Because of its many therapeutic properties, a massage is often recommended to boost your overall health.
Getting a luxurious massage is often considered one of the best ways to indulge in self-pampering. No doubt, a massage helps relax your body, mind, calms your nerves, and recharges your batteries.
Massage therapy is practiced across cultures to enhance wellness and to keep existing health conditions in check. By manipulating the soft tissues in your body, you can take advantage of the innumerable benefits of massage therapy.
Rubbing and pressing your muscles, ligaments, skin, and tendons by applying deep pressure or light strokes help achieve the desired results.
Some of the common massage techniques adopted include:
- Classical or Swedish massage which is a gentle energizing technique using moderate pressure, circular movements, tapping, long strokes, and vibration
- Deep massage uses forceful strokes to restore connective tissue, and muscle layers located deep within your body
- Sports massage helps treat and prevent injuries in professional athletes
- Clinical massage designed to release muscle spasms
- Trigger point massage targets areas where you experience muscle tension and tightening due to overuse
- Traditional Shiatsu and Tuina therapy derived from Eastern cultures
The perfect blissful ambiance created by a dimly lit room with aromatic candles releasing their heavenly scent is so inviting. As you lie on that massage table in such a relaxing setting, you can feel your stress melting away.
With time and the pressures of life, your body builds up toxins that cause physical health problems. These toxins begin to release with every massage therapy session you undergo gradually.
Your body gives you signs to remind you that a massage is overdue so, pay close attention to these signals:
- Heightened stress
- Frequent headaches
- Developing a poor posture because of a sedentary routine
- Experiencing chronic pain in your body and muscles
- Having trouble sleeping
With regular massages, you can take advantage of the proven benefits of massage therapy. A massage therapist usually recommends monthly sessions and an increase in frequency if you are recovering from an injury. After a therapeutic massage, your mental and physical fitness improves, and so does the quality of your life.
Listed here are 10 benefits of massage which should compel you to resort to this miraculous therapy more often:
1.) Relieves Stress
A principal component of your fast-paced life is stress, which takes its toll on your well-being. Massage therapy helps in significantly reducing stress on psychological and physical levels.
As you experience feelings of anxiety, fatigue, and depression, your muscles tighten. A relaxing massage is the best remedy in such a scenario as it lowers your stress levels enormously.
2.) Reduces Chronic Pain
During a massage, you can sense the stiffness in your muscles and joints effectively reducing. The joint pain you experience may result from an injury, soreness, stiffness, or an existing health condition like arthritis.
Light pressure is applied to your skin and joints to reduce pain and improve your body's circulation. As the blood flows to your joints, it facilitates smooth mobility.
3.) Lessens Headaches
Undergoing massages that focus on your head, neck and shoulders decrease the discomfort caused by tension headaches and migraines. This alternate therapy relaxes your trigger points, thereby lessening the mild to moderate pressure you may frequently experience on your head.
4.) Improves Posture
Your work may force you to sit or stand for extended periods, which adversely affects your posture. You may feel the tension in your neck and back regions that need loosening. One of the positive effects of massage is that it reinforces your body's natural movements and restores a healthy posture.
5.) Lowers Blood Pressure
When you receive massage therapy regularly, you experience an increased blood flow because of your muscles' loosening. Better blood circulation sparks a chain reaction by lowering your blood pressure and improving your bodily functions.
6.) Increases Mobility
A massage stimulates the production of your body’s natural lubricants and ensures maximum flexibility. The therapist works on your connective tissues, ligaments, joints, tendons, and muscles to make them more fluid and less injury-prone. You will notice how effortlessly you can move around after releasing all that tightness within.
7.) Encourages Quality Sleep
The sense of calm and upbeat mood you experience after a massage is due to your muscles' loosening. When you go to bed with a relaxed frame of mind, it automatically improves sleep patterns. Not only do you rest well, but you also wake up feeling refreshed.
8.) Heightens Mental Alertness
Only when your body and mind are entirely relaxed can you focus straight. It is normal sometimes to experience trouble concentrating and failing to be your productive best. A massage comes to your rescue at such times as it helps you recharge, remain mentally alert, and perform better.
9.) Boosts Cardiovascular Health
Research shows that going to a qualified massage therapist improves your cardiovascular health. Since massages keep your blood pressure in check, the chances of getting a stroke or developing a heart condition are lower.
10.) Promotes Relaxation
After a massage, you can feel the tension in your muscles release, enabling you to relax better and boost your mood. Moreover, the increase in your circulation and decrease in your stress hormones correspondingly recharges your body's natural defense mechanism.
For a massage therapy session, you need first to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. A prior evaluation of your pain points helps determine the pressure that needs to be applied.
The therapist may apply lotion or oil on your skin to reduce friction. Should you be allergic to any ingredient, let your massage therapist know so you do not lose out on the benefits of massage therapy. It is worth changing your perception and viewing massage therapy as a powerful tool that helps you regain control of your health. Whether you face a health crisis or are just looking to relieve stress, a nice massage can set many problems right.
Consult with a licensed therapist who can recommend a technique most suitable after having an open discussion with you.