Lorraine Quinn from Beauty at the Lodge Ballybofey explains why everyone should get a regular massage.

Tired, Sore and Stressed Out?

Most people would agree a massage makes them feel good, but many probably don’t realise exactly how good a regular massage is for their overall health.

How about if you knew massage could improve performance, aid recovery, prevent and eliminate injuries, reduce stress and even enhance metabolism and circulation!

With so many alternative health treatments available, it’s little wonder people get confused about where to go when they’re not feeling the best.

But while new health therapies continue to emerge, think about this, the Chinese began using massage to heal the human body as long ago as 5000 BC and it’s still being used today. Now there has to be something to be said for that!

Most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress, 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 lower back and gluteals caused by prolonged periods of sitting.

Luckily, massage can counteract the imbalance caused by incorrect posture, which means you can keep your desk job as long as you schedule a regular massage.

Increase the benefits with regular visits

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. Also getting a massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year.

Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health, and remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic.

Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan and work with your therapist to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

How Massage Therapy helps Health and Fitness

Massage may simply look like a lot of pressing and kneading on skin, but massage is actually a scientific process.

The reason you feel different after a massage is because it is healing and invigorating tired, aching or injured muscles.

Massage increases blood land lymph circulation. Lymph is a fluid that rids body tissues of waste, is dependent on the squeezing effect of muscles. An active person has better lymph flow than an inactive person. However, stimulation from vigorous activity can lead to increased waste, which can negate the benefit. This is where massage has a huge advantage.

Massage can dramatically aid lymph movement, which together with blood, supplies nutrients and oxygen and rids wastes and toxins. It is easy to understand why good circulation is so important to our health and why massage can be so beneficial just for this purpose.

Massage Benefits the Elderly

Massage knows no age limits. It works wonders on young, old, and in between. It can be especially helpful to the elderly who are experiencing the physical effects of aging which can include: thinner and drier skin, reduced tissue elasticity, loss of mobility, slower nervous system response, decreased bone mass, sleeplessness, constipation and a less efficient immune system.

Massage helps the Mind Body & Soul

Everybody experiences some form of stress through work, family, the environment and society. Mental tensions, frustrations and insecurity cause the most damage. Hormones released by stress actually shrink the vessels, inhibiting circulation.

A stressed mind and body means the heart works harder. Breathing becomes rapid and shallow and digestion slows. Nearly everybody’s process is degraded.

Studies show stress can cause migraines, hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, some peptic ulcers, etc. In fact, researchers have estimated 80% of disease is stress related. Soothing and relaxing massage therapy can counteract the effects of stress.

Massage helps keep the body and mind functioning optimally by promoting well nourished and healthy skin, improving circulation of blood and lymph, improving immune system functioning, improving energy flow, enhancing general relaxation, reducing muscular tension and associated discomfort, improving sleep, increasing feelings of well-being, soothing anxiety and depression.

Massage has so many other benefits:

Increase the blood’s oxygen capacity by 10 – 15%

Help loosen contracted, shortened muscles and stimulate weak, flaccid muscles. This muscle ‘balancing’ can even help posture and promote more efficient movement.

Speed recovery from exercise-induced fatigue.

Increase production of gastric juices, saliva and urine.

Increase excretion of nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus and sodium chloride (salt). This suggests that the metabolic rate increases.

Balance the nervous system by soothing or stimulating it, depending on which effect is needed. Improves function of the oil and sweat glands that lubricate, clean and cool the skin. Though inflexible skin can become softer and more supple.

Indirectly or directly stimulating nerves to supply internal organs can dilate the organs’ blood  vessels, improving blood supply.

At Beauty at the Lodge in Ballybofey, our fully-trained therapists provide soothing and stimulating massages for a wide variety of benefits. To book an appointment or for more information call : 074 91 30446

Visit us on Facebook here www.facebook.com/beauty.at.the.lodge.ballybofey

Lorraine x