Benefits of Massage

Research studies conducted in the United States, Europe and Asia have documented that far beyond simply feeling good, massage therapy has an impressive range of physical, emotional and mental benefits. Up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, anxiety, depression, anger, heart disease, ulcers and high blood pressure as well as physical and emotional exhaustion.

The simple act of being touched can have a positive effect on your emotions. Massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin and stimulates the release of endorphins -- the body's natural feel-good chemicals -- to help bring on feelings of relaxation and well-being.

Beats Aches and Pains - As well as giving your mind and soul a boost, massage has real physical benefits. It eases tense muscles and stiff joints, which also helps improve mobility and flexibility. Massage can help to relieve many common ailments, including back pain, neck pain, PMS, headaches, sciatic issues and repetitive strain injury. Massage can be very beneficial if you get a sore neck and shoulders from sitting at a desk or you spend a lot of time driving or playing sports.  When muscles become tense, the blood flow is restricted and lactic acid builds up, causing stiffness and soreness. By working the muscles, you release this tension and relieve aches and pains.

Aids Digestion - Regular massage helps to get your whole body working properly and improve sluggish digestion. It can help to ease the discomfort of digestive disorders, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It helps you relax -- which in itself can help to reduce the severity and symptoms of IBS -- and the therapist can also massage your colon to encourage bowel movement.

Reduces Stress - One of the biggest benefits of massage is that it helps you feel calm by reducing levels of stress chemicals. When we're stressed, our bodies are flooded with cortisol and noradrenaline. But massage helps us relax and these hormones are reduced -- which slows heart rate, respiration and metabolism, and lowers blood pressure.

Improves Skin Tone - Massage can help you look better, too. It works on the soft tissues (the muscles, tendons and ligaments) under the skin's surface to improve muscle tone. By stimulating circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients around the body, massage may help to give you glowing skin. Massage can help to improve a wide range of skin conditions, such as acne and eczema. Massage, particularly a deep drainage type, also helps boost the lymphatic system, which flushes waste products from the body.

Improves Your Sleep Patterns - Many people have problems sleeping at night, which can be made worse by stress and anxiety. A massage gives you important time away from all of your problems and allows the body and mind time to fully relax. This helps you to switch off at night and get a good night's sleep.