Inhale, exhale and relax…

After a long day or week at work, one of the best things is being able to take time out and recover. One of the most well-known things about our lifestyle in this modern age is that many people are under stress; With work deadlines, busy social lives, and even more demanding family lives, your body creates tension and the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is known to contribute to poor sleep, weight gain, digestive problems, and headaches. Massage therapy is known to lower these cortisol levels within the body, which contributes to improved relaxation, improved mood, and reduced stress levels in the body. In addition to reducing these stress levels, regular massages can help with overall physical and mental well-being.

Reduces stress, tension, anxiety and depression.

The body can function in many different ways, and the accumulation of stress throughout our daily lives is often one of these results. Reducing this emotional and physical distress is important so that we can help improve our personal health and wellness. As your body’s stress levels rise, so does the hormone your body produces, cortisol. When you get a sixty-minute massage, these cortisol levels are known to drop, while at the same time levels of serotonin, the body’s anti-pain hormone, begin to rise. This change within the hormones that your body releases helps and helps you fight pain, anxiety, and feelings of sadness.

It is known that the emotional benefits of massage are as important as the physical ones. A massage helps provide a relaxing and peaceful environment, so you can refocus and find clarity. It often helps a person connect through mind and body. The nurturing touch helps with the need for human contact, bringing with it a sense of inner calm and tranquility. These are all factors that can work to help relieve tension and stress levels in the body.

Low blood pressure

Regular massage and consistent sessions have been found to help lower blood pressure over time. With lower cortisol levels, there is the potential to help regulate the body’s mood and reduce triggers for anxiety, tension, and depression. Massage therapy is often used for prehypertension. Long-term studies have shown that a massage program can help lower specific types of blood pressure by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby reducing depression and anxiety, as well as other additional benefits.

relax muscle tension

One of the main reasons people choose massage is to help reduce painful muscle tension, by removing those tensions and knots within the muscles. Massaging tight muscles and joints by reducing swelling helps the body to relax in general. The technique used to reduce these joint swellings and pains can help increase the amount of nutrition and oxygen delivered to the affected area. This increased activity in the tissues helps with stiffness and swelling in the muscles and joints, while in doing so, flexibility in the area minimizes pain. Using massage therapy releases endorphins which in turn increase dopamine and serotonin levels. The release of these hormones helps the body in many ways, both physically and mentally.

improve circulation

Improved circulation in the body often contributes to a snowball effect with regular massage. Move rich, healthy blood to damaged tissue. Using your hands in body pressure can improve your blood circulation by moving blood through damaged and congested tissues and muscles. Realizing pressure on the muscles helps new blood flow to these areas of tissue. Another benefit of massage therapy is that muscle movements and manipulation increase lactic acid within the muscles. This then results in the balance of lymphatic fluid circulation. This system helps transport metabolic waste from internal organs and muscles; improving the overall function of the body.

Stand up, improve your posture

When you get a massage, whether it’s a full body massage or just a head, neck and shoulder massage, your body has a chance to relax, release tension and increase movement. Oftentimes, when you’ve had poor posture, tension is released and your muscles have a chance to relax. When the muscles relax, your body can reposition itself in its corrected natural position. Massage also helps relieve pressure on the joints. Depending on the type of massage you receive, the massage therapist may be experienced in muscle manipulation, helping to relieve knots and manipulate pressure within the skeleton and help stretch and realign your body, helping to improve your posture. Specialized massages such as these should be taken under the supervision of a professional and you should seek the advice of a chiropractor who has extensive knowledge in the field before proceeding with such activities.

Strengthen the immune system

During our busy lifestyles, the implications of stress on the body associated with poor nutrition and poor sleep patterns can take a huge toll on our body and the immune system’s natural defense Along with all the different benefits we’ve explored So far in this article, another benefit of massage therapy is the effects it can have on a person’s immune system. We are all familiar with the positive attributes it has for a person’s general well-being and mood, but it is also known to support the immune system. Massage can help fight the symptoms of the common cold and flu, as well as improve the way the immune system works. Massages such as Swedish massage techniques are known to reduce arginine vasopressin, a hormone linked to aggressive behavior, as well as the hormone cortisol (stress hormone) mentioned above. Such benefits and ways in which they regulate the nervous system, stimulating the circulatory system and the lymphatic systems. It also helps relieve arthritis and sciatica pain.

help with sleep

In order for your body to function at its optimal levels and for you to be at your best health and wellness, it is imperative that you get enough sleep. It is recommended that adults get a total of 7 hours per night to achieve this, while children depend on age but are more than adults. When your body doesn’t reach these levels of sleep, even though you may think you’re fine, your body isn’t actually going to perform at its best in all areas. Such sleep deprived symptoms your body may display include poor work performance, slower reaction times, and fatigue issues, and more result in lower mood and general well-being.

Nutrition and exercise are often recommended to be incorporated into a person’s lifestyle, and sleep quality is one of those factors. The body’s release of cortisol and the tensions within the muscles during a massage help relieve the recipient’s aches and pains, helping with built-up stress. The relaxing atmosphere and often essential oils help reduce the body’s stress levels, contributing to the relaxation of a massage. With frequent massage therapy, it is known that the body is better able to deal with stress and thus leads to a better and more restful night’s sleep.