We are huge fans of investing in personal health and natural beauty. And it’s becoming more and more commonplace for women (and men!) to choose a healthy diet, exercise regularly, take time out for personal rejuvenation with natural hair and skin care. But something a lot of us could benefit from—and forget to include in our regular routine—is massage.
Massage is an ancient practice, with roots in cultures around the world. And it’s no wonder that so many cultures see massage as a healing art when you consider all the health benefits that have been documented.
Massage can help rebalance your body after long periods of sitting. We all know now that sitting all day is really bad for our hearts, but it’s also really hard on our muscles. If you’ve experienced pain in your shoulders, neck, lower back, or gluteal after a long week sitting at your desk at work, then you’ve been dealing with a kind of postural stress that can be alleviated with massage.
In fact, any kind of muscle pain can often be relieved with massage. Increasing circulation to an area that is sore helps to reduce pain in that place. A 2011 study from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that massage can even be an effective treatment for chronic back pain.
Massage can also help reduce emotional pain, sooth anxiety and help alleviate depression. We all know that human touch can be incredibly healing, and when you experience it in a context that is safe, friendly and professional, it can be both relaxing and therapeutic. A study from the International Journal of Science revealed that women diagnosed with breast cancer who received massage therapy three times per week reported feeling less depressed and angry.
Do you ever struggle with insomnia? Massage could be the answer to a better night’s sleep for you. Studies have shown that regular massage helps people experiencing great physical pain during cancer treatment get better sleep despite the pain. But massage can help anyone get a better night’s sleep—even newborns. According to research from the University of Warwick, infants cried less and slept more when they experienced regular, gentle massage.
Massage can even boost your immunity. According to a study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, massage boosts white blood cells, which play a large part in defending you from illness.
But what massage really comes down to is feeling great. Feeling really relaxed has health benefits all its own, so call us today to schedule a massage. You’ll be so glad you did.
