Want a reason to get massages more often? Here are 10 reasons that are backed by research to make massages a part of your lifestyle.
“What are the benefits are getting massages anyways? Of course, other than they just feel amazing..” – Me to the therapist at Massage Envy
“There are actually SO many reasons to be getting massages, and ways they can help different people, that go way past just relaxation!” – therapist at Massage Envy
She went on to tell them all to me, and I was so surprised. I even went home and looked them up to research for myself because as much as they all sounded good, I wanted to make sure they were true! Good news, they were. So if you hate massages and would never get one, beware of reading this as you may be convinced otherwise 😉 However if you’re looking for reasons to incorporate massages into your current lifestyle, definitely keep reading!
Massages: 10 Interesting Reasons You Should Get Them
Melt Fat Away (with massages?!)
This was the most surprising one that the massage therapist told me about, but it made sense after thinking about it from a science perspective! As much as you can’t just expect to not change your lifestyle and see fat loss with massages alone, it can definitely play a positive role in your fat loss journey! Why? The positive massage effects of increasing blood circulation, relieving stress, and even helping the appearance of cellulite, all support a successful fat loss journey!
I’ve talked about it a lot throughout my free training, 4 Strategies for Lasting Fat Loss on a Busy Schedule — but stress will prevent your fat loss or weight loss more than anything else. You can be doing ALL the right things nutritionally and exercise-wise, yet feel stuck in your journey. Stress raises cortisol levels in your body, which leads your body to storing fat and breaking down muscle. Nothing that any of us want. Relieving stress through taking time for you and getting massages, could be key!
Look Younger
Massages can also lead to GLOWING SKIN. With the increased blood circulation that results from massages, facial massages can bring back a glow to your face that you’ve been missing! Whether it’s going to a place like Massage Envy that I went to, or doing daily, light facial massages at home – discover that glowing skin with massages.
Relieve Stress
This one is probably a no-brainer if you’ve ever received a massage before, but studies prove it too. After walking out from that Massage Envy room, I felt like every single one of my muscles were relaxed for the first time in a long time. I’m SO uptight with work a lot, and getting this after a long work day, almost put me to sleep it made me so relaxed!
As mentioned above, relieving stress can be beneficial not only for your own well-being and the good of those in your personal life, but for fat loss too.
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Sleep Better
As I laid face down on that massage table, I literally almost fell asleep. And after a stressful work day, it is NOT common for me to feel relaxed. Which only is a real-life example of how massages can relieve stress and relax you enough to get a good night sleep. After a long hectic day, massages can eliminate the exhaustion in your body, which then not only leads you to being ABLE to fall asleep, but better energy the next day after a restful night. Here’s the proof behind this one.
Get Regular
Yes, with pooping. And simply better your digestion overall. There are many different kinds of massages, but the abdominal ones are the ones that will benefit your digestion and get things moving again if you’re struggling with constipation.
Here are the steps of effective abdominal massages, according to Global Healing Center:
- Massage helps to dislodge and stir up toxins. It’s always advisable to up your water intake when participating in massage therapy. This helps your body flush away toxins.
- When you perform the techniques while lying down, alternate moving your knees to the right and left sides.
- Consistency is key. Aim for two twenty minute sessions every day. Most people report noticeable improvements within one to two weeks of maintaining a regular abdominal massage protocol.
Look More Confident
Bad posture anyone? I’m guilty. Very guilty. But I learned that massage therapy can actually help get the body back into proper alignment. My massage therapist at Massage Envy even said that improving a person’s posture can be one of the most beneficial results of massage therapy. This study here showed an increased range of motion after massages.
My mom and boyfriend ALWAYS correct my posture, but I appreciate it because I know that even though I am confident, it makes me appear that I’m not with bad posture. If you’re like me, massages (along with a trusty and loyal family member or significant other), can help you look more confident through improving your posture 🙂
Reduce Exercise Pain/Soreness
I miss the days of being a college D1 athlete, because we would receive massages after tough weeks of practices or after cross country meets (clearly they did their research and saw articles like this). Boy did they do the trick and help relieve the pain and soreness I was experiencing from the rigorous activity I had put my body through.
Some muscle soreness after workouts is a good thing, because that means you’re breaking down muscle fibers only to rebuild them stronger! But if you’re experiencing prolonged soreness or pain, or back to back sport-specific events and can’t take time to rest or afford to be sore, massages should be your best friend!
Quick PMS Fix
This one I found to be super interesting. But after looking up the studies on this, I discovered many where researchers’ found that regular massage sessions lessened symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women. This was such a relief to find out, because my time of the month is NOT a fun one. Some months it can be okay, but others, it stops me from doing anything but laying in bed and eating all the carbs. If you’re looking for some other PMS remedies, massages should be added to your list!
Diabetes Prevention
With being a registered dietitian, I found this one extremely beneficial to know. And after doing some research, studies support that massages can help control blood sugar, which is directly related to Diabetes. Many medical sites even recommend massages for children that are at risk for diabetes.
Get Sick LESS
Massages are a great way to relieve stress as you’ve read above; yet when stress is combined with sleep disturbances and poor nutrition, the impact is directed at the body’s immune system. Its ability to naturally protect itself against infections, pathogens, and bacteria is greatly reduced. Well, good news, massages can IMPROVE your immune system! Massages, according to studies out there, can not only help stress in your body, but can also boost the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity (activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”) and enhances the body’s ability to deliver nourishment! Pretty cool if you ask me.
So here are the 10 Interesting Reasons You Should Consider Massages. Which one surprised you?!
Sources:
- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/massage/massageintroduction.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10907210
- http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/4/119/119ra13.long
- http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/4/119/119ra13.long
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21943617
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21943617
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892349/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892349/
- https://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/archives/2007/01/how_massage_can.html
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