When you think of massage, the likelihood is you think of it as “a little me” time. And yes, massage certainly does offer a great way to escape from the stresses of our day-to-day lives, but increasingly studies are showing that massage gives you so much more: a range of emotional and physical benefits. Here are our top ten reasons to have more massage:
An Integral Part For Well-being
With all these benefits, it’s no wonder today’s consumer is beginning to see massage as an integral part of their well-being journey. As we all re-examine our wellness choices, massage therapy is shedding the stereotype of being an occasional indulgence. Instead, it’s become a highly integral body maintenance experience that offers any number of health benefits when consistently incorporated with other total body care actions.
Danielle Taylor, Massage Therapist, provides a wide range of Massage Treatments at BodyMatters Clinic
Top 10 reasons for more massage in your life.
- Reduces stress. A single massage can lower your heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels, all of which are tied to how stressed you feel.
- Help you relax. Long after your massage is over, you will still benefit from a host of brain chemistry responses that encourage feelings of relaxation, lowered stress and improved moo
- Improve movement. Massage helps you become aware of your body and how it feels to ‘be in’ a body. This heightened sense of body-awareness can help you to move and stand confidently with increased ease and comfort.
- Aids circulation. The pressure from massage moves oxygen-rich blood through the body to damaged, tense muscles so they can heal, while also moving metabolic waste via the lymphatic system.
- Lowers blood pressure. Through reducing everyday stress and anxiety, massage can lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
- Increase flexibility. Sedimentary lifestyles and age can make joints less flexible. Massage helps improve fluidity and the sense of motion in your joints and connective tissues.
- Breathe better. Massage can relax muscles in the upper body, which, if they become too tight, can constrict breathing.
- Help headaches. Regular massage reduces your chance of developing a headache in the first place by relaxing muscle spasms and trigger points. Already have a headache? It can help decrease the pain.
- Sleep better. Regular massage has been found to decrease depression and anxiety levels and improve sleep quality.