There are so many ways that massage therapy can benefit you. A healthy body depends on the happy cooperation of the body’s skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, and this type of bodywork benefits all of them. In addition, it improves the tone and condition of the skin.
Massage affects you physically, emotionally and physiologically. It is very relaxing and helps to dissipate tiredness and muscle tension. It can also improve your immunity to disease by increasing your white blood cells. Improved oxygenation helps tissues receive the nutrition they need and improves elimination, often accompanied by a reduction in water retention.
Relief from headaches, anxiety, and insomnia may also occur. Scar tissue is sometimes seen to shrink and regular healing bodywork can help you recover after an operation. By improving muscle tone and balance, the physical stress placed on bones and joints is improved.
If your job involves long hours of standing on hard floors, lifting heavy objects, or having to sit for long periods, you may end up with back pain, tight shoulders, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Repetitive strain can be the result of staying in the same position for unnatural periods of time.
If your joints tend to be stiff from too much or too little exercise and you suffer from various aches and pains, a regular massage could be very helpful. Massage is very useful for dancers, athletes and others who trust that their body is in optimal condition for their work.
Even babies can benefit greatly from a massage. In ancient cultures, such as India, it was common practice to gently rub oil on a baby’s limbs to help her health and benefit joints and skin. Research done on children who had received daily massages from their parents showed a marked increase in their health.
Some of the most difficult effects of aging can be improved with good physical therapy. Sessions are often a welcome addition to hospice care delivery, due to their profoundly calming effects.
Psychological difficulties such as depression can be relieved. The beneficial effects on the body system help promote positive and healthy states of mind, in part due to the hormones (endorphins) released by the process.
The Arabic word meaning ‘to knead bread’ is the origin of our word ‘massage’. The sessions include the application of kneading movements on the muscles and more direct pressure on the deeper tissues.
During a session, the therapist will rub and knead the muscles to dissolve the tension and pain stored in them. Traditional strokes have names like ‘effleurage’ (a gentle sweeping stroking motion), ‘petrissage’ which deeply kneads and tightens the underlying muscles, and ‘tapotement’, or ‘hacking’ which applies rhythmic percussive movements, using the sides of the hands, fingertips or cupped hands that stimulate the body.
Preventive care is crucial to maintaining good health. A regular session of physical therapy will calm and revitalize you, thus improving the function of your entire system. Whether you need some time alone to relax or need advice and help with a health issue, massage could help you develop a more naturally healthy and productive lifestyle.
