10 Ways Massage Can Improve Wellness<\/b><\/p>\n
In this day and age, if you\u2019re not stressed out there \u2018must\u2019 be something wrong with you. High levels of stress in our daily lives is simply the norm for most of us. Luckily for this generation, there are many ways to de-stress\u2014travel, yoga, exercise, movies, dining and more, but when it comes to shrugging off life\u2019s daily grind and compensating for that toxic blend of anxiety and stress, nothing beats a great massage.<\/span><\/p>\n Besides feeling so damn good, massage provides us with a number of meaningful health benefits you may not be aware of. Here are 10 ways your body responds to a massage and why making massage a wellness habit is a great idea for prolonged health and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Improves Blood Circulation<\/b><\/p>\n A pain in the shoulders and the neck can be a result of postural stress – you get it from sitting too much at your desk job or at home. When you don\u2019t stretch out much, walk less, and it often, you compromise your body\u2019s blood circulation. This leads to a poor immune system and slow digestion among other chronic diseases.<\/p>\n You can help get your circulation back on track by integrating a regular massage into your routine to counteract that \u201csitting\u201d energy. According to Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center<\/a>, exercise is great but a massage for your body is just as beneficial in stimulating blood flow which helps keep your digestive and immune functions going smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2.\u00a0<\/strong>Relaxes Muscular Tension<\/b><\/p>\n Too much stress leads to muscular tension. Got stiffening legs or sore muscles? Free your muscles from it\u2019s tensed stated and let a massage therapist knead away those aching muscles, headaches or back pains.<\/span><\/p>\n The Annals of Internal Medicine published a study in 2011<\/span><\/a> concluding that getting a massage can be extremely effective in managing chronic back pain. <\/span><\/p>\n A good massage therapist will have a full quiver of techniques to help bring muscles back to their natural supple, healthy state. What\u2019s amazing is that with regular massage, this suppleness will last longer and longer.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Combatting Anxiety and Depression<\/b><\/p>\n Hippocrates defined a massage as the \u201cart of touching\u201d because human touch can change lives or it can simply be relaxing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some cancer patients get regular massage therapy as part of their treatment and the <\/span>Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry<\/span><\/a> disclosed that a 30 minute back massage given daily for a 5 day period to 52 hospitalized depressed and adjustment disorder children and adolescents, reduced stress levels. When happy hormones are induced and neuromuscular pathways are calmed, anxiety and depression are significantly reduced.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. Sleep Better<\/b><\/p>\n When your blood circulation improves, you feel calmer and more relaxed – as if you have just been rejuvenated. \u00a0You can\u2019t help but have a better perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n When your mind is clear after a good massage, you\u2019ll indulge in long and deep sleep. Even infants who have no worries in the world sleep better and longer when massaged correctly, according to a study from the University of Warwick.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Strengthens Immunity<\/b><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine<\/span><\/a>, people who get regular massages have better immune functions based on a study in 2010 conducted among HIV patients.<\/span><\/p>\n When you are stressed you are more prone to viruses and diseases. Help keep your body\u2019s defenses up and running and treat yourself to a relaxing massage which can help reduce the level of stress hormones floating around your bloodstream<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6. Soothes Headaches<\/b><\/p>\n Instinct will tell you to rub or apply pressure on an aching part of your body or head to relieve the pain so next time you get struck by a terrible headache you can self-massage or someone can do it for you, either a loved one or a <\/span>professional<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7. Get that Skin Glowing<\/b><\/p>\n As blood circulation dramatically<\/span> improves<\/span><\/a> by simply massage your face or body so will your pale skin. Get that natural glow from the inside and save your skin from the harsh effects of stress!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. Invigorate your senses <\/b><\/p>\n There are days when you just seem lifeless and weak. It can be a combination of life\u2019s drudgery both physical and emotional so how do you fight back?<\/span><\/p>\n Try booking a massage<\/span><\/a>. Massage therapy has been shown to help rebalance not only a person\u2019s body, but their mind, and spirit as well. We\u2019ve all experienced at one time the feeling of being \u201ccentered\u201d, that everything was right with the world. Massage can help get you back there.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9. Connect with yourself<\/b><\/p>\n There are depressed people, there are anxious people. There are also those who seem distracted and detached from the world or themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n Did you know that regular trips to a massage therapist can get you into the zen zone? That zone of relaxation and solitude where your worries are being kneaded away. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10. Improves Your Body\u2019s Flexibility<\/b><\/p>\n Most athletes never miss a massage. It\u2019s because it brings<\/span> therapeutic relief<\/span><\/a> in their system and enhances their flexibility which is necessary for agility, or simply a break from the world of competition.<\/span><\/p>\n