Does anyone ever really need a reason to “treat yo self”? We hope you don’t but, just in case we have a very special offer just for the occasion. Get in touch now and receive a 60 minute massage treatment of your choice for just £30 – bargain! This is perfect for anyone looking to treat some sore muscles from hitting the gym hard to get ‘summer ready’ or for those who have just had a long week. If that’s not enough reason for you, then check out some of the amazing benefits from getting regular massage…
There are many benefits to massage, with it generally considered as a part of complementary and alternative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.
Many studies have found massage is helpful for many factors, including:
Stress Relief & Relaxation
Research has shown that massage can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles and increase the production of endorphins, your body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Serotonin and dopamine are also released through massage, and the result is a feeling of calm relaxation that makes chronic or habitual as well as acute or short-term stress much easier to overcome. Massage has been shown to decrease cortisol in the body, cortisol is the body’s ‘stress hormone’. This allows the body to enter a relaxing rest-and-recovery mode: an effect that lingers long after the massage is over. In fact, massage triggers a host of brain chemistry responses that can result in lasting feelings of relaxation, lowered stress and improved mood.
Improves Posture
Massage can relax and loosen the muscles made sore by bad posture, allowing your body to position itself in its natural-and pain-free-posture.
With ongoing massage the muscles are loosened and relaxed-joints have greater freedom and pressure points are relieved. This allows the body to position itself in a healthy and natural posture, therefore avoiding the movements and positions developed over time as a reaction to the pain.
Improves Circulation & Lowers Blood Pressure
The long-term effects of massage therapy are more than skin deep. Better blood circulation is part of the chain reaction that occurs in the body as a result of receiving massage therapy on a regular basis. Massage facilitates this through the pressure created by the massage technique actually moving blood through the congested areas. The release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow in. The squeezing and pulling also flushes lactic acid from the muscles and improves the circulation of the lymph fluid which carries metabolic waste away from muscles and internal organs, resulting in lower blood pressure and improved body function. By increasing this blood circulation your blood pressure is naturally reduced.
Improved blood circulation is just one more benefit of massage therapy. Combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise, massage can be a powerful, natural ally for a healthier lifestyle.
Relaxes Muscles, Improves Flexibility & Range of Motion
Chronic back pain, which is the second most common cause of disability and a top reason for missing work, can be the result of improper posture while sitting and standing. Additionally, carrying extra weight, poor posture, and repetitive or overuse movements can put strain on the back and other sensitive areas. This strain often results in spasms, tense muscles and pain in your upper back, hips, glutes and hamstrings. So the question is: what relaxes muscles? Massage (or muscular therapy) gets to the root of the pain by relaxing tense muscles and increasing flexibility. All of this activity reduces swelling and stiffness and increases flexibility to help eliminate pain.
Muscle injuries are more common now than they were 50 years ago. That’s not because we’re exercising harder. It’s because we’re more sedentary. What’s worse, as we age our joints tend to tighten, making range of motion and flexibility even more restricted. Massage therapy is a beneficial treatment for maintaining and improving flexibility and motion. By working on the joint structures and surrounding soft tissues, regular massage can improve your flexibility and range of motion, keeping your joints more fluid and making them less injury prone.
Promotes Optimal & Easier Breathing
Massage plays an important role in training the body how to relax and help improve breathing. Respiratory issues, such as allergies, sinus problems, asthma and bronchitis, are one group of conditions that can benefit from massage therapy. IMany muscles in the front and back of the upper body are accessory respiratory muscles, and when any of these muscles are chronically tight and shortened, they can restrict normal breathing and disrupt breathing patterns. Massage techniques are used to lengthen and relax these muscles to improve breathing capacity and function.
Strengthens the Immune System & Alleviate Headaches
Regular massage not only helps alleviate stress, but can naturally increase the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity (the activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”) and decrease the number of T-cells, which improves the body’s immune functioning overall. Massage plays two roles in alleviating headaches. In a proactive role, massage treatments are performed on a regular basis to help the body maintain an optimal level of relaxation and stress-relief. This approach reduces the chances of migraine attacks and tension headaches significantly by relaxing muscle spasms and trigger points. In a comfort role, massage is done to ease the pressure brought on during a migraine or tension related headache. By focusing on the neck, shoulders, and head, massage can decrease the pain and discomfort brought on by migraine or tension headaches.
A recent study showed that massage therapy recipients exhibited fewer migraines and better sleep quality during the weeks they received massage, and the three weeks following, than the participants that did not receive massage therapy. Another study found that in adults with migraines, massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms.
Enhances Injury & Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Massage is great in helping to bring blood and nutrients to the affected area to repair the soft tissue. Massage also can help break up scar tissue and keep the muscles supple so less scar tissue develops in the first place.
By increasing circulation while relaxing the muscles, massage can help the body pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs. This allows the surgical rehabilitating or injured area(s) to become more flexible and heal at an accelerated rate.
Even when there’s no injury, massage can helps athletes of all levels improve their flexibility and muscle suppleness.
Treat yourself today, and participate in Global Health’s limited SPECIAL OFFER, where you can receive an hour long Relaxation, Swedish or Sports & Remedial massage for just £30!
This offer is on a first come first serve basis and after reading all the benefits you stand to gain we expect it to run out soon, so get in touch now!
