Massage Therapy Benefits

Massage therapy benefits include relief from back pain, neck and shoulder pain, strengthening immune system, and a promise of healthy and good life. Benefits of massage therapy bring about a harmony between body and mind.

A massage after a long week of hard work and running around is surely a deserved treat. As the pudgy hands of the masseuse, slowly knead your body, they entice the stressed parts of the body to relax and rejuvenate. They know which massage therapy will suit your body and relieve you from strain. Massage therapy benefits are not only of relaxation and rejuvenation, but also other medicinal benefits. The history of massages, shows that ancient Greeks used massages for good health and healing. Thus, its clear that the massaging techniques have evolved over a period of 2000 years, granting well-being and healthy living.

Benefits of Massage Therapy
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most popular massage therapy in United States. The masseuse uses long smooth stokes for massaging. They knead the layers of the skin and muscles in circular motions using lotion of oil. The gentleness of the massage makes the body feel light. Swedish massage helps in reducing back pain, arthritis, tendinitis, stress-relief, headaches, migraines, spasms and sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory problems and post-surgical rehabilitation. The 40-90 minute session begins with consultation about symptoms, lifestyle and medical history.

Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage uses scented plant oils for massaging the body. The essential oils, like the chamomile essential oil, have medicinal properties. German chamomile essential oil has the ability of inducing sleep, which is considered to be a remedy for insomnia. Depending on the problems, the massage therapists use the oils for stress relief, balancing and energizing. The most commonly used aromatherapy oil in the aromatherapy massage is the lavender oil. As you inhale the aroma, the essential oil molecules reach your limbic system and positively affect the heart-rate, breathing, memory, digestion and immune system. The oils get absorbed in the skin. The essential function of essential oils is to have a calming effect, uplifting the mood, energizing and de-congesting the system. Health benefits of massage therapy are, headache relief, curing digestive disorders, managing premenstrual syndrome and reducing back pain.

Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage, as the phrase suggests uses hot stones or flat stones to massage the body. The heated flat stones are placed at key points of the body for healing. The basalt type rock, is a rich source of iron and thus retains the heat. These rocks are usually found in the river beds, which is the reason why they are flat with smooth curved edges. The heat relaxes the muscles and improves circulation in the nervous system. These stones are kept on the energy centers or Chakras in the body, which bring about the harmony of body and mind. Hot stone massages help people to deal with depression, anxiety, insomnia, Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain, back pain and aches.

Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese massage, which means using 'finger pressure'. Shiatsu line of thought believes, the reason for illness is blockage in the flow of energy through the body. Basically, Shiatsu 'overactive sympathetic nervous system, which improves circulation, relieves stiff muscles, and alleviates stress.' The masseuse do this body work in a rhythm with their fingers and palms. Shiatsu relieves the body from stress, depression, constipation, poor digestion, tiredness, headache, back pain, neck and shoulder pain and premenstrual syndrome.

It has been medically proved, that massage therapy health benefits are improvement of immune system and render in holistic cure. The biggest massage therapy benefits are union of body and mind. To look at it carefully, a dysfunctional body is a result of disturbed mind. Massages are to calm the sense, improving the thinking ability of the brain. Once the brain begins to function properly, the body automatically gets better. Day-to-day stress cannot be escaped, the remedy to dealing with the stress is to indulge in massages. As a matter of fact, a health benefit of massage is 'powerful self esteem', so why not make a trip to the spa this weekend!