MetroWest
by Angie Edwards
October 20th -26th is Massage Awareness Week!
Massages can be a pampering treat, but it can also be a huge boost to your health and wellness! Massage therapy can relieve all sorts of ailments.
Here are some proven benefits of a full-body massage:
Stress Release: A relaxing day at the spa is a great way to unwind and de-stress. However, clients are sure to notice themselves feeling relaxed and at ease for days and even weeks after their appointments.
Relief from Body Pain: Massage therapy is great for working out problem areas like lower back pain and chronic stiffness. A professional therapist will be able to accurately target the source of your pain and help achieve the perfect massage regimen.
Improvement in Sleeping: Body massages releases serotonin compound. The increase in serotonin levels helps in sleep improvement.
Relaxation: When the body is tense and under stress, it produces unhealthy levels of the well-known stress hormone cortisol, which can contribute to weight gain, sleeplessness, digestive problems, and headaches. Massage therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels in the body. This enables the body to enter a recovery mode. Moreover, this form of therapy also triggers lasting feelings of relaxation, improved mood, and reduced stress levels.
Increase Blood Circulation: After massage, blood starts flowing in congested blood vessels and carries out metabolic waste from internal organs. Most importantly, a massage promotes improved circulation via the use of hands-on pressure, which moves the blood through the damaged and congested areas of the body. In turn, the release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow into tissues. Furthermore, the squeezing, twisting, and pulling action of the massage technique also removes lactic acid from the muscle tissues. As a result, this action improves the lymph fluid circulation, which carries metabolic waste products away from internal organs and muscles. In turn, this results in lower blood pressure levels and improved overall body function.
Eliminate Toxins: Stimulating the soft tissues of your body will help to release toxins through your blood and lymphatic systems.
Promotes Muscle Relaxation: The purpose of massage therapy is to target the source of the body’s pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the body as a whole. Massage also promotes circulation to the affected or injured muscles, which increases nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues. In turn, this increased activity to the affected sites reduces stiffness and swelling in the muscles and joints, as well as increases flexibility to help reduce pain.
After your massage, drink lots of water! Water is what helps the body to flush out these toxins. Massage helps to increase the circulation of both the blood and the lymphatic system. Your blood needs water in it to keep it moving and doing its job of bringing oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, organs and other tissues.
Hit the gym and get a massage at JCC MetroWest! Visit the fitness reception desk for details and scheduling.
