by Lori Durr, Sundara Sanctuary
Many people set health and wellness goals at the beginning of every year but lack the motivation to turn those goals into steady, healthy habits. Massage therapy can positively affect your other health and wellness goals.
When you get the mind/body benefits of massage on a regular basis, you are more likely to have the energy you need to tackle even your most daunting resolutions.
Massage allows you to:
Let go of stress — Massage therapy can reduce your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that suppresses your immune, digestive, reproductive and cellular growth systems.
Manage chronic illness — Many doctors recommend massage therapy as a complementary treatment for chronic illnesses.
Relieve pain — Massage therapy provides pain relief for people with many conditions, diseases and injuries.
Sleep better — People who receive regular massage therapy treatments can enjoy more restful nights and energetic days.
Increase your energy — If you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or just need a boost in your day, consider massage therapy.
Relieve depression — Massage therapy cannot cure depression, but it can help alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Improve digestion — Massage therapy has been shown to encourage healthy digestion, relieving constipation and bloating.
Recover easily; manage sports injuries — Many physicians recommend massage therapy for patients recovering from injury and surgery. Athletes can benefit greatly from massage therapy especially for pain and soft tissue damage.
Stimulate your immune system — Massage therapy can boost white blood cells and the “killer cells” that keep the body free of infection, even for those who have an immune-suppressing illness such as cancer.
Lower blood pressure — Massage provides safe, nonpharmaceutical relief from many health conditions. One researcher studied a group of 50 women with moderately high blood pressure. Study participants who received Swedish massage treatments three times a week had significantly lower blood pressure than others.
Consider combining massage therapy with other health and wellness goals.