Benefits of Massage
Massage Therapy is one of the few treatments available that directly affects the body’s response to stress. Professional athletes are aware of how their performance and recovery can be improved through appropriate sports massage. More and more people are becoming involved in fitness programs, stress reduction, relaxation techniques, wellness and preventative health care to alleviate the damaging effects of stress and tension.
Therapeutic. There are many new and innovative forms of massage therapy and bodywork such as Shiatsu, acupressure, trigger-point therapy, cranial sacral bodywork, Touch for Health and deep-tissue bodywork. These techniques often give immediate relief, have no negative side effects and increase the client’s ability to avoid injury. People are discovering that chronic pain related to body structure and function can be relieved and the underlying causes permanently corrected.
Stress. The number of people suffering from life-style diseases related to stress is increasing. Massage therapy is the stress reducer of the future. It directly reduces the detrimental and painful effects stress has upon the body while increasing the person’s awareness, the basic tool for managing stress. Stress is the main cause of productivity decline in the workplace. Several recent studies have documented the effects of massage on increasing productivity and reducing stress.
Sports. Many of our athletes have utilised the benefits of sports massage during the Summer and Winter Olympics and regular sporting events. Competitive athletes are constantly searching for ways to improve performance and reduce injury. Massage therapy can give athletes a safe competitive edge while improving overall well-being.
Pregnancy is a time of major structural, physiological, spiritual and social change. Some of these changes produce discomforts and concerns, which can be addressed with appropriate massage therapy. Pregnancy massage therapy is beneficial throughout the nine months of a low-risk pregnancy. Massage helps promote relaxation, which can reduce blood pressure and alleviate disrupted sleep patterns. As the child grows, more pressure is placed upon a woman’s body. Muscles and joints have to bear the mother-to-be throughout daily activity. Posture problems that are normally ignored become magnified during pregnancy. This can lead to backaches, knee pains, discomfort throughout the pelvis, head aches and can affect the general sense of well being. Massage helps to increase skin elasticity, reduce uncomfortable tightness and ease stretch marks, leaving the woman with a warm healthy glow and a sense of well-being.