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Massage - Why do you Feel So
Good After?
By: Jackie King, COTA/L, LMT, CIMI
Massage is still considered a luxury or pampering, that many of us think we
don’t deserve. Although it is luxurious, it is a low- tech intervention with
high-tech benefits.
Where else can you get an hour of professional one on one time and feel so good
afterwards? Although this can feel expensive, it is certainly less costly than
long term Physical Therapy, a trip to the Emergency Room, prescription
medicines, or even surgery. A recent study reported that for every dollar spent
on massage and wellness/prevention, saved the customer $40.00 in unplanned trips
to the doctor, prescription medicines, and surgeries.
The list of benefits for massage therapy go on and on, but the changes that
routinely occur within the body are increased blood flow, increased mental
clarity, increased lymph flow, which means a decrease in the risk of illness,
increased Range Of Motion, decreased pain and stiffness and decreased stress.
But what is happening on the inside of your body to cause these changes?
1) Taking the time to do something you thoroughly enjoy that reaps so many
benefits can be in itself empowering. Simply taking the initiative to schedule
something just for you will make you feel better about yourself. We spend so
much time every day doing for others, we rarely have any time at all for
ourselves. Everyone needs to be touched with compassion and listened to in a
non-judgmental way. This can help you turn your focus inward, and begin to let
go of some of life’s stressors.
2) The gentle kneading, stroking motions and various stretches of massage bring
blood to the surface and increase the circulation. The skin will have a
healthier glow and an improved tone overall. Organs function because of the
increase in blood supply and blood pressure decreases.
3) This same gentle kneading and stretching helps the muscles to become more
firm and elastic-like and move more easily. Once the muscles can relax, a
greater ROM can be achieved. This process is the same as when you first begin to
exercise. Your muscles feel stiff and tight, but as you continue, they
eventually warm up and loosen, allowing you to move more freely. In massage, the
therapist is warming the muscles passively and getting the same increase in
muscle elasticity, ROM and decreased pain and stiffness.
4) Massage increases the lymph circulation, which is crucial to maintaining a
healthy body. Part of the Immune System, it is responsible for keeping tissues
nourished, and ridding the body of cellular waste, bacteria and viruses. It
relies on normal respiration and muscle movement for circulation. When it
becomes stagnate, discomfort, edema and disease occur. But, with massage, and
passively moving the muscles, you are helping to maintain the lymphatic system,
and decreasing the risk of illness.
5) Stress is one of the primary reasons for doctor and hospital visits. It is
estimated that 90% of disease is stress related. Such discomforts and / or
diseases as muscle spasms, cramps, depression, anxiety, and the more serious
conditions such as high blood pressure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and heart
conditions including Coronary Artery Disease and heart attack can all be linked
to stress. And the list of problems goes on. It is far easier, less expensive
and much more enjoyable to take the pro-active approach with health and wellness
and include massage into your regular routine.
6) Once you have received your massage, you will feel more mentally clear. You
have taken the time to do something positive for yourself. You were willing to
open up and receive touch with compassion. Your muscles are no longer tight, the
pain is gone, or at least decreased, and your ROM is improved. You are relaxed!
How do you know how much massage is enough, or how often to get a massage? It’s
all good! Whether it’s a 10 minute seated massage or a 90 minute table massage,
you honestly cannot have too much. Studies have shown that if the time and
resources were available, we could all benefit from a daily massage. Since that
is probably not an option for most of us, here are some things to help keep that
calm, pain free, clear head feeling lasting for a while longer.
1) Don’t do any strenuous exercise directly after your massage. Instead, try
yoga, or gentle stretching to keep that loose, relaxed feeling.
2) Eat a light snack, not a heavy meal. Drink a lot of water. The water will
help to flush the toxins from your body that have been loosened with massage.
3) Jump in the sauna directly afterwards.
4) If your therapist has used scented oil, ask to take just a bit home with you
to use when you are stressed. Rub some onto tight muscles, and the scent will
take you back to that relaxed place.
5) Take a power nap. Studies show that power napping reduces the risk of heart
attacks.
6) Turn off your phone, pager and beeper and listen to some calming music or
nature.
7) If you feel that tightness creeping into your muscles, gently rub in between
your eyebrows or approximately two inches across on your sternum, and take some
nice deep breaths.
8) Surround yourself with nature, plants or fresh cut flowers.
9) Remember to schedule your next appointment for massage before you leave your
therapist’s office. You know how good you feel when you get off of the table, so
go ahead and schedule the next one. Don’t wait until stress has gotten too big
to handle. Stay ahead of it. Take charge of your life, and stay healthy.
10) Ultimately, we eventually have to return to the reality of our daily lives,
and yes, stress will creep back in. Try however, to return gently without
snapping back so quickly that you lose everything you have gained in your
massage session. Stay in control of your stress, your health and your life.
Don’t let it control you. It may take some practice, but it is well worth the
effort.
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