who do not have deep muscle tension.
- The relaxing massage, however, goes further. It seeks to unlock areas of chronic tension, work on stiff tissues, and restore joint mobility.
After the summer, the ideal thing to do is start with a relaxing massage to release all those accumulated physical tensions. You can then combine more relaxing or preventive sessions to maintain this state of well-being over time.
Physical and emotional benefits of a good deep massage
A muscle-relaxing massage has an impact that goes far beyond immediate relief. Here are some of its main benefits:
- Significantly reduces muscle tension, freeing up areas that were blocked.
- Reduces physical and mental fatigue, helping to recover vital energy.
- Improves sleep quality, by inducing a state of deep relaxation.
- Promotes mobility, by restoring muscle elasticity and function.
- It can help to reduce overload patterns and improve the way the body responds to effort.
- Increases body awareness, facilitating better posture in daily life.
Many patients, after a session, report feeling like their body is "back to their own." This return to physical presence is one of the greatest gifts of deep tissue massage.
Areas that get most overloaded during vacation (and how to free them up)
Cervical and trapezius muscles
Tension from poor sleep, spending hours looking at your phone, or traveling in awkward positions. The result is stiffness, headaches, and a feeling of a short or compressed neck.
Dorsal area
It builds up postural tension, especially between the shoulder blades. It's common in people who have carried heavy weights or spent long periods of time sitting without lumbar support.
Lumbar
This area is especially sensitive to a sedentary lifestyle combined with sporadic, intense movements (such as lifting weights without warming up). It may manifest as pain when getting up or standing.
Releasing these areas through a tailored massage helps restore spinal mobility and connection to the entire body axis.
Real cases: how a good massage helped restore balance
Marine She's an administrative assistant who went on a road trip this summer. Upon returning, she felt constant tension between her shoulder blades and stiffness when turning her neck. After two sessions focused on releasing her trapezius, neck, and lat muscles, she regained mobility and noticed she was even sleeping better.
CarlosA professor, Carlos noticed discomfort in his lower back after a month of inactivity. With deep kneading techniques, sustained pressure, and targeted work on the glutes and lower back, in three sessions, he noticed significant improvement that allowed him to resume his workday more comfortably.
These examples show how, with an appropriate manual approach, the body responds quickly and gratefully.
Does a muscle-relaxing massage hurt? What to expect during a session
One of the most common myths is that a muscle-relaxing massage "has to hurt to be effective." Nothing could be further from the truth.
A deep massage can be intense at times, especially when addressing an old or active muscle tension. But it should never be unbearably painful. In fact, if a certain threshold is exceeded, the muscle fights back, contracts more, and the effect is the opposite of what is desired.
Each session should be a conversation between the patient's body and the therapist's hands. Pressure, pace, and approach are adjusted to individual needs. The key is to generate a stimulus that invites the body to let go, not resist.
How to enhance the effects of massage with small daily habits
After a good session, the body feels more receptive and open. To maintain that feeling of lightness and prevent tension from returning, we recommend:
- Drink plenty of water, especially in the hours following the session.
- Avoid intense exertion on the day of the massage.
- Stretch at least once a day, prioritizing the neck, back and hips.
- Incorporate conscious breathing or active pauses if you work a lot sitting down.
- Be kind to yourself and your body, do not demand more than what is needed.
With these simple gestures, you'll not only maintain the benefits of massage, but you'll also create a more loving and sustainable relationship with your body.
September: The best time to give your body wellness
September doesn't have to be synonymous with stress and accumulation. It can be the beginning of a new, more conscious cycle, where you decide to take care of your body as it deserves.
A good relaxing massage can be that first step. Not as a magic bullet, but as a way to reconnect, to clear the summer baggage and begin the new year from a place of balance.
Don't wait until the pain becomes too much to act. Listen to the signs, give yourself a session, and you'll see how everything, from your energy to your mood, begins to flow differently.
In Quiroessence We believe that balance between body and mind is cultivated every day. Back tension after vacation: Causes and solutions. Our massage, osteopathy, and yoga center is located in the heart of Granada, just a five-minute walk from the Cathedral.
If you're looking for a space to take care of yourself, relax, and reconnect, we'd love to welcome you.
EN 
ES 