BENEFITS OF MASSAGE
Massage therapy is more than “just” relaxation! Massage is a centuries-old art of therapeutic touch. It has been used to address health issues as varied as injury rehabilitation, depression, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, circulatory issues—and, of course, for stress relief.
Isn’t massage just another luxury?
Not at all! Massage can become an integral part of any preventative maintenance wellness program. Just like exercise, rest, and nutrition, massage is a way to keep your body in tune. Relaxation isn’t just something for idle moments. Over time, untreated stress can wreak havoc on the body.
How can stress affect my health?
It has been proven that stress can cause:
- Elevation in blood pressure, blood glucose levels and cortisol levels (stress hormones)
- Increased associated risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and absorbing new information
- Burnout
- Problems in interpersonal and work relationships
- Increased irritability
- Decreased sense of well-being and self-esteem
- Fatigue
- Depression
How can massage help?
Simple relaxation—practiced consistently and over time—has been shown to reverse the negative physiological effects of stress. Far from being a mere “luxury,” relaxation and massage are essential for the maintenance of the mind, body and spirit. Give yourself the gift of the joy of relaxation through massage therapy! You will be back on your feet in no time!
Who can benefit from massage?
Almost anyone can benefit from a massage—after all, we sit in cars, on trains, in front of computers, stand on lines, hold the handrails, walk in high heels, hold our phones in the crook of our necks and do so many more potentially ergonomically stressful activities in daily life. All of these little everyday actions can result in cumulative micro-trauma or repetitive stress. In fact, even if you do not create repetitive stress injury, these daily tasks can cause your muscles and connective tissues to shorten, tighten, dehydrate and tear at the microscopic level, creating those little aches and pains that we think are just part of “being adults.”
How will massage improve my health?
- Increasing blood flow to areas that have injuries, stiffness, dehydration or congestion of metabolic wastes in the tissues
- Stretching and loosening tight muscle fibers and connective tissues that have become shortened from being held in repetitive or static positions
- Increasing endorphin levels, thereby decreasing the body’s perception of pain
- Increasing the range of motion in joints that have become stiff and/or creaky for underuse (or overuse)
- Creating balance between opposing muscle groups so that activities can be performed more efficiently and with less effort and strain on the musculoskeletal system