The Benefits Of Massage

Ever have one of those days when life's little tensions make you feel all tied up in knots? The answer could be a soothing massage.

Massage therapy had become increasingly popular as more and more people discover its benefits. Massage creates a relaxed state which increases your capacity for clearer thinking, enhances functions of joints and muscles, improves circulation and body tone and relieves mental and physical fatigue. While the immediate, feel-good effects of massage have rarely been disputed, its potential long-term health benefits are more controversial. Physiologically, massage stimulates blood circulation, pumps fresh oxygen into muscles and releases muscle tention. These effects translate readily into relaxation, reduced anxiety and relief from minor physical complaints. Some studies suggest massage also may hold promise for longterm health benefits. There are indications that massage may help reduce heart rate and blood pressure, lower stress hormones and boost production of serotonin, a mood-elevating brain chemical.

Consequently. massage therapy may offer relief from depression, imsomnia, muscular aches and tension, sports injuries, rheumatoid arthritis and other disorders. Researchers also propose that massage may serve as a kind of "touch therapy," fullfilling an emotional need for individuals who lack physical contact with others.

What Will A Massage Do For You?

Physiological benefits include:

• Increase circulation to all ares of the body.
• Removal of toxins and waste products that bult up in tissues.
• Reduction in recovery time from certin injuries.
• Breaking of the pain-tension cycle which helps prevent muscle strains and aches.
• Increased flexibility and joint mobility
• Better muscular balance throughout the body.
• Softening of the connective tissue that permeates the body, resulting in more relaxed muscles and more efficient organ function.

Psychological benefits include:

• A calming effect which eases tension and helps cope with stress more effectively.
• Achieving a meditative state (alpha waves increase) slowing racing thoughts and worries.
• Re-connection with our bodies and a sense of well-being.
• Higher energy levels, both in body and mind!