The Stress Reducing Benefits of Therapeutic Massage
Guest Post by Kelly Kilpatrick
The use of therapeutic massage to reduce stress and anxiety levels is a fairly common practice in the United States and around the world. Using massage as a means to achieve this end has grown in popularity in recent years, and finding a licensed massage therapist near you should be a fairly easy task. There are several ways therapeutic massage helps to reduce your stress and anxiety levels, several of which will be explored in this article.
Massage Helps Eliminate Stress-Related Pain
Many individuals carry their stress in certain parts of their body. Depending on how an individual carries themselves, this carrying of stress can manifest itself in the form of pain in the neck, back, shoulders, legs, and head. Targeting these areas of stress can reduce or even totally eliminate these pains and help people to move forward in their daily lives.
Massage Releases Endorphins
Stress can also be reduced through the course of a therapeutic massage through the body’s release of its natural painkillers, endorphins. As pain centers are triggered through the act of massage, these endorphins help to eliminate pain and have also been known to help induce a sense of euphoria in massage patients.
Massage is a Calming Process
Getting a massage can be one of the most relaxing procedures one can undergo. Soothing music is generally played, and scented oils and dim lighting help to set the ambience for individuals. Expect to put your body in another person’s hands and let them feel you out for areas of difficulty. Allowing someone to rub your body and help you begin to heal can be one of the best feelings you experience as a result of your massage.
Massage Eliminates Toxins
Knotted muscles hold stores of harmful toxins that are difficult for the body to eliminate without therapeutic massage. Once the knots are worked out, the muscles are able to once again receive more oxygen-rich blood flow, which in turn helps push out the harmful toxins. The build up of these toxins and the knotted muscles where they are stored precipitate some of the stress and anxiety related pain, creating a vicious cycle for those who suffer from this kind of pain.
Regular Massage is Good for You
In all, the use of therapeutic massage on a regular basis has been shown to significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels, improve flexibility and range of motion, improve circulation, and helps to bring about an overall increased state of relaxation. People who suffer from stress and anxiety related tension and pain should certainly explore their options and strongly consider therapeutic massage as part of managing stress.
Guest Author By-line:
This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of massage certification online. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com
Photo by Haynes Photography