The Health Benefits of Massage
Massages are a wonderful luxury and also one of the few traditionally "guilty pleasures" that aren't so guilty after all. Massages are a great tool for relaxation and stress management, as well as beneficial in treating a host of other problems and giving some unexpected health benefits.Pain Science has yet to discover exactly how massage helps with pain but somehow it does. Theories surround the fact that massages relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and stimulate good hormones. Pain due to fibromyalgia, migraines, and back pain respond particularly well to massage therapy.
Self-Esteem Believe it or not regular massages have been shown to raise self-esteem in some people. Direct contact in the form of touch can help a person feel connected and cared for, and as a result have a greater feeling of self-worth and higher self-esteem.
Mood One of the most common benefits of massage is a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in 'feel good' hormones, which means decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, and improved relaxation and overall mood.
Immunity The stress hormone cortisol impairs the body's immune system, but massages reduce cortisol and so give your immunity a boost.
Sleep/Alertness Massage, depending on what kind, can either stimulate deeper sleep or improved alertness.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
massage reno Jan 29th 2010 3:17PM
Massages are so wonderful. Plus the health benefits of massage are immense, they can help with everything from lowering blood pressure to creating better circulation. I indulge in a massage each month, and while I was pregnant I also got prenatal massages as well. I live in Reno, NV and found the absolute best spa for prenatal massage. Hands down, it can't be beat! http://www.newspareno.com/