Benefits of Massage Therapy and Bodywork

As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment, and you hear the gentle sound of massage oil being warmed in your therapist's hands. Once the session gets underway, the daily stressors and aching muscles fade into an oblivious 60 minutes of relief, and all you can comprehend right now is not wanting it to end.

But what if that hour of massage did more for you than just take the pressures of the day away? What if that gentle, Swedish massage helped you combat cancer? What if bodywork helped you recover from a strained hamstring in half the time? What if your sleep, digestion, and mood all improved with massage and bodywork? What if these weren't just "what if's"?

Evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you'll feel. Here's why:

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. When you bump your head or have a sore calf, the natural response is to rub it to feel better. The same was true of our earliest ancestors.

Healers throughout time and throughout the world have instinctually and independently developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch. Many are still in use today, and with good reason. We now have scientific proof of the benefits of massage -- benefits ranging from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles. Having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind -- there are specific physiological and psychological changes that occur, and even more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not simply mere luxury. Massage not only feels good, but it can cure what ails you.


The Fallout of Stress Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of disease is stress-related. Massage and bodywork is there to combat that frightening number by helping us remember what it means to relax. The physical changes massage brings to your body can have a positive effect in many areas of your life. Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage lowers blood pressure, increases local circulation, improves injury recovery, encourages deep sleep, and improves concentration. It reduces fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.

Massage is a perfect elixir for good health, but it can also provide an integration of body and mind. By producing a meditative state or heightened awareness of the present moment, massage can provide emotional and spiritual balance, bringing with it true relaxation and peace.

The incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular "doses." Researchers from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami, found that recipients of massage can benefit even in small doses (15 minutes of chair massage or a half-hour table session). They also note that receiving bodywork two to three times a week is even more beneficial. While this may not be feasible, it's nice to know that this "medicine" only gets better with frequency.


In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive, and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. Following is a brief list of the many known, research-based benefits of massage and bodywork:

- Increases local circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues

- Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer. Furthermore, increased local circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body's largest organ -- the skin

- Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles

- Reduces spasms and cramping

- Increases joint flexibility

- Reduces recovery time and helps prepare the body for strenuous workouts, reducing subsequent muscle pain of athletes at any level

- Releases endorphins -- the body's natural painkiller -- and is proving very beneficial in patients with chronic illness, injury, and post-op pain

- Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred

- Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain

- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication

- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion

- Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as reduces the need for medication, eases postpartum depression and anxiety, and contributes to a shorter hospital stay.

The benefits of massage are diverse. No matter how great it feels, massage isn't just a luxury, it's a health necessity.

What to expect during your first visit.

Whether you are new to massage or just new to us, your first massage therapy experience here should be a positive and empowering experience where you become more aware of your own body and begin to comprehend the significance of muscular health and how it impacts your life on a daily basis. 

If you haven’t had much experience with massage therapy, you might be wondering what to expect. This article will give you some ideas about what takes place during a "typical" massage session. 

If it’s your first time seeing a massage therapist, she will have you fill out an intake form and ask you some questions. The massage therapist will ask about the reasons you are getting a massage, current physical condition, medical history, life style and stress level, experiences with specific areas of pain, and whether there is any specific need you want addressed during the massage. 

First and foremost, the massage therapist needs to make sure there are not any conditions present that rule out having a massage due to any health risks. Second, the massage therapist needs to know what your needs are regarding the massage and be sure both of you are clear about what your expectations and goals for the session are. Third, the information you provide helps the massage therapist determine what techniques to use and how to structure the session. 

Next, your therapist will leave the room while you get ready for your massage. Many people worry about modesty. You’ll undress only to your level of comfort and will be covered under a sheet or towel for the entire massage session except for the area being worked on. You’ll undress and dress in privacy. The draping along with an electric table heater helps keeps you warm. (Temperature can be controlled whether you prefer to be warm or cool.) You should also remove any jewelry that might interfere with the massage. Typically, rings and earrings can be worked around, but necklaces and bracelets tend to get in the way. You will lie down on a comfortable, padded massage table and cover yourself with a sheet. Depending upon your personal preference and upon the goals of the massage, you will either begin your massage lying face up, face down, or on your side. The table has some extra attachments or cushions, such as a face rest (which allows you to lie in a face down position without turning your head and neck) and an armrest. We also have extra pillows, bolsters, and blankets to help make you as comfortable as possible. Your therapist will knock before reentering to make sure you are all set on the table.

            

Your massage therapist can use either oil or lotion, which reduces drag on the skin, while performing the massage. Most massage oils have a nut base. If you are allergic to some oils, lotions, or essential oils, tell your massage therapist. We have both scented and unscented products.

Before the massage begins, the massage therapist may offer some advice that will improve the quality of your massage. A common one is to breathe deeply from your abdomen, especially if a sensitive area is being massaged. We will ask that you let us know if you are ever uncomfortable. We don’t know if you don’t like the music, temperature, etc. unless you let us know. Also, Pain is entirely subjective. If the pressure is too much for you, then it is too much for you. The statement “no pain = no gain” is a fallacy. The exact opposite is true. If your nervous system views me as a threat, it will tighten muscles and release endorphins that will compromise the effectiveness of your therapy.

Depending on your needs, the massage therapist will massage either the full body or only specific areas that need attention. For example, general relaxation or stress reduction sessions usually include all the major areas of the body: head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, hips, legs, feet, and back. The abdomen is included upon request. A session for a localized injury, pain, or tightness will be focused on a specific area. It is possible to spend most of an entire session on only one area. Remember that you are in control of your massage. If there is anything that feels uncomfortable or unpleasant, you have the right to ask the massage therapist to change their technique or end the session at any time. A typical massage session on a table ranges from 30 to 120 minutes. The usual length of a session is an hour.

An exception to the above description would be a seated massage. In this case, you sit in a specially designed massage chair. The chair supports the front of the body, which allows access to most of the body. You remain clothed and oil or lotion is not used. Seated massages are usually shorter sessions that typically run from 10 to 30 minutes. Since the chairs are highly portable, seated massages can take place in a variety of settings, including the workplace.

You can expect a peaceful and comfortable environment for the massage. The massage therapist will play music during the massage. Some people find music playing to be relaxing, some find it distracting. If you don’t like music playing, ask your therapist to change the music, adjust the volume, or turn it off. 

After the massage is finished, you will once again be provided with privacy in order to get dressed. When you are ready, you will meet the massage therapist at the front desk where you may ask the massage therapist any questions you have, pay for your session, and reschedule as needed.