| Anyone who has enjoyed a good massage can | | | | distribution and aids the elimination of |
| remember the peaceful, euphoric, even sensual | | | | toxins that can build up, as well as |
| feelings it aroused. Your body felt relaxed | | | | encouraging the inflow of fresh nutrients. |
| and refreshed. A sense of well-being and | | | | This also assists in the repair of muscle and |
| energy had been restored. However, the | | | | other tissue damage and enhances the overall |
| benefits of massage may last beyond the | | | | feeling of well-being. |
| afterglow with a continuing positive effect | | | | |
| on your health. | | | | Additionally, digestion can also be improved. |
| | | | As both stress and poor circulation inhibit |
| For instance, with the tight muscles that are | | | | good digestion, massage relief facilitates a |
| experienced as a result of disease, injury, | | | | much better response in stomach and |
| stress, and the like. There are massage | | | | intestinal areas. |
| techniques that are very effective in | | | | |
| releasing knotted muscles, lowering toxins in | | | | One of the more obvious benefits is improved |
| the system and improving circulation. When | | | | athletic ability and motion. Those who |
| the tightness has been caused by stress, a | | | | participate in sports massage will often see |
| good massage can be especially beneficial in | | | | this but it can also be found with other |
| restoring feelings of well-being and health. | | | | techniques. The tightening of muscles can |
| | | | interfere with free movement and the action |
| There are many factors - physical and | | | | of limbs. Once the tight muscles have been |
| emotional; internal and external - which | | | | relaxed and the joints become more limber, |
| cause stress. How you perceive and react to | | | | the stiffness will dissolve. The result is |
| these factors can affect the impact they have | | | | greater freedom of movement. |
| on your body. | | | | |
| | | | Proper massage techniques may also be used as |
| Massage helps you to deal with the effects of | | | | part of an overall treatment plan to deal |
| these different factors and helps to prepare | | | | with particular diseases and injuries. For |
| you and, in particular, your body, to cope | | | | instance, those with arthritis; patients |
| with the stressors which you experience as | | | | who've recently had surgery,and many others, |
| stress and tension. | | | | will frequently find that their condition |
| | | | improves more rapidly if their physical |
| When preparing for massage, mood is | | | | treatment includes massage therapy. |
| important. Create a soft, ambient mood with | | | | |
| dimmed lighting and maybe soothing music and | | | | However, when used as an aid in medical |
| perhaps some pleasing scents. These help to | | | | treatment, massage needs to be used with care |
| deal with the external stressors that impinge | | | | as there are some conditions, such as an |
| on you by creating a comfortable relaxation | | | | undiscovered broken bone, which may be |
| zone. | | | | aggravated by the massage therapy. Also there |
| | | | are some external conditions, including |
| The therapist will then work on your body, | | | | lesions and inflammation, which need to be |
| paying special attention to relieving tension | | | | dealt with before massage methods can be |
| in the back and neck muscles, which are often | | | | used. |
| tightened when you are under stress. | | | | |
| | | | However, it is not difficult to find |
| The improved physical feelings naturally lead | | | | wide-ranging benefits of massage. Those |
| to an elevated mood and a chance to unwind | | | | professionals who work on bodies have long |
| and forget about stressful events. This helps | | | | known of the healing power of touch and many |
| to deal with the emotional elements that | | | | manipulative techniques have been developed |
| contribute to stress. | | | | that lead toward optimum health. Though |
| | | | miracle cures are often exaggerated, there is |
| Circulation is improved when the therapist | | | | ample evidence to justify claims that massage |
| attends to those areas which trap fluids. | | | | can be of real benefit. |
| Increasing the flow leads to better fluid | | | | |