Swedish massage, sports massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy massage, shiatsu, or just a back rub from your partner not only relaxes your body but also benefits your health. According to research, most citizens in the US visit the doctor due to pain-related issues.
In addition to providing relaxation, massages act as a painkiller. Since they come in a variety of styles, lengths, and intensities, there are many benefits you can get after only one session per day. Here are some of the top reasons to get a massage today because your body and mind deserve some love, too!
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Photo by 1. A good way to relax
One of the most obvious reasons for getting a massage is relaxation of the body and mind. Relaxation is one of the greatest benefits of any type of massage. Whenever you feel stressed or drained by the end of your workday, a Swedish or hot stone massage will relax you. Hot stone massage, combined with heat, relaxes and soothes achy muscles.
A massage targets the sources of your pain and effectively eliminates tense muscles. After getting a good massage, the levels of both serotonin and dopamine in the body will increase. Once the treatment is over, you will feel completely recovered.
2. It’s a painkiller
In addition to relaxation, the most common reason why people love massages is that they relieve them of pain. Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, said that massage reduces physical suffering by decreasing cortisol and increasing serotonin, which is the body's natural painkiller.
Massage therapy successfully relaxes muscle tissue, which reduces painful contractions. They can decrease acute inflammation and effectively remove headaches as well as the most common complaint among many people – lower back pain. Besides, other areas can be treated well with massage therapy such as the neck, the shoulders, knee, and others.
People who suffer conditions like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, headache, trauma, injury, and such, can get amazing benefits from massage. Just keep in mind that massage does not always mean something very painful. You should tell your therapist if you feel intense pain during the massage.
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3. Relieve anxiety and stress
Regardless of the reason, you feel depressed, anxious, or stressed, if you get a massage, you will feel like a new person. Massages can alleviate the tension in your muscles and relax your mind. According to one Korean study, patients who got hand massages five minutes before cataract surgery had significantly lower heart rates, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
If you don’t have the time to come into your favorite spa, you can ask someone from your family to give you a massage or get a self-massage gadget and work out the tension in your muscles. Massaging your neck, shoulders, and pressure points in the palm of your hand can help you to relieve stress and anxiety.
Read also: How to relieve stress and anxiety at home
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4. Massage makes you smarter
This is an interesting reason for getting a massage. One study found that following a 15-minute chair massage, brain waves changed in the direction of heightened alertness. Study participants were able to perform math computations twice as fast and with twice the accuracy after getting a massage! Massage really boosts your brainpower and enhances EEG pattern for alertness and math computations. Who’d say?
5. Beat insomnia with a massage
Although melatonin can help us sleep better, it is not the right solution for beating insomnia. Before you start taking some melatonin supplements or serious medications, try taking a massage. Massage is a relaxing and drug-free option for fighting insomnia. Ariel Raovfogel, a licensed massage therapist at NY Haven Spa in New York City, says that massage can help people to get a good night’s rest. Studies have shown a strong link between massages and reduced insomnia. If you suffer from insomnia, consider taking a massage.
6. Warm up muscles before exercise
Massages are a great way to warm up your muscles before exercising. Before you go to the gym, massage will remove your muscle tension. And it doesn’t have to be a long massage at the spa. You can massage the muscles yourself. Grab a foam roller and roll your quads before a workout. Before you stretch, massage every part of your body you want until the skin covering the area looks rosy (it’s a sign that blood is flowing there).
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
7. You will be in a better mood after the massage
Massages make people happier. It’s true! It has been proven that massages decrease cortisol (stress hormone) while increasing serotonin and dopamine (happy hormones) responsible for improving your mood. Positive hormones released during massage reduce the feeling of anxiety and nervousness. So, whether it’s a bad day at work or your period is coming, a massage will help you to be in a better mood.
8. Improve your quality of life with a massage
Getting a massage a few times a month can improve your quality of life. This is especially important for adults who have health problems as they age. The American Massage Therapy Association found that massage can help reduce the negative effects of dementia, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and other. Improving the quality of life and overall health is one of the primary reasons why more than half of the 32.6. million Americans get a massage at least once a year.
9. Helps you to overcome PMS
Most women experience lower back pain during PMS and their menstrual cycle. Instead of taking painkillers, consider getting some type of massage. Studies have shown a direct connection between massage and a reduction in water retention, depression, and other symptoms of menstrual distress. Getting a massage during your period will relieve back pain and muscle tension which will make you relaxed and stress-free.
10. Massage can make you beautiful
There are many facial and scalp massage types that give a more contoured face, healthier skin, and better skin. Not only do face massages relax your skin, but they have many beauty benefits. Some studies have found that face massages can stop the skin from aging and remove wrinkles. If you want your skin to look more beautiful, skin experts recommend a facial massage 2-3 times a week. Besides, gentle self-massaging your face every day for up to 10 minutes won’t harm your skin.
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