I always wanted to get a massage but it’s a luxury I can’t afford! I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s hard to include massages on the regular self-care schedule. They can often feel like an unaffordable luxury; a once in a year treat reserved for your birthday or special occasion.
But guess what? Massage therapy isn’t just for the rich or the famous. And you know what else? Regular massage provides some pretty good health benefits, too!
Similar to getting your teeth cleaned or attending a fitness class, scheduling a massage can help keep our health, bodies, and minds in check.
The health benefits of a massage
Here are 6 health benefits of massage and why you need it in your self-care ritual, stat!
Improves your posture
Most of us either have desk jobs or spend a little too much time curled on the couch with Netflix on cue. Not good! Prolonged periods of sitting can lead to shortened and overworked muscles that become tight, sore and wreak havoc on our natural alignment.
From the dreaded ‘text neck’ to the hunched-over position we employ when scrolling or typing (I bet you are straightening up as you read this!), these postures are unnatural for the body and can lead to chronic conditions such as back pain and even difficulty breathing.
Massage can undo all this drama by retraining the muscles to become loose and fluid – effectively improving your posture and alleviating chronic aches as well as help your breathing.
Stress, be gone!
It’s so easy to become stressed these days. With so much going on within and without, our bodies and minds are constantly on edge. Whether it’s the never-ending list of work tasks or a challenging relationship, stress can affect our body in many negative ways.
One of the best things you can do to walk away from stress and feel more grounded is to get a massage. Massage gets us out of our chaotic minds and into our body, allowing us to be present and to experience total relaxation.
Massage therapies such as Swedish massage or aromatherapy massage encourages the body and mind to slow down, and enter a calmer state. Breathing becomes slower and deeper, muscles loosen up, and blood pressure is reduced as happy hormones help to self-regulate the body and give off that warming, euphoric feeling from head to toe. Massage has also been proven to relieve anxiety and depression – providing an alternate treatment for mental health.
Boosts immunity
Vitamin C. Chicken soup. Massage? Yep! Massage can give our bodies the ability to fight disease! If you really need an excuse to book a massage, this is it.
The act of massage helps to improve blood circulation, assisting in lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, releasing white blood cells that fight disease and defend your body from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.
The relaxation benefits of massage also helps to calm and regulate the nervous system, making your body more ready to fight off any nasties.
Makes you a better lover
Massage can improve your sex life – but not in the way you think! We’re not talking foreplay here (that’s a whole other article!) but, as a tool to improve libido levels and help with issues of infertility or sexual dysfunction.
Chronic stress can lead to issues around infertility, impotence, and decreased arousal in men and women. For those trying for a baby, sometimes the stress or worry about conceiving is enough to stop the conception from happening. Massage can help improve your libido and stop any of those bedroom blocks by reducing anxiety and helping you to get in touch with your body.
Improves sleep quality
Hands up if you need more Zz’s! For anyone suffering poor sleep quality, forget the sleeping pills and book a massage instead.
Because massage helps reduce anxiety, stress and physical pain, it can also help to improve our sleep. Massage increases what’s known as delta waves, the type of brainwave responsible for deep sleep.
Insufficient sleep not only leads to morning crankiness but also increased weight gain, depression, cardiovascular disease and a compromised immune system. By scheduling a regular massage, you’ll find your sleep quality will improve. Many people find they doze off quicker on the night following a massage and wake up feeling more alert! Win.
Body positivity
Massage can be a powerful act of self-love. Not only are you making time for yourself, you’re also improving your relationship with your body. How? By simply taking pleasure in the sensations felt by your body, by taking the time to care for it and see it as an important vessel regardless of shape or size.
Quick tips for fitting a regular massage into your budget
Worried about the cost? Here are some tips on how to fit a regular massage into your budget:
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Shop around
It’s important that you shop around your local area to see what the going rate of a massage is where you are. By doing some research, you could save yourself a lot of money over time just by finding somewhere a little less expensive. However, in saying that, don’t sacrifice quality for cost – if the massage isn’t good, then it isn’t worth it!
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Make your coffee at home
Did you know that if you save the $6 a day you might spend on a drink at the local coffee shop, you’d generally save enough money to get a decent massage once a month? And all you have to do is drink your coffee at home instead of out.
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Pair up with a ‘massage buddy’
There are a number of awesome online and in-person massage therapy courses available for people to learn from today. Team up with a friend who also loves massage and enroll in a course together – that way, you can take turns giving each other massages forever for free!
Schedule a massage today
Massage brings us back to ourselves. When was the last time you treated yourself simply because you love yourself? Healthy touch (whether from a professional massage therapist or self-administered) helps you to appreciate your body as it is. This can increase your self-confidence and let go of any negative bias you have towards your appearance. Creating a healthy body image is an essential act of self-care. Massage can help you achieve this.
Give your body and mind a break! Scheduling a regular massage is the ultimate in self care. You don’t need an excuse to treat yourself – indulging in self love is non-negotiable and should be part of your daily routine. Massage brings a variety of health benefits along with being insanely relaxing! Working from the inside-out, massage is a holistic approach to fighting off disease, improving aches and pains, boosting confidence, and promoting a happier and healthier mind, body and soul.
BRB, booking my massage now!