Benefits of Massage

-Decreases recovery time
- Enhances immune system
-Lessens depression and anxiety
-Reduces adhesions
- Reduces spasms and cramping
- Reduces scar tissue
- Improves range of motion and flexibility
- Improves circulation
- Rejuvenates overused muscles
- Stress reduction
- Relieves pain from everyday activities
-Assists with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays
-Eases medication dependence
-Enhances immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system
-Exercise and stretch weak or tight muscles
-Helps athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts
-Improves the condition of the body’s largest organ— the skin
- Increases joint flexibility
-Lessens depression and anxiety
- Promotes tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks
- Pumps oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation
-Reduces post surgery adhesions and swelling
-Reduces spasms and cramping
-Relaxes and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles
-Releases endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller
-Relieves migraine pain
-Improves range of motion

From a physiological or mechanical engineering point of view, massage increases the lubrication between muscle fibers and allows the muscle to move optimally. Muscle fibers are designed to work independently of each other. When muscles dry out, or dehydrate, the fibers stick together and the muscle becomes stiff or ridged. As fluid is reintroduced, the muscle softens and regains its flexibility. As circulation increases between the muscle fibers, nutrients reach the cells and toxins are carried off more efficiently.

Aging is largely a process of dehydration. The less water in the body, the more quickly we age. As we dehydrate, we begin to shrink and as our muscles become smaller, our skin begins to wrinkle. Drinking lots of water and having regular massage is a great way to get rid of wrinkles.

At post mortem, muscle dehydration is found at every area of disease. This would lead one to believe that good circulation could possibly keep one healthy. Degenerative diseases like cancer and muscular sclerosis are anaerobic and can not live in an oxygenated environment. Because blood carries oxygen to the cells, circulation is necessary for optimal health. The Bible teaches that life is in the blood. If this is true, we need the best circulation we can get. Massage increases circulation, hence, increases oxygen to the cells. It's time to get a massage.

From a psychological point of view, massage creates a sense of being cared for, of being nurtured. Massage helps us become more aware of our bodies and the feelings we value. Human touch connects one person to another and the feelings shared are healing and energizing emotionally. Safe touch is an important part of life. Massage by a responsible professional is a relaxing way to enjoy safe touch.

Looking at massage from a physics point of view, we see that electromagnetic energy is transferred from the giver to the receiver and back. This energy transfer can not be duplicated by gadgets or machines. The oriental cultures call this energy Chi or life energy. The world renowned nuclear physicist, Professor Serge Sitko, of Vidguk in the Ukraine, has developed equipment that is able to record this energy in the millimeter range of radio waves. This human energy transfer is an important part of the healing process. Many believe that this is simply love being transferred from one person to another.

Massage gives one a feeling of comfort and relaxation like a mini vacation from the pressures of life. A clinical study at the University of Miami School of Medicine,shows that massage increases mental alertness and accuracy in mathematical calculations. A group was given mathematical problems both before and after a series of massages and accuracy increased some 20%. Massage also increases beta waves in this study which shows that one is more relaxed after a series of massages. This relaxed state lasts longer as the cumulative benefits of more massage at regular intervals are experienced.

Weekly massage will make you look and feel years younger. You owe it to yourself to give massage a try.

Massage therapy dates back to the Egyptian Army, and, in Eastern cultures, massage has been practiced continually since ancient times. The power of touch has been proven in many studies to be beneficial mentally as well as physically.

-Office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better, showed more productivity, and were less stressed than those who were not massaged.
-Abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage.
-Premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared better than those who were not. -Athletes performed at a higher standard and had a faster recovery rate.
-Autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage therapy.
-Anxiety felt by cancer patients was reduced at the same time improving their quality of life when undergoing massage treatment.

-Asthmatic children were found to breathe more easily and suffered less number of attacks.
-Diabetic children’s glucose level fell to normal when massaged for 4 weeks.

Reference: aboutmassage.com