Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related, and perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Even in your daily life, you've probably noticed that you feel less healthy when you are more stressed. Just think about how this "unhealthy" feeling can build up day after day, and you can get an idea of how damaged our bodies can become from having long periods of unrelieved stress. Massage is known to be an effective tool for managing stress, which translates into:
Decreased anxiety
Enhanced sleep quality
Greater energy
Improved concentration
Increased circulation
Reduced fatigue
Massage can also help address a number of health issues and assist in providing relief in concert with medical programs of treatment, such as:
Alleviating low-back pain and improving range of motion
Assisting with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shortening hospital stays
Easing medication dependence
Enhancing immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system
Exercising and stretching weak, tight, or atrophied muscles
Helping athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts
Improving the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin
Increasing joint flexibility
Lessening depression and anxiety
Promoting tissue regeneration
Pumping oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation
Reducing postsurgery adhesions and swelling
Reducing spasms and cramping
Relaxing and softening injured, tired, and overused muscles
Releasing endorphins—molecules that work as the body's natural painkiller
Relieving migraine pain
Reducing blood pressure
With these healing benefits, a massage may be just what you need.
