Who doesn't love a professional massage. It feels great, it’s relaxing, and you get to unplug and enjoy some time just for yourself. It's hard for massage not to feel like a total luxury. What many don’t know are the numerous health benefits of massage and why it should be seen as more of a necessity and less like a treat.
Here are some of the wonderful effects of massage.
Reduce those headaches. If you’re like many people, headaches and migraines are a part of everyday living. Stress is one of the primary causes of migraines and tension headaches. Massage therapy helps relax away stress and muscle tension so you can finally get some relief. If headaches, including migraines, are a part of your life, tell your therapist, who can adjust techniques to help ease the pain associated with this debilitating problem.
Improve your sleep. Studies show that adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to be well-rested, productive, happy, and healthy. Unfortunately, insomnia, stress, and other factors often creep in and keep us up at night, drastically reducing the hours of deep, restful sleep. Massage can help reduce stress and promote a healthy night’s sleep, even for people with medical conditions who find restful sleep elusive.
Soothe muscle pain. Massage is an important therapy in the treatment of muscle pain. It stimulates circulation for both the blood flowing in and the lymphatic system, which washes out toxins. Finally, massage calms down muscle spasms that can often cause pain. Some studies have shown that massage therapy is an effective treatment for chronic pain, including back pain.
Rebalance after too much sitting. We’ve all seen the studies that link sitting at a desk all day to some serious health risks. That includes a muscle imbalance that that can cause pain and discomfort. For those who need to sit all day for work, the health problems caused by sitting are bad news. Fortunately, massage therapy can help by rebalancing your muscles and posture and counteracting some of those negative effects of prolonged sitting.
Calm anxiety and soothe depression. One way some people feel stress is by feeling anxious, excessively worried about life, or depressed, a condition that’s beyond sadness that affects your life and can make you feel like you’ve just lost interest in normal activities. With massage, you not only get the relaxation that helps calm stress, but you also get the benefit of human touch, a comforting aspect of our lives. Some studies have shown that regular massage can elevate mood and leave you feeling more relaxed and happier.
Boost immunity. If you’re one of the millions of people who are more susceptible to catching colds and flu, anything that boosts your immunity can be a huge help. Studies have shown that regular massage can increase white blood cell count, the cells that fight off disease, as well as lower stress hormone levels and lower levels of molecules that promote inflammation. Soothing all these factors combined helps boost your immune system to fight off infections.
