Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:
Decreased anxiety
Enhanced sleep quality
Greater energy
Improved concentration
Increased circulation
Reduced fatigue
Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues. Bodywork can:
Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion
Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays
Ease medication dependence
Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system
Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles
Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts
Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin
Increase joint flexibility
Lessen depression and anxiety
Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks
Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation
Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling
Reduce spasms and cramping
Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles
Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller