Is there anything sweeter than a really good massage? Massage therapy has been around for centuries and it is easy to understand why; it feels great!  What you likely don’t know, however, is that relaxation massage benefits more than just relaxing sore muscles and relieving tension.

Here we are going to reveal some of the secret benefits relaxation massage has on your body and mind. 

What is a Relaxation Massage?

A relaxation massage is a smooth, gentle treatment that relieves muscular tension, increases circulation, and promotes a general sense of relaxation. Relaxation massage is a whole-body, hands-on, treatment that uses pressure on your skin to help you relax.  

What is the difference between relaxation massage and remedial massage you ask? While remedial massage therapy’s focus is to “remedy’ the body, the main focus of relaxation massage is to de-stress, calm, and relax the mind and body. It's a less specific form of physical therapy, especially due to the busy lives we live today. This massage style aids with your mental and emotional health, as it calms the mind and settles the nervous system. 

Why Is Relaxation Important?

Modern day life can be stressful for everyone, and it can be difficult to find time for yourself.  Proper relaxation can keep you healthy, both physically and mentally, helping you to recover from the stress that everyday life gives you.  

Relaxation has many benefits for your brain as well as your health, it helps balance the negative mental and physical effects. When we relax the flow of blood increases around our body giving us more energy. It helps us to have a clearer mind which aids positive thinking, concentration, memory and decision making. Relaxation slows our heart rate, reduces blood pressure and relieves tension. It also aids in digestion as we absorb nutrients more efficiently when relaxed which helps to fight off disease and infection.   

Why Do Massages Feel So Good?

Getting a massage feels amazing. You even begin to feel more relaxed before the therapist even enters the room. Your Calgary massage therapist's touch causes an immediate reaction in your brain. As soon as your skin's nerves feel pressure, they signal the brain to release feel-good endorphins, which boost your mood and give you a natural high. As a result, stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline begin to decrease and the overall effect is one of euphoria and bliss. 

Unexpected Benefits of Relaxation Massage 

Massage therapy is much more than simply feeling good and relaxing. While that is all true, there are many additional health benefits to massage therapy. Some of these amazing benefits may even surprise you. Let's take a closer look at some of the unexpected benefits of relaxation massage therapy. 

Quick Pain Relief 

Relaxation massage is an effective method for naturally relieving pain throughout the body. Whether headaches, migraines, muscle aches, chronic pain, recovery from accidents or sports injuries, massage therapy can help to provide both quick and long lasting pain-relief. 

Book a massage online in Calgary to get some relief from chronic or acute pain!

Better Joint Mobility

Massaging the muscles, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and joints stimulates blood flow, relaxes tense muscles and improves joint range of motion making you more flexible, improving your mobility, balance, and therefore decreasing potential for injury.  

Massage therapy can increase joint mobility by: stimulating the body's production of natural joint lubricants, increasing tissue temperature which increases elasticity and reduces constrictions, reduces swelling, and keeps the cartilage clean and free from toxins. 

Lower Blood Pressure & Heart Rate

Numerous studies have shown that massage can help to lower blood pressure, particularly in people with hypertension. It is a safe, effective and cost-effective intervention for controlling blood pressure. Relaxation massage helps to lower blood pressure by improving circulation, moving stagnant blood out of tightened areas which then flood with fresh blood, increasing vascular pressure, which is only temporary, leading to lowered blood pressure. 

After only 20 minutes of relaxation massage, the body begins to release those endorphins that relax the blood vessels, reduce the intensity of the heart pumping and shuts down the adrenals from producing more cortisol. 

Alleviate Symptoms of Chronic Illnesses & Diseases

People suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases also experience higher stress levels. Elevated stress can worsen the stress, creating a vicious cycle. While massage therapy has not been proven to cure any disease, it has been found to improve the quality of life for many individuals. 

Ramps Up Immune System Function

Studies have shown that receiving a single relaxation massage lowers the stress hormone cortisol while increasing the number of white blood cells. Further studies have shown that weekly massage therapy increases the immune cell levels and white blood cells in every single subject involved. 

Massage is also known for promoting increased circulation and lymphatic flow, which helps move healthy nutrients throughout your body and to filter metabolic waste. Massage also increases the levels of lymphocytes, which are the cells that help the immune system fight off harmful substances in the body. 

Stimulates Better and more Beautiful Hair Growth

Here is a secret that virtually no one talks about, if your hair is thinning or you want to increase your hair's natural volume, a twice weekly scalp massage can improve your hair and make it grow longer and thicker. 

When the scalp is massaged, it promotes blood flow. This allows the hair follicles to receive more oxygen and nutrients has been shown to increase hair thickness and even reduce the symptoms of pattern baldness. 

Reduces Recovery Time After Intense Exercise

If your muscles are sore after a rigorous workout, a good relaxation massage actually helps you heal your muscles faster. Researchers have found that massage decreases the inflammation caused by exercise, swelling, and pain while improving soft tissue repair and increase the occurrence of cell repair. 

The benefits of massage therapy for athletes are very well known, which is why all major sports teams employ massage therapists for their players. 

Mental Benefits of Relaxation Massage

Massages are fantastic of course, who doesn't love a massage? But did you know, that massages alleviate much more than soothing muscle aches? The mental benefits of relaxation massage for mental health are extraordinary. The increased blood flow and circulation not only relaxes your body, massages also relax your central nervous system lower stress hormones, like cortisol, in the body. Below are a number of ways relaxation massage helps to reduce our mental health challenges:  

Reduce Stress & Anxiety

Stress is a normal part of life. We all experience it, but when stress starts affecting our life it becomes detrimental to our health. Relaxation massage is a proven method to help combat stress and reduce its effects on both the body and mind. It has been shown that even just 10 minutes of massage therapy can activate the body’s natural happy hormones and leave you feeling more relaxed.

The mood enhancing benefits of massage therapy makes it easier to feel more calm and in control, reducing anxiety and naturally calming the body’s fight or flight response. 

Looking to reduce anxiety through a relaxation massage? Book a massage in Calgary online with Why Knot today!

Central Nervous System Regulation 

Speaking of fight or flight response,  that brings us to your central nervous system. The stressors and traumas we encounter through our lives we hold in our central nervous system. This keeps us in a state of fight, flight, or freeze which is also called our sympathetic nervous system. Being trapped in sympathetic nervous system can keep us from even being able to relax because we are stuck in a state of hyper-vigilance, underlying physical “fear” and keeps our system prepared for strenuous physical activity.    

Relaxation massage can help us switch back into our natural state of parasympathetic nervous system, also known as rest and digest, by stimulating receptors that transmit sensory signals to relax the central nervous system, which literally allows us to rest and relax. 

Boosts Your Mental Health

Physically relaxation massage can improve mental health by increasing the production of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, our happy hormones which are natural pain killers and mood enhancers creating a sense of well-being.  Relaxation massage also reduces the stress hormone cortisol. The lowering of cortisol combined with the increased serotonin boosts the body's ability to fight off pain, anxiety, and feelings of sadness.  

Relaxation massage has also been referred to as an “hour long hug” as it fulfills the need for human contact and comforting touch. 

Increase your Overall Happiness

Relaxation massage has been known to lower stress, decrease anxiety, reduce irritability, along with increasing brain serotonin and dopamine. The combination of these effects lead directly to you being happier. Being a happier person can have an infinite number of effects on your personal life and those around you. 

Scheduling regular massages with your Calgary massage therapist at Why Knot should be carefully considered for people looking for a holistic way to improve your mental health and well being. 

Rest More Efficiently

Massages aren’t only useful for relaxation in-the-moment. Relaxation massages have been shown to improve sleep patterns in all types of people: children, adolescents, and adults who suffer from insomnia, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, migraines and more.  

Research has demonstrated that a 30 minute massage a week for five weeks reported a significant decrease in pain, which led to fewer sleep disturbances. 

Who Could Benefit from Relaxation Massage? 

According to the Mayo Clinic massage therapy is safe for people of all ages. If you are experiencing any of the following conditions then relaxation massage therapy could be the right healthcare for you. 

• Back Pain

• Anxiety

• Fibromyalgia

• Nerve Pain

• Stress Insomnia

• Soft tissue pain

• Strains and /or Injuries 

• Headaches and neck pain

• Sports related injuries

Conclusion

Relaxation massage is not only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself, it is a powerful tool to take charge of your physical and mental health and well-being.  Relaxation massage is important in maintaining your body's central nervous system and hormone regulation. The skilled therapists at Why Knot have vast toolboxes of techniques that can be incorporated based on your needs. 

Talk to your Calgary massage therapist at Why Knot, our skilled pain management specialists can create a treatment plan that works for you. Your health and wellbeing are our top priority.  

Book your Calgary relaxation massage online today with Why Knot.