6 Major Benefits of Massage
For someone interested in receiving a massage for the first time, or even somebody who has had dozens of massages, you may be wondering if it’s actually beneficial for you. Is it more than simply a luxurious way to make you feel good? The short answer: Yes! Read on to find out the 6 major benefits of massage…
#1: Decrease stress
Well, this is an obvious one; it is a major reason why people come receive a massage. We can suffer from acute stress (ex. A car driving straight towards you) as well as chronic stress (ex. Worrying about your future). Massage can help calm you down by reducing your heart rate and anxiety, among other factors. We’ll delve more into the topic of stress in a future blog post!
#2: Loosening of adhesions and fascia
Fascia is the layer between the skin and muscles, and it can get clumped up together like muscle tissues. Common situations that may cause fascia adhesions may be sedentary lifestyle or a scar. Massage can help loosen the fascia which allows your tissues to move more freely.
#3: Relieving muscle tension and elongating muscles
It’s very common that people come in without knowing how much tension they are holding in their muscles. The tension in the muscles will limit your joint’s range of motion and it may even cause pain to move the joint. Massage will help release the tension within the muscles and help regain their natural muscle length.
#4: Increase in circulation
Massage increases the circulation of bodily fluids such as blood. When blood starts to circulate well, that’s when you feel warm, but more importantly, blood flow means oxygen and nutrients are being delivered around your body! Your tissues need oxygen and nutrients to heal, so if we can get your blood moving, then that means better healing for your tight muscles and injuries!
#5: Removal of toxins (i.e. waste)
Have you ever heard of the lymphatic system? You can think of this as the opposite of the cardiovascular system: instead of delivering nutrients, the lymphatic system is the waste removal system. Massage stimulates the circulation of lymph, which helps move waste (dead cells, etc.) out of your body. Common situations such as a lack of exercise, overconsumption of salts, and inflammation of tissues can result in a build up of waste that may benefit from stimulation of massage.
#6: Release of hormones
Massage helps release hormones as well as reduce some hormones. For example, massage helps the release of melatonin, which helps one sleep; it reduces cortisol, which reduces blood pressure; and it increases the release of serotonin, which bolsters mood!
These are some of the most common benefits of receiving a massage, but don’t assume these are it! There are some other benefits as well as benefits specific to the style of massage. Whether your goal is to maintain your body for exercise, to de-stress from all the unhappy happenings, to reduce chronic back pain, or whatever it is, massage will help you get one step closer to your goal. If you are looking for a massage in Lakewood or surrounding areas west of Denver metro area, I would be delighted to help you on your journey!