Benefits Than can Be Achieved With Therapeutic Massage

It is a stressful world we live in and regular massage is one way to manage the negetive effects that stress has on our bodies. This is true weather you have "two legs" or "four!" Massage has something for "everybody."

MASSAGE REDUCES THE EFFECTS OF STRESS

Up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, as well as, physical and emotional exhaustion.

Massage therapy has an amazing effect on your body's nervous system. When massage therapy activates your body's parasympathetic nervous system, it counteracts your body's negative response to stress, relaxing muscle tension and allowing your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to return to normal.

MASSAGE RELAXES TENSE MUSCLES

Massage therapy stretches and loosens tight muscles, and connective tissue, breaking down and preventing further formation of adhesions, freeing your range of motion and reducing the dangers of fibrosis.

MASSAGE DECREASES CHRONIC PAIN

Far too many of us face our daily lives with chronic pain due to injuries or illness. Not only does massage therapy help to correct the conditions that cause chronic pain, but it also acts in two ways to decrease the actual pain itself. The first is by the trained touch of a massage therapist activating nerve receptor signals along myelinated nerve fibers to temporarily block chronic pain signals from reaching the brain. The second is by the stimulated release of endorphins (The body's natural painkiller) into the brain and nervous system to reduce your feelings of pain and discomfort without the use of unnatural drugs.

MASSAGE STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Massage therapy not only improves the circulation of blood and its vital nutrients, but also increases the circulation of lymph in your lymphatic system thus helping your body to fight off infection and speeding your recovery from injuries and illness.

MASSAGE CAN IMPROVE NERVE FUNCTION

Contracted muscles can press on or pinch your nerves causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Massage therapy relaxes these contracted muscles to relieve the compression on you nerves. Sensory receptors in the skin and muscles wake up bringing new awareness to areas that have felt cut off by chronic tension patterns.

Tension from everyday stress can disrupt your sleep leaving you tired, irritable and emotionally drained. This can rob you of the patience and stamina needed just to face day-to-day life. Massage therapy relaxes tense muscles and calms the nervous system, causing your body's rhythm to slow down. When this happens, your blood pressure lowers, your heart rate settles, and your breath becomes deeper and more rhythmic, priming you for a perfect night's sleep.

MASSAGE HELPS DURING PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is a time of major structural, physiological, spiritual and social changes. Some of these changes produce discomforts, which can be addressed with appropriate massage therapy. Some of the possible benefits are:

• Reduces stress and promotes relaxation.
• Relieves muscle spasms, cramps, and myofascial pain, especially in the back and neck.
• Increases blood and lymph circulation and supports the physiological process of gestation, by supporting the work of the heart, increasing cellular respiration, reducing edema and contributing to sympathetic nervous system sedation.
• Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints and musculo-fasicial structures.
• Provides emotional support and physical nurturance.
• Develops the sensory awareness necessary to relax during 1st stage labor and to recruit appropriate muscles during the pushing phase.
• Provides a pregnant woman with the experience of loving, nurturing touch so that she may touch her own baby lovingly.

Remember that this is the only body you are ever going to get, take great care of it.

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