Massage Therapy Benefits: 5 Reasons to Try It

Have you ever been to a massage therapist?

Maybe you've had one for your sore muscles, or you've gone for an aromatherapy session where the therapist uses essential oils to soothe your mind and body. Or perhaps it was just someone who squished their hands into your back and rubbed them all over.

Whatever type of massage it was, the experience probably felt good—and that's because there are many benefits associated with getting a massage.

Massage therapy can help reduce stress levels and anxiety, improve posture and flexibility (which could reduce injuries from exercise), soothe sore muscles, and even boost immunity by increasing levels of certain antibodies in our blood cells.

Let's take a closer look at some of the biggest massage therapy benefits.

ALSO READ: Treatment for TMJ Pain: How Massage Therapy Can Help →

It Can Lower Stress Levels

Massage therapy is an excellent way to lower stress levels. In fact, it's been shown to help with everything from migraines and insomnia to anxiety and depression.

Here's how:

• Endorphins are released when you experience pain or physical exertion, which acts as a natural high by binding to opiate receptors in the brain. These endorphins can give you feelings of euphoria and relaxation—and they're also responsible for reducing your perception of pain.
  
  
• Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism, and immune system functions—but too much cortisol can be harmful because it breaks down muscle tissue (leading to weight gain) while increasing blood sugar levels (which may contribute to type 2 diabetes). Massage therapy helps release this excess cortisol from the body so it won't have such an impact on your health long term.
  
  
• Serotonin is often called the "happy" chemical because it plays a role in feeling positive emotions like happiness; interestingly enough though serotonin doesn't actually produce those emotions directly—it only allows us to access them! Massage releases serotonin into our brains which makes us feel happier immediately after getting massaged; research has even shown that people who practice yoga regularly have higher levels than those who don't practice yoga at all!
  
  
• Dopamine release during a massage increases endorphin levels--the result being lower stress levels due mostly but not entirely because dopamine reacts similarly as opiates do within our brain cells resulting in similar effects such as euphoria and relaxation.

It Can Help Soothe Sore Muscles

Massage therapy is one of the best ways to relax. Massage can help relieve muscle tightness, reduce pain and stress and relieve anxiety and depression. If you are experiencing any of these problems, a massage could be just what you need!

It Can Improve Your Posture

Massage therapy can help improve your posture. The muscles in the back are often tight, particularly if you sit at a desk all day. A massage therapist can help relax those muscles and improve your posture.

In addition to improving your overall health, improved posture can make you appear taller and slimmer. It also improves the effectiveness of exercise, which is useful for maintaining weight loss or building muscle tone.

Posture is something we all know about but rarely think about unless we're feeling uncomfortable because of it. If this sounds like you, call in an expert! Massage therapy techniques such as trigger point therapy are great for realigning bones that have become misaligned from sitting too long or carrying heavy bags on one side of your body regularly (like a purse).

It Supports Flexibility, Which Could Reduce Injuries From Exercise

One of the best ways to improve flexibility is to stretch regularly, but that doesn’t mean you need to be able to touch your toes or contort yourself into exotic positions.

In fact, it's possible that stretching isn't helping at all if you're not doing it right! Massage therapists know how important proper breathing is when trying to move more fluidly through a stretch—and they can teach you how.

In addition, massage therapists have experience teaching people how their bodies move during physical activity so they can prevent injuries and get the most out of their workouts.

It Can Reduce Feelings Of Anxiety And Depression

If you're struggling with anxiety or depression, massage therapy can be a powerful tool for reducing your symptoms. Massage can help reduce stress, lower cortisol levels and improve mood.

Here's how it works: When we experience stressful situations, our bodies release cortisol (a stress hormone) into the bloodstream. This process is part of what makes us feel anxious or depressed—it creates an imbalance in our nervous system that makes it difficult to relax and enjoy life.

In fact, research has found that high levels of cortisol are associated with feelings of anger and hostility as well as anxiety and depression.

Massage Therapy Has Many Health Benefits

Massage therapy is a form of bodywork that encourages the body to heal itself, reducing pain, improving circulation, and reducing stress. The benefits are numerous: massage therapy has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety and depression.

Massage is also beneficial for people recovering from injury or surgery or who have chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, or migraines.

Conclusion

So how can you get the most out of massage therapy? The best thing to do is to start small. Try incorporating it into your regular routine, and see how it works for you.

You may find that massages are a great way to relax after work or exercise, or even just when you need some stress relief in your life!

Massage therapists will help determine what areas of tension are causing pain or discomfort so they can focus their efforts on those places during each session.

We hope you enjoyed this blog! If you're interested in booking a massage with Gentle Therapies, give us a call at 920-261-6970. We're looking forward to helping you relax and recover from all of life's stresses.

See you soon!