Massages are a great way to ease stress and everyday aches and pains. Your doctor might have even recommended massage to treat your headaches or the symptoms of pregnancy. However, did you know that receiving the 5 benefits of regular massages has many other benefits that you might not expect? Here are a few of the lesser-known benefits of receiving regular massages.
Massage Can Help With Anxiety
From headaches and breathing issues to chronic fatigue and high blood pressure, anxiety has several negative impacts on a person’s body and health. Enjoying a regular massage can not only help you relax and ease anxiety in the moment, it can also have a positive impact on your overall health.
A therapeutic massage can decrease the amounts of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate your metabolism and help with your body’s natural immunity. When cortisol levels are too high, however, this can cause several symptoms, including weight gain, irritability, depression, and anxiety.
Massage can also raise the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain but primarily in the digestive tract, which can counteract the symptoms of anxiety, decrease nausea, and improve bone health.
Massage Can Help You Sleep Better
Just like anxiety, insomnia and a lack of adequate sleep can help several negative impacts on your body. The lower levels of cortisol in your blood after a massage can also improve a person’s sleep and curb insomnia. Additionally, when you receive a massage, you are able to relax – rather than focusing on your money troubles, kids, or the other everyday stresses of life – and ease minor aches and pains that can keep you awake.
Massage Can Help With Several Chronic Conditions
After being diagnosed with any number of chronic conditions, do not be surprised if your doctor recommends massage therapy. A doctor will often prescribe regular massages for these chronic conditions:
- Asthma
- Carpal tunnel
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Sciatica
Your doctor will often recommend massage after suffering a sports injury, such as tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, sprains, and muscle or joint damage as well. The massage can help you relax and improve your range of motion, loosen sore muscles, and increase blood flow to the injury and throughout your body.
Massages Can Improve Your Immune System
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that help your body fight off illness. When you receive a Swedish massage, the production of lymphocytes improves, which, in turn, can help you combat the common cold or other viruses and bacteria.
Cortisol reduction from massage can also help keep you from getting sick. When your body is less stressed, it is stronger and more able to defend you from disease.
Massages Can Improve Your Posture
The average Americans spends around 6.5 hours every day in the seated position. While seated, many of these same adults hunch over a computer, which greatly impacts their posture. When your posture is poor, it can negatively impact your entire body because you only use certain muscles. The underutilized muscles weaken over time. Receiving the 5 benefits of regular massages can help counteract the issues of poor posture.
Massage can help relieve pressure from certain points throughout the body that occur from constant sitting and improper posture. When the pain of your sore, overused muscles is alleviated, you can begin to stand straight and enjoy walking with less pain.
From better sleep to improved posture and less anxiety, several unexpected benefits exist from receiving regular massages. If you have any other questions about the benefits of massage in Winston-Salem, contact the professionals at Qi Massage & Natural Healing Spa. We look forward to helping you with your massage needs.
