Benefits of Massage
The healing benefits of massage go far beyond just alleviating sore muscles. As humans, we thrive on positive touch. We have all heard of prematurely born babies who begin thriving with a loving massage. Did you know that touch is the first sense that is developed in a fetus? It is also the last sense to go with old age. And in the in-between years, a safe and positive touch can do wonders for you, both on a physical and mental level. Forget the once-a-year birthday massage. Treating yourself to a regular massage, at least once a month can be one of the most powerful ways to keep yourself vibrantly healthy. Experts say that up to 90% of disease can be traced back to being stress-related in some way. Massage can undoubtedly help manage stress, and bring your body back to a state of balance. Some physical benefits of regular massage include improved range of motion in both muscles and joints, enhanced immunity due to lymph flow stimulation, increased digestion and muscle tone, promotion of tissue regeneration, and improvement of the condition of the body’s largest organ (your skin). A good massage can help to detoxify the body. Think of it this way – your body is made up of mostly water. And what is the state of water when it has been left without movement? It ends up like algae-infested swamp water! On the other hand, water that has been encouraged to move freely is more like a crystal clear, rushing mountain spring. Getting a deep massage can get your circulation going on a very deep level, helping to clear out old debris and purifying your body. When toxins are disposed of quickly, disease can be fought off more effectively and healing after injury is readily advanced. Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:
-Decreased anxiety.
-Enhanced sleep quality.
-Greater energy.
-Improved concentration.
-Increased circulation.
-Reduced fatigue. Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. Bodywork can:
-Alleviate and improve range of motion/low-back pain.
-Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
-Ease medication dependence.
-Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system.
-Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
-Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
-Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin.
-Increase joint flexibility.
-Lessen depression and anxiety.
-Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
-Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
-Reduce post surgery adhesion and swelling.
-Reduce spasms and cramping.
-Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
-Release endorphins-amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
-Relieve pain/migraine
