Sure, it can help you relax. But massage therapy can do much more than that. Here are six healthy reasons to book an appointment.
1) IT COUNTERACTS ALL THAT SITTING YOU DO:
“Most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress,” says Aaron Tanason, registered massage therapist, kinesiologist and owner at Paleolife Massage Therapy in Toronto. “More often than not [that stress] tends to manifest in the shoulders and neck.” Desk workers, beware. More advanced forms of postural stress “show up as pain or weakness in the low back and gluteals caused by prolonged periods of sitting.”
Luckily, massage can counteract the imbalance caused from sitting, which means you can keep your desk job – as long as you schedule a regular massage.
2) IT EASES MUSCLE PAIN:
Got sore muscles? Massage therapy can help. “Massage increases and improves circulation, in much the same way rubbing your elbow when you knock it on a table helps to relieve the pain,” says Tanason. A 2011 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that massage therapy is as effective as other methods of treatment for chronic back pain.
3) IT SOOTHES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION:
“Human touch, in a context that is safe, friendly and professional, can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing,” says Tanason. Women diagnosed with breast cancer who received massage therapy three times a week reported being less depressed and less angry, according to a 2005 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience.
And, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that patients who were depressed and anxious were much more relaxed and happy, and had reduced stress levels after massage.
4) IT IMPROVES SLEEP:
Not only can massage encourage a restful sleep—it also helps those who can’t otherwise comfortably rest. “Massage promotes relaxation and sleep in those undergoing chemo or radiation therapy,” says Lisa Marie de Miranda, registered massage therapist and kinesiologist at Paleolife Massage Therapy.
Also, if you’re a new parent, you’ll be happy to know it can help infants sleep more, cry less and be less stressed, according to research from the University of Warwick.
5) IT BOOSTS IMMUNITY:
A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that massage boosts patients’ white blood cell count (which plays a large role in defending the body from disease). It also “improves immune function for individuals with HIV,” says de Miranda.
6) IT RELIEVES HEADACHES:
Next time a headache hits, try booking a last-minute massage. “Massage decreases frequency and severity of tension headaches,” says de Miranda.
Research from Granada University in Spain found that a single session of massage therapy has an immediate effect on perceived pain in patients with chronic tension headaches.
By Katharine Watts for besthealthmag.ca.
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I experienced my first Traditional Thai Massage the other day. Someone dropped a gift certificate in the mailbox for a complimentary half hour back & shoulder massage from somebody named Nok who is a professional masseuse & works/lives in my neighbourhood. There was no address only a phone number which seemed suspicious but nonetheless – free massage…let’s go for it.
From adroidpit.com
Turns out Nok (who is Thai and a certified Massage & Spa Practitioner) gave up her storefront to go back to Thailand for a year, and recently back in Vancouver, has decided to try working out of a home studio. I left details behind just in case I happened to become a casualty. You never know – been watching a lot of scary movies lately.
There’s nothing better than a relaxing massage! The ones I’ve had in the past mostly from Absolute Spa (at the Century Plaza Hotel) were a treat. I experienced a hotstonemassage once in Jamaica but one stone was left on a bit too long & so I got burned. But I’m feeling psyched & fortunate to take advantage of this new (to me) approach. So there I am being greeted by a very polite, pretty and tiny Thai girl who describes all the benefits I’ll be receiving and SOME HISTORY:
thaiodysseyblog.com
Thai Massage is an ancient form of body work originally developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality 2,500 years ago. The technique involves passive stretching and gently pressure along the body’s energy lines to increase flexibility, relieve muscle and joint tension and balance the body’s energy systems. It draws from acupressure, passive yoga therapy, and reflexology. It sounds amazing.
I’m asked to first fill out a form – like being at a doctor’s office. One question wants to know if you are here for a relaxation or therapeutic treatment. I tick the box that says relaxation of course – nothing is wrong with me. Then I lay face down on a typical massage table while she goes to work on me – and when I say work, I mean WORK. She’s little but she hurts. I ask if she understood which box I checked off and she explains that she’s only using her fingers and bit of elbow but in her usual massage she used her whole body weight. I’m almost crying. Apparently in typical Thai massage they don’t usually use oil although they will if you insist. But I’m putting up with it because I don’t want to seem like a sissy….plus when she takes her hands off me for a split second to go to some other area, the part she previously worked on feels so much better. I wouldn’t consider this a relaxation massage – and she swore she wasn’t even using that much pressure. Seems I have some blockage issues due to spending too much time at the computer lately working on my websites & this blog.
thai-massage.org
The half hour goes by pretty quickly (although not quickly enough) and I admit it was a relief when the time was up. But when it was over she asked me to sit up and then started to pound on my back. If she wanted me to pay she should have stated that on the certificate. I asked her how long I would feel the pain – maybe for 2 days at most. So that said, will I goback?
I did feel a lot looser afterwards. The amazing health benefits of Thai massage (from her brochure) encompassthe balancing of the mind, body and spirit, including reduce stress, stimulate circulation, energize the body, increase flexibility, improve range of motion (I am motionless right now), and centers the mind and body.
Okay, I’ll book another appointment – next time a full body treatment – just for the punishment fun of it. I need to be more centered – we’ll see. Plus I want to keep my day job.The new options on the brochure say that Nok is now qualified to offer Hot Stone Massage, Swedish Massage and even Deep Tissue Massage – wtf?
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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