Massage is Not a Luxury

When people think of massage, the first thing that usually comes to mind is relaxation. What could feel better than an hour spent on a massage table being kneaded until your muscles are so relaxed that they remind you of cooked noodles? Oh, to be pampered in the hands of a good massage therapist as you listen to relaxing music and let your cares drift away with your tension! To many people, this sounds like a luxury, an indulgence.

Yes, massage can help you relax, and in doing so seems to combat the ill effects of stress on your body. If you want to stay healthy throughout your life, relaxation and stress reduction are not luxuries but necessities. If you live a fast-paced lifestyle, the very act of taking an hour out of your schedule just for your own relaxation is itself a healthy thing to do. If done on a regular basis, an hour spent having a relaxing massage can make a huge difference in your stress levels. Don’t let your busy lifestyle prevent you from caring for your health. Make regular appointments to unwind with a massage.

Massage has many benefits beyond the reduction of stress. Massage relaxes tense muscles. Muscles become tense for a variety of reasons: overuse from hard physical labor or intense exercise, repetitive motions, stress, and injury. Tense muscles can reduce your range of motion and restrict your flexibility and mobility, as well as cause pain and discomfort. Massage releases tension and helps muscles regain the normal function necessary for health.

In tight, constricted muscles, the normal flow of blood through the veins and arteries of muscle tissue can be reduced. Massage relaxes the muscles, permitting the increased circulation of blood. This reduces strain on the heart and increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body. When your body is delivering plenty of oxygen and nutrients to your cells, you’re less likely to be fatigued. Increased circulation also aids in flushing metabolic waste products out of your system. The healthy circulation of blood throughout the body increases the likelihood of overall health.

Massage therapy can increase your immune-system function. In fact, there is a specific technique in massage for just that purpose. Just as massage in general aids in blood circulation, lymphatic massage improves the flow of fluids within the lymphatic system, which is involved with fighting illness and disease. Keeping your immune system functioning at its highest level is necessary for health.

Massage also helps increase nerve function. Just as constricted muscles can reduce the flow of blood through veins and arteries, constricted muscles can reduce the flow of signals in the nerve fibers that run through the muscles. Interference in nerve signals

means that your brain and body are not communicating as they should, which can cause a multitude of health problems. Releasing muscle tension reduces pressure on nerve fibers, thus improving brain/body communication. Proper nerve function is a necessity for good health.

This is just a partial list of the benefits of massage. As you can see, all of them are valid physical health reasons for massage therapy, and indicate that, if you want to remain healthy throughout your life, massage is not a luxury but a necessity.

If you want to experience the benefits of massage, ask friends for referrals. Many people have regular massages—you might know someone who just swears by their massage therapist. Many medical providers and chiropractors refer to massage therapists, so ask your doctor whom he or she recommends. You can also look in the phone book for your state’s massage board; call them for a list of licensed providers. While you’re at it, check for massage schools in your vicinity; most of them offer a reduced rate for an appointment with a student practitioner.

As with any other healthcare provider, it’s important that you feel comfortable and able to communicate well with your massage therapist. You may want to ask for a consultation to meet and discuss your health concerns before you make an appointment for massage. Remember, there are many types of massage. A very light touch may be more for relaxation, whereas the massage therapist may use quite a bit more pressure for deep-tissue therapy. Always communicate with your therapist about your level of comfort with the work being done.

If you’ve never had a massage, it may take a few appointments to relax chronic tense muscles. I routinely recommend that patients start with four to six one-hour visits to get their bodies really loosened up. I then encourage them to have regular massages to maintain their health. By “regular” I mean once a month, or once every two months, or whatever works best for you. Your doctor or therapist can recommend a schedule for you.

Some people have missed out on the benefits of massage because of their concerns about being partially disrobed. Most massage therapists are extremely sensitive to their clients’ privacy and modesty. Massage does require that the therapist work on bare skin, but not that you be totally naked. Most therapists will have you disrobe to undergarments, or put on loose shorts and a top for your session. The therapist will cover you with a sheet or towels, and will normally uncover only the area being worked on. Don’t let this concern keep you from getting the care you need.

Make regular massages a habit. Not only will you feel more relaxed and more flexible, you’ll be increasing your circulation, nerve, and immune-system functions. All three are necessities for your long-term health.

Further Reading

Massage Therapy Principles and Practice, By Susan G. Salvo, LMT, CI, B