Massage therapy can be broadly defined as the manual manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues in the body, including connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons, with the purpose of improving a person’s health and well-being.
In HEALTH AND SKINCARE/ BEAUTY THERAPY/ SOMATOLOGY/ MASSAGE THERAPY massage is often known for its ability to provide relaxation and stress relieving properties. Most know massage therapy has the power to calm us down, make us feel good, and relieve tension in our muscles.
In the study of HEALTH AND SKINCARE/ BEAUTY THERAPY/ SOMATOLOGY/MASSAGE THERAPY, you will learn that Massage stimulates the left brain, which houses feelings of happiness, motivation, excitement, and being pleased. If a person is motivated, they are capable of producing their utmost best work as opposed to when they are demotivated. Massage therapy is a great tool to produce awareness and heightens alertness.
The following are the psychological benefits of massage therapy:
- Reduced anxiety – when the body experiences physical reactions when hit by psychologically charged feelings, the body becomes negatively affected by these reactions. Massage therapy helps to reduce the feeling of fear, anticipation, and worry.
- Improved moods – Regular massage therapy helps to release endorphins and serotonin which help in making us feel happy. Endorphins are feel-good hormones that are essentially the body’s natural pain blockers that are associated with chronic pain.
- Increased relaxation – the overall ambiance, the lighting, the soft music, the aromatic scents, the soft and clean bedding, and the actual massage itself, all contribute to the overall experience of a relaxing and calming massage.
- Increased energy – While massage therapy can be relaxing, the brisk movement of certain massage strokes can energize the client and increase their concertation and mental sharpness.
- Improved rest/sleep – regular massage therapy helps to improve sleep patterns in most people due to the slowing down in the functioning of the nervous system thus allowing the mind to also slow down in functioning.
- Stress management – regular massages are effective in stress management techniques that assist with controlling stress symptoms which can be caused by being overwhelmed or over-committed to work, school, relationships, or home.
- Management of emotional disorders – Massage therapy can help you manage emotional disorders like depression, PTSD, ADHD, or anxiety as part of your overall treatment plan due to the fact it is soothing, calming, nurturing, and relaxing. Massage therapy can improve your state of mind if you concentrate on releasing negative thoughts during the treatment.
- Boosts focus – Most people have trouble staying present (work meetings, studying, reading a book) for more than 15 minutes. The effects of massage therapy will help improve your attention span and ability to focus. This is because, in order for you to best pay attention, your heart rate needs to be lowered thus making you more attentive.