A massage may seem like a luxury splurge, but it can be more affordable and accessible than you may think. It’s perhaps one of the oldest health care practices that are still useful today, and it doesn’t require expensive medical technology. Incorporating massage therapy into your regular routine can promote your physical and mental well-being in several ways.
1. Increase Circulation
Blood flow is how the body systems work and get necessary nutrients to different areas of the body. When any part of your body isn’t getting enough oxygen and minerals, it will be weak and won’t function optimally. Application of the right amount of pressure/friction between your skin and fingers during a massage improves blood flow to key tissues and organs, which helps maintain muscle strength and energy.
Massages can also help remove blockages in the body and promote circulation within the lymphatic system. Poor circulation in this area has been associated with many health disorders. This network of tissues and organs contributes to your body’s ability to fight infections and helps with cellular waste removal. Blockages can impede these crucial body functions, compromising your overall well-being.
Therapeutic massage is particularly beneficial for circulation in the lymphatic system because lymph nodes do not automatically circulate fluid the way blood cells do. It requires knowledge of lymph node placement and proper massaging to work out the lymphatic fluid effectively.
2. Stress Reduction
Studies have found that massages decrease cortisol and increase serotonin and dopamine, which we want our hormones to alleviate stress. When cortisol exceeds a certain level in your brain, it can impact your mood negatively and promote anxiety. Higher serotonin and dopamine levels counteract this effect by promoting a feel-good emotion.
Massages are a great time to work out some of the tension and stress you carry with you in the body. It’s a natural way to create a little extra sense of joy and can benefit your mental health. Research shows it helps improve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and other psychological disorders.
3. Manage Pain
Whether you’re a professional athlete pushing the body every day or suffer from chronic back pain due to weight, there’s a massage for you. Some studies suggest that a therapeutic massage may stimulate competing nerves and block the transmission of pain messages within the central nervous system.
With this in mind, massage therapists work to pinpoint pressurized areas and the starting point of pain. They relieve the tension and have techniques specifically designed to heal the body. Besides helping with tendon and joint pain relief, massage can relax painful muscles, making it an ideal post-workout therapy.
4. Improve Physical Fitness
When the body experiences a lot of pain and tension, it can be hard to move and for the body to perform optimally. By incorporating regular massages into your routine, the body becomes more capable of physical challenges. You can try this remedy every day after exercise to ease your pain and find more joy in working out.
5. Boost Immune System
In a post-COVID world, any opportunity to strengthen the immune system is of greater importance. Regular massages are an excellent option as it has been shown to increase the number of killer T cells in the blood, improving your body’s defense against viruses. This is partly how the therapy can boost your immunity against infections.
The circulation that massages promote is also essential for improving body systems to get healthier faster. Smooth blood flow means an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, promoting cellular health and boosting your immune functions.
6. Self-Care
You deserve to be cared for and have optimal health. Like eating healthy or getting enough sleep, massages can be effective self-care techniques. To take good care of yourself with these soothing therapy sessions, you don’t have to break the bank.
There are even practical ways to self-massage at home to relieve tension after a hard day’s work or manage post-workout muscle soreness. For these health benefits, some people invest in a home massage chair, while others prefer an adjustable bed frame with massage capabilities.
Massage for Optimal Health
Massages are a well-proven stress reliever with many physical and mental health benefits. These are no longer the days you needed an expensive spa membership to have those soothing experiences. While you may see a therapist if necessary, you can also incorporate self-massage into your everyday self-care routine.
