Massage is a familiar luxury at resorts and hotels. It is known to relieve pain and boost circulation, but it also has powerful mental health benefits.
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Relaxation massage is designed to soothe and rejuvenate the whole body. It incorporates a number of techniques, including effleurage, kneading and tapping. Effleurage uses long, flowing strokes to warm up the muscles and is often used at the start and end of a session. Petrissage, or kneading, involves using the thumbs or fingers to loosen tight muscles and improve circulation. Tapotement, or percussion, uses rhythmic tapping or drumming movements on the skin with the fingertips or cupped hands to stimulate muscle tissue and boost blood flow to the area. Friction is a technique that can generate heat to break up muscle knots and relieve tension.
Massage can have an emotional effect as well, releasing feel good hormones such as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine, increasing mood and promoting feelings of euphoria and happiness. It also helps decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. In the days following a massage, these hormones continue to increase and can help reduce anxiety and depression by regulating emotions, improving your outlook and overall mood.
The reassuring touch and soothing movement of massage stimulate the?relaxation response?, which causes the heart and breathing rate to slow down. This can relieve aches and pains, improve sleep quality and mood, as well as alleviate stress, anxiety and depression.
A relaxation massage is an ideal way to unwind and treat yourself to a little me-time. To get the most out of your experience, try to arrive early and give yourself plenty of time both before and after your treatment to allow yourself to relax into the space. Avoid consuming large meals or alcohol and drink water to stay hydrated before your appointment. This will also help the body flush toxins and maximise the effectiveness of your treatment.
A relaxing massage is perfect for anyone who needs a little TLC, whether you’re a high achiever who suffers with back and neck stiffness or you have an underlying condition that is contributing to poor health. It’s important to book a relaxation massage with a professional therapist who understands your individual requirements and can tailor their techniques to suit you.
Relieve Pain
Massage can relieve pain by increasing blood flow to the area, interrupting the pain cycle and releasing endorphins. It also increases range of motion and flexibility and may help heal tendons, ligaments, and muscles. It is often used to treat chronic aches and pains such as low back and neck pain, stiff shoulders and neck, repetitive strain injury (RSI), osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, tennis elbow, muscle spasms, tension headaches and migraines. It is commonly used in conjunction with other treatment methods such as exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and medical interventions such as cortisone injections.
When the body is in a state of stress or pain it triggers the fight-or-flight response in the brain. This triggers fearful thoughts that far outweigh any real danger in the environment. Massage has been shown to decrease the activity in the part of the brain responsible for triggering the fight-or-flight reaction. This reduction in activity can reduce anxiety, depression and feelings of vulnerability and increase feelings of safety, comfort and happiness.
There are a number of different types of massage including Swedish, deep tissue, sports, and trigger point. Each type of massage has specific goals. Swedish massage is designed to promote general relaxation and reduce stress. Deep tissue massage involves the use of deep pressure to release tight muscles and connective tissue. Trigger point massage involves the application of deep pressure to specific areas of the body in order to release trigger points, which are knots within the muscles that cause pain and numbness.
Research suggests that patients with musculoskeletal pain have improved function, decreased pain intensity and severity, increased flexibility, and reduced rates of postoperative complications when receiving regular massage. Using patient-reported outcomes as a basis for treatment and evaluation of treatments would enable massage and other integrative therapies to be evaluated in terms of both cost and clinical effectiveness.
Many people experience pain on a daily basis and are looking for ways to alleviate it without the side effects of prescription medications. Increasing numbers of people are turning to massage for relief from pain and other symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, stress, and a lack of sleep.
Better Sleep
One of the most common barriers to a good night’s sleep is muscle tension. Massage can help reduce this tension, and improve the overall quality of sleep.
Research shows that massage can decrease cortisol levels, while increasing serotonin and dopamine – two neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. The combination of these effects can create a more consistent journey from wakefulness to sleep and back again, leading to better sleep in the long run.
A study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing found that subjects who received a 3 minute back massage experienced lower heart rate, slower breathing, reduced blood pressure, relaxed muscles and an overall sense of calmness. This was achieved through a series of massage techniques, including long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements and vibration. The researchers also used a sleep scale and urine samples to monitor the effects of the treatment.
The study found that in addition to the physical benefits of massage, it can also aid with sleeping disorders. A lack of sleep can cause a variety of health issues, from increased stress to weight gain and depression. Massage can improve sleep in both the short and long term, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions that negatively impact sleep, such as pain, hyperarousal and insomnia.
While a good massage can help with sleep, it’s important to remember that it may not work for everyone, so it’s best to try it out on a regular basis. To get the most out of your massage, have open communication with your therapist and let them know what’s working and what’s not. This will help make the session as comfortable and effective as possible.
Regular massage can increase the body’s level of serotonin and dopamine, which leads to less stress, improved mood and a healthier mind and body. In addition to receiving regular massages, it’s a good idea to practice relaxation techniques before bed. This can include meditation, yoga and progressive muscle relaxation, and can help you achieve a more restful and rejuvenating sleep. With a little effort, you can enjoy all the wonderful benefits of a good massage, and enjoy better sleep, all year round.
Better Mental Health
As a society, we’ve become accustomed to the idea of getting a massage when we’re feeling stressed or sore. It’s common to think of it as a luxurious “spa day” activity and many health insurance companies cover it, but the research behind its mental health benefits is still in its early stages.
The benefits of massage extend beyond just making us feel good; it actually changes the way our bodies and brains work. The relaxed state that massage induces helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms our body’s response to stress and balances our hormone levels. It elevates neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety and depression and decreases the production of cortisol, a hormone that can trigger those feelings.
Anyone who’s ever had a great massage knows that it can leave them in a better mood than when they walked in. That’s because massage increases the release of serotonin and dopamine, two powerful endorphins that can combat depression and boost your mood. The result is a natural, healthy energy boost that can last longer than a jolt from a caffeine drink or a prescription antidepressant.
Aside from the emotional benefits, massage also gives a big boost to your immune system. Studies have shown that moderate pressure massages improve the function of white blood cells, which are your body’s first line of defense against infections and viruses.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the United States, affecting 40 million adults. Almost everyone has experienced anxiety at some point, and many of those experiences are exacerbated by high levels of stress in their lives. Thankfully, therapeutic massage can alleviate those levels of stress and lower your overall anxiety levels, giving you peace of mind and a sense of well-being.
Massage is like an hourlong hug for your whole body, a nurturing safe place to relax and physically rest. It can help you mentally, too, promoting better sleep and higher energy levels. So what are you waiting for? Book a massage today and start boosting your mental health. You’ll thank yourself later!