Monday 5 January 2009

Massage Therapy Has Longstanding Mental, Physical, and Emotional Benefits

There are many longstanding mental, physical, and emotional benefits to massage therapy. A massage is emotionally relaxing because it calms stress and improves one's mood. That emotional relaxation is often transferred to the body to ensure a minimal amount of undue physical stress caused by emotional stress. Massage therapy is good for the body because it relieves muscle tension, boosts the immune system, and plays a crucial role in the battle against diseases. A massage benefits the mind because it relieves depression and it increases the release of endorphins, which in turn improve mood and mental function. Massages also play a crucial role in the development of babies by stimulating them, helping them to feel loved, and keeping them alert. Massage therapy should be considered crucial to the maintenance of a healthy society because of its many mental benefits, physical benefits, and emotional benefits.


The Power of Touch

Massage therapy involves benefiting the body by manipulating muscles and tissue. Through moving the muscles and tissues in a soothing manner, tightened muscles and tissues are loosened, resulting in relaxation of the mind, body, and emotions. Massages have the same benefits on all age groups. There is no set age group that massages help because everyone can benefit from the stimulation provided by a massage. The key to unlocking the positive effects of massage therapy is activating underlying pressure receptors. Not being touched hinders development in infants. Just as not being shown attention or affection affects every other age group greatly, and in every way, babies are also held back developmentally by a lack of touch and attention. The power of touch in our lives seems rooted in our nature, as individuals and as social beings. Massage, as well as a healthy diet and exercise, should be a regular activity.


Massages Prove Crucial to Mental Well-Being

Massage therapy has innumerable mental benefits. The brain waves of babies who have received massage show that they become more alert and learn faster after being touched. A massage has been known to increase attention and decrease anxiety in the general public. Massage therapy also improves performance on math problems and reduces the release of stress hormones. It helps ADD and Autism as well.


Massage Therapy Aids Physical Health

Massage therapy is particularly beneficial for the body. In neonatal care, massage therapy has been known to allow babies to gain weight and sleep more soundly. A massage also helps with: stimulating the immune system, increasing the production of serotonin, relief of migraines, asthma, lung function, and slowing the effects of cancer and HIV. Therapy aids with: reducing blood pressure, decreasing heart rate, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, the release of endorphins, relieving pain, and helping to cure diseases. Massage therapy loosens tight muscles and stimulates weak muscles. Massage maintains all around physical wellness.


The Emotional Benefits of Massage Therapy

A massage relieves depression and decreases stress hormones. Children who are accustomed to being touched are shown to be less aggressive. Massage therapy addresses the physical, emotional, and mental needs of people in order to help them feel relief from physical and mental stress and maintain overall health. The physical and mental benefits of massage therapy combine to create numerous emotional benefits.


Massages Are Just As Important As Diet And Exercise

A properly transmitted massage is incredibly helpful. Just as the physical effects of a healthy diet and exercise improve all aspects of life, the physical benefits of massage improve the body's ability to perform all tasks better. Without a healthy physique, every other aspect of a person's being will start to break down. The body affects the feelings and the mental state of the person receiving the massage. A massage relaxes the body and that relaxed feeling is transmitted to the emotions and the mental clarity of the consumer. The mind is the control center of the body and emotions. Every part of us, from motion to the mere inkling of a thought, is controlled by neural transmissions from the mind. Just as the condition of the body will control the mind, the mind in return controls the way the body operates (i.e. its speed, efficiency, the speed of breakdown from physical stress caused by mental stress, and the motivation to stay active). A calm mind usually means a happy and healthy person. A troubled mind is often a good indication of physical problems or the onset of physical stress in the future. The maintenance of a sound mind should be considered as important an aspect of our health as the maintenance of a healthy body. One very good way to ensure that health in both arenas is through a soothing massage.


Massage therapy should be recognized as a valid and effective way of maintaining health. Emotions are the steering wheel that controls our physical actions and mental clarity. Emotional health and the emotional benefits obtained through massage therapy are essential for a satisfying life. Individuals with satisfying lives create a happy and healthy society. The physical benefits, mental benefits, and emotional benefits of therapy should be recognized as essential for the well-being of society.


Kristen Heggie. "Massage Therapy." Online posting. vanderbilt.edu.
Tiffany Field. "Touching News." Online posting. 8 June 2007. Psychology Today Magazine.
Wikipedia. "Massage." Online posting. October 2007. Wikipedia.


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