Massage is ‘structured touching’ or touching with purpose. This purpose may be directed toward relieving muscle pains and stress, increasing body awareness, or general relaxation. Tangible outcomes can be experienced in the active stimulation of skin, lymph and blood, relaxation of the muscles and nervous system, elimination of metabolic waste, stretching of connective tissues and releasing of a tranquilizing effect into the entire organism through parasympathetic activation. Massage is a healthy way of handling stress. Therapeutic massage is increasingly being recommended by doctors to complement traditional medicine as research proves its healing effects.
Benefits may include:
- Reduces stress and tension
- Reduces heart rate and blood pressure
- Increases blood flow and lymphatic flow
- Increases immune functioning
- Relieves chronic and acute pains
- Increases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers
- Improves flexibility
- Increases join mobility
- Decreases anxiety and depression by increasing serotonin
- Enhances general health
- Speeds recovery from strenuous activity
- Prevents sports injuries and increases athletic performance
- Helps relieve tension, sinus and migraine headache
- Promotes healthy skin
- Complements physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic and psychotherapy
