A massage does much more than just create a sense of deep relaxation and abundant well-being. After a massage, those who are prone to seasonal illnesses like colds and flu notice that their immune system is stronger. After a massage, those who participate in sports notice improved athletic performance and enhanced recovery from their strenuous workouts. After a massage, those who are suffering from a chronic illness like sciatica or diabetes notice that they feel far better. And after a massage, those who suffer from a limited range of motion notice far more flexibility.
The reason why massage works as well as it does is because it addresses circulation problems, reduces aches and pains, and relieves stiffness and inflammation in joints and muscles.
The Benefits of Receiving A Professional Massage
A massage therapist has not only had extensive training in learning exactly how exactly how to relieve pain and stiffness and improve blood and lymph circulation, but also uses special equipment like message therapy tables with memory foam and adjustable headrests and armrests; special lotions like a controlled glide massage cream that improves soft-tissue work and provides a controlled glide without sticking or drying on the skin; and holistic healing practices like aromatherapy that burn essential oils that soothe the nerves and calm the mind.
A highly skilled massage therapist can even speed up the healing of scar tissue and stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal muscle-tears, sore tendons and damaged ligaments.
The Benefits of Massage Therapy
Although a person who has had a massage will readily admit to feeling better, experiencing more flexibility, enjoying an increased range of motion, and feeling more energy and enhanced vitality, they are actually not fully aware of all the healing changes that have occurred in their body.
Specifically, massage therapy helps promote physical relaxation; improves circulation; relieves tight muscles, aches and pains; and releases compressed nerves (which the body experiences in the form of painful conditions like carpel tunnel or sciatica).
Here are some other benefits of massage therapy:
· Enhanced oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscle cells because of improved circulation.
· Removal of waste products lodged in the muscles.
· Reduction of inflammatory conditions like edema, a condition where there is too much fluid locked in body tissues.
· Relief from the pain of arthritis.
· Lowering the heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
· Boosting the immune system
· Systemically decreasing the physical manifestation of stress caused by an overstimulation of the hormone cortisol.
Three Powerful Ways Massage Creates a Healing Response in the Body
Massage creates physical healing in three major ways:
· It decreases pain and it increases healthy tissue functioning for conditions like sciatica, whiplash, torticollis, thoracic outlet syndrome, myofascial pain, and muscle injury
· It helps ameliorate symptoms and reduce complications arising from conditions like gout, osteoarthritis, Raynaud’s Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases
· It promotes emotional, physical, and psychological conditions like improved mood, reduced stress levels, less anger, less aggression, and decreased sleep disturbance
An Overlooked Health Resource
Massage is often overlooked as an aid to maintaining well-being. It is not only important to nourish the body properly and exercise it adequately, but it is also important to ensure that it is also restored and rejuvenated through the science of massage therapy.
