Massage benefits are beyond bliss!

Think massage. Think bliss! There is something so wholeheartedly, primevally relaxing about the power of touch that for many, a massage is the ultimate way to completely relax your whole body, right to the very core. If you book a session or gift someone you care about with this ancient therapy, it feels like a real treat. And of course it is! However, if you look at the real health benefits of massage you begin to realise that this laying on of hands goes way beyond bliss.

Swedish style massage uses long sweeping strokes, whereas deep tissue massages really dig down into knotty muscles. The popular aromatherapy massage uses oils with a softer, more relaxing massage technique. There are a myriad of different styles and a choice between gentle to strong, with every level of pressure and intensity in between. Massage has an effect on your physical and emotional wellbeing and can be the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains inflicted on the body and mind each and every day. Here are just 10 of the many benefits massage can bring:

1. Eases digestive disorders by stimulating  peristalsis to prevent constipation, triggering the release of digestive enzymes and reducing bloating and stress in the gut.

2. Battles insomnia by affecting your body’s ability to produce serotonin which in turn allows the body to fall more easily into sleep.

3. Reduces pain in aching muscles by activating natural anti-inflammatories within the body. Massage also increases the levels of certain proteins which send signals to the body. These in turn help increase energy and the healing process.

4. Manipulates deep muscles to eradicate knots that are not easy to undo through exercise. In fact, massage can be a great way to unwind after a vigorous workout that has challenged the body, or on the contrary to help tight muscles after a bout of not being mobile.

5. Alleviates pain from headaches which are often caused by muscles that have contracted in the neck or the skull. Throbbing pains that are brought on by anxiety can be relieved too as massage helps stresses and strains melt away.

6. Enhances moods by reducing anxiety and possibly even feelings of depression, by stimulating nerve cell receptors that in turn increase endorphin levels which have a feel-good impact. Serotonin and dopamine levels are also affected which also have an influence on mood.

7. Helps fibromyalgia symptoms which manifest as discomfort in the joints, tendons and muscles, or even pain and stiffness throughout the body, with sensitivity at certain pressure points. Massage carries oxygen to tissues and also stimulates circulation which regulates temperature which has a knock-on effect on pain levels during flare-ups.

8. Trigger techniques help myofascial pain syndrome which affects the connective tissue causing discomfort in specific areas of the body or in the whole body. Massage gets rid of these knotted areas by manipulating tissue so that it goes back to its original state, allowing the body greater flexibility and bringing pain relief through release.

9. Detoxifies by encouraging your whole system to work more efficiently in eliminating toxins so that you don’t feel sluggish but invigorated, energized and revitalized instead.

10. Relaxation is not just about chilling out and doing nothing but is a great way to clear the mind and  de-stress. By switching off and allowing yourself to melt into a massage you are giving your mind some respite too so that you can face renewed challenges with clarity and perhaps even a different perspective.

What do you love about massage? What are some of the benefits you’ve experienced through this wonderful therapy? Let us know!