Benefits Of Body Massage
Contents
Body massage is a manual therapy that uses pressure to stimulate muscles and other soft tissues. This technique has been practised since ancient times and is often used to treat pain or relax tense muscles.
Massage has long been recognised as a valuable tool for improving health and well-being. Here we look at the many benefits of massage.
Types Of Massage
There are many different styles of massage. Each class has unique benefits and techniques and differs in how the massage is given.
The most popular types of massage are:
Swedish Massage
A Swedish massage helps to energise the body. It typically involves techniques such as rolling, tapping, kneading, and vibration, but sometimes percussion is also used. Massage oil protects the skin and helps to avoid any friction.
Sports Massage
This method is also known as Deep Tissue Massage and is my personal favourite!
If you have injured yourself playing sports or over-trained your muscles, you will almost certainly benefit from a sports massage.
This firm style of massage focuses on one muscle at a time, making it great for releasing tight spots and knots.
Prenatal Massage
This body massage is specially designed for the end of a pregnancy when the mother tends to carry the most weight and may be suffering from pains and aches.
Before getting a prenatal massage, you should speak with a medical professional as this style of massage is not suitable for all pregnancies.
Shiatsu
This style of massage originates from Japan, where taking care of your body and health is at the forefront of the culture.
Pressure is applied using the fingers, thumbs, palms, and feet to help target specific body areas. It works alongside the body’s energy to help relieve pain and improve moods.
Reflexology
Reflexology incorporates different pressure points on the body, including the ears, feet, and hands. It is generally used to relieve stress or anxiety. Nerve endings are stimulated to help heal the body and the mind. Crystals and hot stones are often incorporated into this style of massage.
Thai Massage
This traditional Thai massage is famous all over the world. There are varying levels of Thai massage, with some being deeper and more painful than other treatments, but are typically full-body massages.
A combination of passive stretching, acupressure, and compression improves posture and relieves pain and tension in the joints and muscles.
Aromatherapy Massage
Essential oils are a vital component of aromatherapy massages. The skin and aids absorb the oil with pain relief and relaxation.
This type of massage is incredibly relaxing; people will often fall asleep with an aromatherapy body massage.
Benefits Of Massage
Massage offers a massive range of benefits. Each style provides relief from a range of issues and problems.
Regular massages could help you get a better quality of life back, so it is well worth trying!
The many benefits of massage include:
Relieve Tension And Muscle Pain After Exercise
While it is always recommended that you should stretch after exercising, the truth is that not everyone does.
Over time this can lead to muscle pain and tension as the muscles are constantly tense.
When you exercise, muscles contract, which is why stretching is so important to help loosen and lengthen the muscles again.
Suppose you suffer from tension and pain after exercise. In that case, getting a massage is an excellent way to release your muscles and eliminate the muscle pain you are experiencing.
Medical professionals often recommend massage therapists to help with any injuries due to exercise or sports. I have personally found this to be of great benefit!
Relieves Back Pain
Physical labourers often suffer from back pains due to the constant bending and lifting associated with their job.
When you are experiencing back pain, it can be very restricting. Simple movements become a chore; sometimes, you may be left bed-bound for several days.
Sports massages are a great way to loosen the back muscles. Over time, you will be able to handle a deeper tissue massage to help prevent further pain.
Treatment For Painful Conditions
Painful conditions such as arthritis can lead to stiffness in the muscles in the body. Body massages can be used to improve blood flow and circulation, which helps to reduce inflammation.
Frequent massages are recommended to help prevent flare-ups with your painful condition as they help to avoid a build-up of muscle tension.
Improves Blood Circulation
In order to heal, muscles need blood, which is why many people with poor circulation may experience aches and pains frequently.
The pressure put on the body during a massage moves blood through congested areas, such as tense muscles. When the pressure is released, new blood floods in, this improved circulation helps the muscles to heal.
Massages are particularly effective in helping dissipate all problems associated with poor circulation.
Alleviates Headaches And Migraines
Headaches and migraines are often caused by stress and tension in the muscles.
While you can treat headaches and migraines with pain medication and rest, another natural way of treating them is through massage.
This method can also help prevent further headaches and migraines as the muscles in the body are left relaxed, and feelings of stress disappear.
Helps To Relieve Menstrual Cramps
Many women suffer from horrific menstrual cramps. While heat and pain medications can help, so can body massages, especially across the back and the stomach.
The massage helps to relax the muscles around your pelvis and abdomen, which helps to relieve cramps and any pains.
Treat Cellulite
Massage help to stretch the skin, which can help to work out any cellulite or dimples in the skin.
When the skin is stretched, fat cells are redistributed, which helps to give a more even skin tone and smooth look.
The stretching of the skin also helps with lymphatic drainage, which is a cause of cellulite.
One massage will not treat and cure cellulite forever. You may need to continue to get treatment for the results to last.
Improves Digestion And Boosts Metabolism
A good quality body massage helps stimulate the digestive organs, helping to ease nausea and constipation and allowing your body to get the full extent of the nutrition it gets.
As a result of stimulating the digestive organs, your metabolism also gets a boost.
This boost does not increase your metabolism but instead stimulates your metabolism, which can help your body burn nutrients faster, leading to reduced body fat.
Massages cannot substitute for a good diet and exercise but can help aid your digestion and metabolism.
Reduces Anxiety And Depression
When you get a body massage, the level of dopamine and serotonin in your body rises, these natural chemicals are a huge part of feeling happiness and joy.
Anxiety and depression lower these levels, and norepinephrine levels surge, leading to negative thoughts and low moods. Therefore, massages are a fantastic way of managing the levels of anxiety and depression that you feel naturally.
While massage will not alleviate your condition entirely, it is an excellent way to get a natural serotonin boost when you need it most.
Being kind to your body is difficult when you are experiencing depression and anxiety, so booking a body massage is an easy way to care for your body without putting in any physical effort.
This can help create a better relationship between your mental health and your body.
Treat Insomnia
Suppose you are struggling with sleepless nights or sleep conditions such as insomnia.
You could consider getting some form of massage as they help relieve any feelings of restlessness and tension, allowing you to relax at nighttime.
Helps With Stress Relief
The more soothing types of massage, such as Aromatherapy and Reflexology, help relax the body and the mind.
If you are feeling stressed, a body massage is a fantastic option. It can leave you feeling lighter than before you walked into the massage studio.
Never underestimate the impact stress can have on your body. Always prioritise combatting stress to avoid health conditions and unhappiness.
Improves Your Mood
Everyone works daily on relationships with others to ensure they are happy and content, maybe not your co-workers but your family, loved ones, and friends.
It is also essential to look after yourself and your relationship with your body.
By taking care of your body, you can begin to feel better, which naturally helps to boost your mood, making you feel more positive and content in your day-to-day life.
Reduces Feelings Of Fatigue
Receiving a massage can help to fight the feeling of fatigue as your muscles feel revitalised and bursting with energy.
Your muscles can often feel tired if you have a physically demanding job. Treating them to a body massage is an excellent way of helping your body to keep going and not experience energy lags so often.
Enhance The Immune System
The increased blood flow that courses through your body during and after a massage helps to boost the immune system.
White blood counts are also boosted, which helps fight disease and infection in the body and also aids in reducing cortisol.
Getting a body massage to flush your lymph nodes before the colder winter months may be a great way of helping to protect yourself from illnesses such as the common cold and flu.
Get Rid Of Toxins
The stimulation created through body massages, of any style, is said to help get rid of toxins in the body and deep in the muscle tissue.
The toxins are dissolved into the bloodstream before being removed from the body through excretion, leaving your body feeling pure and cleansed.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a better quality of life and hoping to leave stress and pain behind, then a relaxing massage could hugely benefit you.
With a vast range of styles, you can find a massage that suits you, whether you like a deep muscle massage or a more gentle and relaxing massage you will need a great massage oil. Take a look at our "5 best CBD massage oils" article to help you get started!
Take the time to treat yourself and reap the rewards of a sensual and soothing massage.
