Welcome to the March 2009 newsletter! It seems that many people think about their massage sessions as a well-deserved break from their busy lives — a time to step back and relax for a little while. While this is true, you should recognize that each massage can offer you so much more.

While you are happily letting go of your tension and worries during your massage, your body is getting a wonderful internal maintenance tune-up that can help you to enjoy a healthier future.

Over the last few decades, study after study has identified a variety of health benefits from massage that validate it as one of the best overall support activities for your health.

The rest of this issue covers a few of the many health benefits regular massage offers you, so read on and learn more about how much you’re doing for yourself with each massage you receive!

As with most everything, consistency can bring you a better result, so schedule your next massage sooner than later and enjoy the rewards!

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Massage Benefits for a Healthier You

Anyone who has had a massage knows instinctively that it is doing something positive for them. That relaxed sense of well-being you generally feel the rest of the day tells you conditions are changing for the better.

You can appreciate your regular massages even more when you know just why you now feel so much better. Here’s a list of some of the wonderful benefits you can receive from your bodywork sessions:

Better sleep— Getting proper rest is an important part of maintaining your health. If you are unable to get an adequate amount of rest regularly, the likelihood of experiencing some health problems increases, since your body needs this time to recharge.

According to author and educator Ruth Werner in a 2006 Massage & Bodywork article, “The mechanism by which massage helps to establish a more organized sleep pattern isn’t fully understood, but studies consistently report that subjects who are massaged (with a variety of modalities) experience deeper, more restorative, less disturbed sleep and a reduction in pain-sensitizing neurotransmitters.”

An energy boost— Having plenty of energy can make so much difference in your day-to-day life. When you feel energetic, everything just goes more easily.

In his book, Tired of Being Tired, Dr. Michael A. Schmidt has this to say about massage: “Therapeutic massage can be a valuable part of any effort to boost energy and restore balance. Massage can improve immunity, promote circulation, improve digestion, reduce muscle tension, reduce the stress response, stimulate the elimination of metabolic toxins that build up in the body tissues, and stimulate the nervous system. It also satisfies a need for touch that is inherent in every human being.”

Handling muscle tension— Many things can lead to tense muscles, ranging from heavy physical activity to constant worry. When your muscles remain tense, your body can assign this condition as your new “normal” and help to retain this unhealthy tension. According to injury-and-rehabilitation therapist Michael Young, this means “...circulation to that area of the body is hindered, resulting in inflammation. Nerves also travel through every muscle, and when a muscle tightens, the nerves can become entrapped, resulting in pain. ... The longer the muscle remains tight, the more ingrained it becomes in muscle memory.”

So how does massage help? Young says, “Circulation is the key to all healing. The circulatory system has been referred to as the river of life. No healing will ever take place without blood flow. The blood brings oxygen, minerals, nutrients, and vitamins to the entire body.” And massage can help to improve your circulation.

Handling stress— Feeling stressed is no fun, but the health problems caused by long-term stress make it a more serious problem than just a tense neck. Chronic stress can lead to an immune system that becomes heavily suppressed, a damaged cardiovascular system, and a worn out endocrine system (the system responsible for handling stressful conditions.)

Studies from the Touch Research Institute show that stress hormones consistently fall after massage. Workers receiving massages showed brain waves that reflect greater mental alertness, and their feelings of job stress were greatly reduced. And with stress being the underlying cause of most illness, the overall health benefits of lessening stress through regular massage may be incalculable.

The body/mind connection— To achieve and maintain better health requires addressing both the physical and mental aspects of your life. A physical problem can affect your mental outlook, and mental worries can take their toll on you physically. Who hasn’t experienced neck-and-shoulder tension brought on by a period of worrying over some real or imagined problem? Conversely, if you injure your back and are in a state of constant pain, it often leads to a lowered mental condition.

Massage is the ideal solution, helping to relax those tense muscles and that worried mind, all in one relaxing session!

This short list touches on a few of the many health benefits you can enjoy from your regular massages. So lie back and relax at your next massage, knowing you’re helping your mind and body to be at their best! It’s the ideal way to invest in your future health and happiness. See you soon!

Have you scheduled your next massage appointment?

Having your next session already planned offers you:

• Something special to look forward to (“It’s been a tough week, but only 2 more days until my massage!”)
• Less stress—you don’t have to think about having to call
• Peace of mind

Make regular massage sessions a way of life!

Happiness lies, first of all, in health.
— George William Curtis

The content of this letter is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, please consult a physician.
© 2009 Massage Marketing.   Used with permission; all rights reserved.