Tags – Benefits of Massage Therapy

 

When you think of relaxation, a few things probably pop to your mind: spa days, cozying up by the fire, snuggling in bed, and, of course, getting a massage.

Whilst massage therapy is a great way to relax, it has many therapeutic health benefits too.

The term “massage” encompasses a wide range of types, from a Swedish massage (the most common) to a sports massage, which is aimed at helping athletes recover.

But, no matter what type of massage it is, it comes down to one thing: pressure.

Simply, when the skin is moved using moderate pressure, it results in calming and slowing of the nervous system. And, this leads to other physiological effects, like a decrease in heart rate and lowering blood pressure.

So, if you’re thinking about booking a massage at your nearest salon, here’s 5 benefits you should know about.

 

1. Reduces Muscle Pain

If you experience injury or joint pain, it’s likely you’ll have something called soft tissue restrictions, which cause trigger points of pain.

What massage therapy aims to do, is to eliminate these restrictions and increase circulation.

Consequently, these restrictions can lead to joint decay and other problems over time, therefore massages will not only help your current injury, but help to prevent other problems too.

To put simply, massages help to desensitise the area that is painful and reduce the mind-body hypersensitivity related to chronic pain.

As a result of reduced pain, you’ll see an improvement in the quality of your life, a boost in activity level, better mood and so much more!

 

2. Relieves Stress and Anxiety

Many of us live extremely busy lives.

With endless to-do lists, deadlines at work, family obligations and attempting to keep up with social affairs with your friends – most adults are slammed with way too many responsibilities that one can actually handle in a single day, so we’re bound to feel stressed every now and again.

Luckily, regular massage therapy can help lower levels of stress and anxiety you may experience on a daily basis. 

Not only do massages feel good, but they’re scientifically proven to help your body and mind relax.

Essentially, massages enables your body to release any tensions and tames your fight-or-flight response, reducing any anxious thoughts and induces feelings of calmness.

 

3. Improves Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia, getting a massage can improve your sleep.

Ultimately, the quality of your sleep depends on how much activity there is in your nervous system, and when you get a massage the nervous system slows down due to the pressure.

Plus, massages are associated with an increase in serotonin levels (a “feel good” neurotransmitter), and this helps to increase melatonin which results in a better sleep cycle.

Overall, massages help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep for longer and get a better quality of sleep, so consider adding regular massages into your wellness routine.

 

4. Improve Muscle Flexibility

Take a moment and try to touch your toes. Were you able to?

If you’ve just realised you can’t, you could benefit from a massage (even if you can, you’ll still benefit).

Massage therapy helps to improve your joint range of motion and flexibility by manipulating the soft tissue in your body.

In particular, a sports massage is known for its effects on movement functionality, however any type of massage can improve this.

According to research, this is because massage therapy encourages blood flow to the joint, promotes circulation of the lymph and relaxes the muscles, thus improving flexibility. 

 

5. Boost Focus

If you have trouble staying present and focusing your attention for more than 10 minutes, be it in a meeting or reading a book, the effects of a massage can help to improve your ability to focus.

One reason being, is that in order for you to best pay attention, you need to have a low heart rate – when your heart rate comes down you should find yourself being more attentive.

Positively, a massage helps to slow down your nervous system and as a result, slows down your heart rate too.

Because, during a massage the pressure receptors in the body stimulate vagal activity. This stems from a nerve in your brain that leads to different branches, including the heart.

Hence when you’re undergoing a massage, it decreases your heart rate and ultimately improves your focus.

 

Wrapping Up

The best way to experience the benefits of massage therapy is to try a session for yourself.

Unlike medication, massages have no long or short term side effects. Not only do they feel great, more it can improve your mental and physical health and overall improve your well-being.

 

Want to know more? Contact us today.

Check our full range of massage therapies here in the meantime.