If you ask anyone who has gotten a massage, they would tell you it was probably nothing short of amazing. We often think of massages as a luxury and something to just treat ourselves with, but not many people realize that there are an abundance of health benefits that come along with massages. The next time you are trying to come up for some reasons to pamper yourself with a massage, look back at these 10 reasons.
1. It can lower your stress and anxiety
One of the first things you hear about massages is how relaxing they are because that is one of the best benefits! Stress can wreak havoc on the body and it is related to a wide variety of health issues and diseases. By managing stress, you can reduce your risks of developing some serious diseases like cardiovascular disease or cancer! While a massage is happening, the body releases endorphins (otherwise known as the “feel good chemical”) to help calm you down and relax your body.
2. Increase your energy levels
Massages are an awesome pick-me-up because massage helps increase the circulation of blood in the body which increases the oxygen levels in the blood and transports nutrients to the body. In addition, massage works the lymphatic system too which is responsible for taking all of those nasty toxins out of your blood. Since toxic metals in the blood could deplete energy levels, a massage can help filter those out. Lastly, massages help you relax which in turn, help you sleep and we all know we have more energy after a good night’s rest.
3. Boost your immune system
As mentioned above, massage promotes a healthy lymph system by promoting the filtration of toxins out of the blood. Removing these toxins from your body is one awesome way that massages help boost the immune system. People who are always under a lot of stress are more likely to get sick. Since massages help stress and anxiety theycan help prevent getting run-down.
4. Decrease pain in the body
Pain, especially back pain, is greatly reduced during massage and one of the reasons many people love them so much. This is because massages dampen the activity of a protein known as inflammatory cytokines which cause inflammation and pain. It is even said that massages help to reduce pain almost as much as over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, motrin and advil.
5. May lead to reduced use of medications
Because massages provide the same pain relief as pain medications, it has been found that people getting regular massages tend to use less pain medication. This is great news. The misuse or abuse of painkillers is a serious societal issue.
6. Relieve headaches
Tension headaches are a very common type of headache, believed to be caused by tension in the muscles of the face, neck, scalp, and jaw. Usually, tension headaches are caused by stress. Since massage reduces stress and alleviates the tightness in the muscles, the chances of getting these tension headaches are dramatically decreased!
7. Improve flexibility
By working on the muscles and joints, massage is great for improving overall range of motion and flexibility. This is because when the muscles are tense, it is hard to get them to stretch and therefore hard to be flexible. Since massage relieves that muscle tension, flexibility will be improved.
8. Can improve sports performance in athletes
As mentioned above, massage not only improves circulation and helps to transport important nutrients to the different parts of the body but it also helps reduce the tension in the muscles and therefore improve flexibility and mobility. As an athlete, this is very important because it can help to prevent injuries and help injuries heal faster than normal.
9. Can reduce depression
Depression is often related to high cortisol levels and can manifest in a multitude of ways. You may feel achy, tired, weak, run down, etc. Massages help to decrease those cortisol levels which in-turn decreases the symptoms of depression. It can also help to lower blood pressure, improve breathing, and settle your nerves.
10. Can make you look younger
Forget the Botox; get a massage! Since massages promote so much relaxation, this means your facial muscles will relax too. By relaxing those muscles, we can soften our expression and prevent the formation of all those wrinkles! The increase in circulation due to the massage is another reason why it can make you look younger and give you that glowing look! Stress and anxiety often bring out skin problems so by decreasing stress, we can improve our skin.
You don’t need to FIND a reason to get a massage… all of your reasons are right here! Massages aren’t just great for a little relaxation and getting out of the house, they are great for the skin, the muscles, the mind, the blood, the joints and all other parts of your body. Come on in and schedule an appointment today to get you feeling back to healthy and happy.