Massage therapy is an ancient artform that can enhance physical and mental wellness by rubbing away tension in your neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs. The Benefits Of Massage: How Human Touch Can Enhance Physical And Mental Wellness If you’ve ever treated yourself to a massage, you probably have a good idea of what the relaxing experience feels like. First, you enter a private, warm, dark room and discreetly remove your clothes before getting comfortable on a massage table and covering your body with a sheet. Next, the massage therapist knocks on the door and asks if you’re ready. Then, over the next 30, 60, or 90 minutes, your massage therapist uses lotion or body oil to gently rub away stress and tension in your neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs – they may even pamper your feet and ears! Sometimes, your massage therapist will set the mood by playing relaxing music, or they might entice all your senses by diffusing essential oil through the room for an aromatherapy boost. Of course, massages feel amazing – that’s why they’re so great! But did you know that the practice of using touch as a healing method is actually rooted in customs and traditions from ancient history, dating all the way back to 3,000 BCE? According to NaturalHealers.com, “civilizations in the East and West found that natural healing and massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses.” In addition, massage also helped to reduce stress and produce feelings of deep relaxation. Although the modern massage has evolved in recent years, it’s still a widely respected alternative form of physical therapy that can produce intense physical and mental benefits. In this blog, we’ll explore the various benefits of massage, and a few different types of massage services that are popular in the United States and beyond. What Are The Physical Benefits Of Massage? Physically, massage can work wonders on tired bodies; it can loosen tense muscles, work out tough knots, and rub away persistent joint pain. However, the physical benefits of massage go far deeper than the whole-body relaxation you feel during treatment. As previously stated, massage is an ancient artform that’s been used to treat various ailments since the ancient times, and it’s generally thought that massage originated in Greek, China, Egypt, and India. Back in those days, people believed that diseases and physical illnesses were caused by an energy imbalance in the body’s pathways. Therefore, massage and other treatments like acupuncture were thought to re-align those pathways and allow the energy to flow more harmoniously through the body. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that ancient philosophy, there is plenty of modern-day proof to back up the numerous physical benefits of massage, including clinical studies and anecdotal evidence. According to Health Reviser, “peer-reviewed medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief. It does this by stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body’s feel-good hormones.” With regular massage treatments, symptoms of conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, back and neck pain, and many others can be alleviated. Additionally, because massage relieves pain regardless of cause, it can also lessen the body’s reliance and dependency on habit-forming prescription pain killers. Furthermore, massage can improve blood circulation, which can boost the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to individual cells and vital organs. What’s more, regular massage treatments can also stimulate your lymphatic system and lymphatic drainage, which helps to remove waste and toxins from the bodily tissues and enhance your natural defense against virus and bacteria infiltration. Massage therapy can induce feelings of happiness and well being by releasing natural oxytocin and endorphin hormones in the body What Are The Mental Benefits Of Massage? In today’s modern society, we’re constantly multitasking to keep up with daily demands. We eat dinner while we watch the evening news; we scroll through social media while chatting with our spouses; we take conference calls while we drive to and from work. For that reason, it’s not very often that we “unplug” from technology to actually sit still and empty our minds. And according to Medical News Today, constantly being “on” has its consequences: “the technological and social media advances of the past decade have bred the “constant checker.” A constant checker is a person who constantly, almost obsessively, checks their emails, texts, and social media accounts. This profile is synonymous with 43 percent of U.S. individuals.” Unfortunately, being continuously connected in this way has been linked with higher stress levels, and 18% of individuals have specifically identified technology as a significant source of daily stress. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of massage, the treatment also has many mental benefits. Namely, the excuse to relax for about an hour, unwind your mind, and reconnect with your body, free from modern-day distractions. While on the massage table, there’s nothing else to think about other than how your body feels in that moment, which can also help to increase mental alertness post-treatment. In addition to the ability to turn off your phone, computer, and iPad, massage helps boost mental wellbeing simply because it involves human touch. According to Thrive Global, “human touch is crucial to our well-being. From childhood development to emotional and overall wellness, human touch ignites the release of oxytocin, a bonding or love hormone that gives a sense of belonging, enhanced sociability, stability, and trust.” Additionally, massage has the physical benefits of increasing blood circulation, lowering heart rate, and releasing muscle tension, all of which can result in a more restful night’s sleep. The Purpose Behind Three Popular Massage Treatments. Massage – just like so many other things in life – isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. For that reason, the medical spa community has developed various forms of the service with the intention of treating different people for different purposes. At Jiva Med Spa, we offer a number of different massage services, all of which are available for purchase in 30-, 60- and 90- minute sessions. The following massage services are currently at Jiva Med Spa in our Columbus and Dayton, Ohio office locations: Aromatherapy Massage An aromatherapy massage incorporates therapeutic essential oils to help relax your body, mind, and spirit in a calming environment. During an aromatherapy massage, we will use specially scented lotion and essential oil to smoothly release tension in your neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs. In addition, we will also diffuse the entire massage room with an essential oil of your choice to enhance the overall experience. Popular oils include lavender, rose, peach, and citrus, and each scent can produce a different sensation. For example, lavender is relaxing while citrus is invigorating. All the essential oils we use are 100% natural and come from different flowers, herbs, and fruits. Swedish Massage A Swedish massage – or “classic” massage – is perfect for beginners. During a Swedish massage, your massage therapist will gently rub the muscles in long, gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart to release tension in your neck, shoulders, and lower back. A Swedish massage helps to enhance circulation and increase oxygen flow throughout the body. Typically, the treatment involves your whole body, front and back, so you will be asked to flip over at some point so your massage therapist can work on both sides. Of course, you can undress to your own level of comfort, and you will be covered with a sheet at all times. Deep Tissue Massage A deep tissue massage can treat chronic aches and pains, such as musculoskeletal strains and sports injuries. During a deep tissue massage, your massage therapist will apply the same gliding strokes used in a Swedish massage, but with more intense pressure to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. The goal of a deep tissue massage is to treat muscle pain and improve joint stiffness, which is why more intense pressure is required. That said, your massage therapist will still make the experience enjoyable, relaxing, and comfortable. Your massage therapist will begin the session with gentle strokes to ensure your muscles are sufficiently warmed up. Why Get A Massage At Jiva Med Spa? At Jiva Med Spa, we believe that beauty begins within. That’s why we offer a number of massage services and add-on treatments that help to relax and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirt through the use of therapeutic touch and hands-on healing. Not only are massages a luxurious, pampering experience, but they can also have a positive impact on your overall health and wellness, especially during stressful times. Of note, Jiva Med Spa has a new facility in Columbus, Ohio that’s 100% dedicated to our massage services, and it’s accessible through a separate parking lot and entrance to ensure your total privacy and peace of mind. The building has two separate locker rooms for men and women, and a bonus tranquility area where you can take a shower, drink hot tea, and relax before your appointment. Massage… it’s what the doctor ordered. If you’re ready to get started, call us at (614) 421-7546 or fill out the form below.
