The Benefits of Massage
Useful for all of the conditions listed below and more,
massage can:
- Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
- Ease medication dependence.
- Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
- Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
- Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
- Increase joint flexibility.
- Lessen depression and anxiety.
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
- Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
- Reduce spasms and cramping.
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
- Relieve migraine pain.
A Powerful Ally
There’s no denying the power of
bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering,
rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious
treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a
powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.
Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress
related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally,
than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in
this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt,
help manage stress. This translates into:
- Decreased anxiety.
- Enhanced sleep quality.
- Greater energy.
- Improved concentration.
- Increased circulation.
- Reduced fatigue.
Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and
clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork
provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible
physical benefits.
Profound Effects
In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes
cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that
with massage:
- Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
- Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
- Burn injury patients report reduced pain,
itching, and anxiety.
- High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
- Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
- Preterm infants have improved weight gain.
Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which
range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and
injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles.
Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and
massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal
intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site
massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain
patients as part of the recovery process.
Increase the Benefits with Frequent Visits
Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage
frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking
part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part
in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each
passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent
intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just
because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any
less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of
your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to
establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.
The Benefits of Skincare
Useful for all of the conditions listed below and more, professional skincare can:
- Help support healthy cell-turnover, which will help the skin to age more gracefully.
- Hydrate and soothe all skin types & conditions, including dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin.
- Clean and detoxify problematic skin types & conditions, including oily and acneic skin.
- Support and rejuvenate mature skin, allowing for a more graceful aging process.
- Teach you the tools you need to care for yourself at home, further promoting the benefits of professional facials.
- Aids in relaxation, as most facials involve massage.
- Stimulates blood and oxygen flow to the skin.
- Continuous facials reduce impurities and breakouts. A consistent at-home routine will further promote these results. In fact, it is imperative.
|
