Emotional benefits of massage...and a special treat. Read to redeem!

Massage is known to reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure. It calms the nervous system as it reduces feelings of anger and anxiety. This is possible, because massage can cause the release of endorphins and serotonin. While serotonin helps you to control your mood, endorphins relieve pain and can induce a euphoric state of body and mind. With these chemicals being released; cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases. Researcher shows that people who lead stressful lives face a greater risk of age related diseases and tend to die sooner than those who lead less stressful lives.

One of the most unrecognized emotional benefit's of massage is receiving healthy touch from another person. Most of us know that children need a lot of healthy touch for proper development. Deprive them of touch and they will likely suffer emotionally and physically. This need for touch does not diminish with age. Massage provides that much needed touch from another person. The sensation of touch provides a feeling of calm, safety and soothing. We feel confident and more self assured by receiving and giving healthy touch. Beyond just relief from aches and pains, we experience an increase in our overall emotional and mental health from regular massage sessions.

While mainstream society may see massage therapy as a frivolity, it is clearly so much more than that. It is especially useful for people suffering from stress and anxiety. Frankly, I don't know anyone who doesn't have some level of stress in their lives. It is equally important to people who do not have the outlet of touch or emotional connection in their lives, such as the geriatric community. At this phase of their lives, they are often alone, in a nursing home, and their partner is either gone or living elsewhere. Many do not have family coming to see them, let alone anyone to hug or touch them. The numbers are astronomical on how many of these people suffer emotionally and physically at this stage of their lives because of such circumstances. Can you imagine the contrast you would see if massage was more frequently introduced? Many Massage Therapists will visit nursing homes, hospitals, and homes to specifically treat this demographic of clients. It is a very special line of work.

The drug industry thrives on people staying unhealthy, especially emotionally. According to a government study, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They’re prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches. Out of 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in hospitals and Dr. offices, over 118 million of them were antidepressants, followed by another 113 million for high blood pressure. And did you know that people, who are depressed are more sensitized? This means for them, their back pain may be at an 8 while it would only be at a 5 if they weren’t down? Of course this raises another issue, the prescription, abuse, and ineffectiveness of painkillers.

Stress leads to disease, disease leads to pain and pain leads to medication. While medication absolutely serves its purpose, it can also be a negative thing. There are side affects, possible addiction forming agents, and is the source of a major financial drain. Keeping healthy by excersize, eating well, keeping your stress levels down and getting plenty of rest are proven ways to stay healthy. I will be featuring 1 stress free week a month. During that week, each massage will integrate a complimentary hot stone treatment. Mention "stress free week" when you schedule to redeem.