How does massage positively impact your body and mind?
Muscular Tension
The most common reason people tend to book in for a remedial massage is to get relief of muscular tension and aches and pains. For us, the questions begs, “What caused this tension” and, unfortunately a lot of the time it isn’t a straightforward answer. Restricted movement and pain can be caused by an accumulation of a variety of things, eg posture, stress, repetitive stress, over training, favouring one side to the other, just to name a few.
Tension can be caused by repetitive strain or impact trauma or a combination of both. The muscle fibres of a muscle with tension are not working to their full potential; they are stuck together and shortened. Deep tissue massage helps increase the blood flow to those areas and stimulates the body’s own healing mechanism. Long story short, range of movement is increased and pain reduced. This is why it is so important to stay hydrated before and especially after your massage, to keep the blood flowing and support your body’s immune system and healing processes.
So how do we keep our muscles in good condition? For one, getting regular massage is a great way to hold repetitive strain at bay. It’s also a really great way to monitor muscular tension and keep you informed of what you should be stretching or foam rolling at home to maintain long-term benefits. They don’t say, “consistency is key’, for nothing. Pain free movement and a calmer mind will help you to move easier and ‘move well’ and will allow you to fully focus on what you are doing and perform at your best.
Does stress cause muscular tension?
Yes! Not only does stress impact our mental and emotional wellbeing, but it also has a detrimental effect physiologically. This can present itself in many different ways such as an increase of tone (muscular tension), a decrease in bowel movements (and we all know what kind of effect that has on our physical and mental health!) and potentially even hypertension. So how can massage help?
Massage stimulates serotonin or endorphin release, which has an overall calming effect. This helps reduce the strain on the nervous system, allowing our body to enter “rest and digest”[1].
Overall Health
How does Massage help you boost your Immune System? Reduced stress, good sleep and regular exercise support the Immune System, as well as other healthy lifestyle choices.[2] Remedial massage may contribute directly in having positive effects in promoting good sleep, reducing stress and helping the body’s recovery to allow you to adhere to a consistent exercise regime.
How can massage help you?
You as an Athlete
Regular massages supports us in feeling physically and psychologically at our best. Our body awareness increases and muscles react better to massages when injured. Your muscles and mind receive well needed reset. A calm mind will help you starting and focusing at your next training session or event.
You as a parent
When we feel well, we think clearer, are more patient and know our limits keeping up with our children. Being a parent sometimes takes more and other times less physical and mental strength. Massage may be one support system to help you keep up with whatever parenthood throws at you. It is this one hour (or 30 minutes or 90 minutes) which is just for yourself, you don’t need to think about anything else and can be unapologetically just be about yourself.
You as an employee or employer
When we feel well, we think clearly and make well-informed decisions. We aren’t saying that with just one massage treatment you will be the Bill Gates of your company, BUT the time taken for yourself and the benefits of the massage, might just give you that little recharge and ‘zing’ you need to get your job done quickly and efficiently. (Or, let’s be honest, sometimes a break away from the office is just what you need, just because).
You as You
There is only one YOU! When we feel well, EVERYTHING is better. So just remember this; You only have one body (the one you walk around in everyday), you only have this moment (yep right now, ) to make better decisions and when you look after YOU, you can give more to those around you.
If we are able to support you in feeling well and healthy and awesome, we feel truly honoured. Thank you for putting your trust in us.
“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”
– Jean Shinoda Bolen
[1] Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy.
[2] An interesting article by Harvard Health Publishing to boosting the Immune System (29.05.2019)