Massage is the kneading and stroking of the body’s soft tissues – the skin AND the muscles – with varying degrees of pressure. It has long been incorporated into a number of traditional health systems such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.
Generally, there are 2 types of massage and the benefits of each can be different; gentle and strong.
Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals, to help induce relaxation and a sense of well being, to relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. It helps reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.
Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility. Many of today’s health problems can benefit from massage therapy because the manipulation of soft tissues affects so many of our bodily systems.
Prolonged periods of stress can subconsciously affect many systems of the body. Stress has been shown to aggravate, or even cause, such problems as heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss and decreased immune function. Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress. Massage boosts the body’s immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress.
Tension can build up in the muscles, causing a decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues. Manipulation of the soft tissue decreases muscular tension, increases removal of metabolic waste and promotes nutrient delivery to healing tissue. With a therapeutic massage, stress can be significantly reduced. This, in turn, will increase energy, improve your outlook on life, and in the process boost your immune system function.
As you can see, massage is not just a luxury anymore, it’s a better way to healthier living! If nothing else, massage just feels good. It feels good to get, and believe or not, it feels good to give it as well. Massage therapists are known to find a sense of calm themselves when giving a massage.
