| If you have not had much experience with | | | | also be quite an emotional experience for some |
| massage, it can be difficult to understand its lure. | | | | people. At times I have experienced surges of |
| You may be surprised that despite its image of | | | | emotion such as sadness during a massage, even |
| personal indulgence, massage is actually beneficial | | | | though I was not feeling that way when I walked |
| for both your physical and emotional wellbeing | | | | into the room. I believe this is due to a release of |
| rather than just an excuse to be pampered (not | | | | negative energy that I had buried in my body. I |
| that there is anything wrong with that!). | | | | know that may sound a bit strange but I see |
| I have been a regular user of massage for many | | | | massage as an opportunity to let that negativity |
| years now and experienced three key areas of | | | | go, so I can let my positive energy flow more |
| benefit. These are: | | | | freely. |
| 1. Improved emotional wellbeing; | | | | 2. Improved Recovery From Exercise |
| 2. Improved recovery from exercise; and | | | | When I first started to exercise a lot, I was able |
| 3. Treatment of injuries. | | | | to recover quite easily from a workout with a |
| 1. Improved emotional wellbeing | | | | small amount of stretching and some water. |
| Massage makes you feel good and helps you | | | | Unfortunately I simply don't recover with the |
| manage stress for a huge variety of reasons. | | | | same speed as I used to. Over time, as the lactic |
| The most obvious is the benefit of taking a short | | | | acid builds up in my muscles, I experience quite |
| break in order to do something for you. This small | | | | extreme soreness. I find that a regular massage |
| act is an opportunity to stop and restore your | | | | helps relieve this discomfort. In my case, massage |
| energy, particularly if you live a busy lifestyle. | | | | has become a part of my body's maintenance |
| You may be surprised that a good massage is | | | | strategy to ensure I can remain active for as long |
| not necessarily an opportunity to drift off to | | | | as possible and helps to manage the risk of injury. |
| sleep. Instead, you will typically feel that you have | | | | 3. Treatment of Injuries |
| slowed down so that by the time you leave, you | | | | Massage is obviously not an appropriate |
| are markedly more relaxed and at ease. It is also | | | | treatment for all types of injuries. If you have |
| worth mentioning that you may actually | | | | any doubts, then you should consult your |
| experience some discomfort during the session as | | | | physiotherapist or doctor. I have used massage |
| your therapist works to relieve muscle tension. | | | | to treat neck, back and knee injuries over the |
| Don't be concerned or nervous, as your therapist | | | | years. However other common injuries such as an |
| will make sure you are comfortable with the | | | | Achilles tear (which I have also had!) required a |
| pressure that is being applied and will move to | | | | combination of acupuncture and massage before I |
| another area of the body if it is causing you | | | | saw a real improvement. |
| distress. | | | | So, as you can see, massage can have huge |
| This release of muscle tension does not always | | | | benefits for everyone to improve their general |
| feel good at the time but is actually one of the | | | | wellbeing as well as supporting your long term |
| key sources of benefit. Most people store stress | | | | health. If you have had limited experience, then I |
| and anxiety in their body and it is reflected | | | | would highly recommend you give it a try! |
| through muscle tension. That is why massage can | | | | |