It is estimated that over ninety percent of disease is stress related (HowItWorks.com). And perhaps nothing ages us faster—internally and externally—than excessive levels of stress. Massage can be an effective tool for managing our response to stress, and this can translate into:
- Decreased anxiety
- Enhanced sleep quality
- Greater energy
- Improved concentration
- Increased circulation
- Reduced fatigue.
Massage can also help address a number of specific health issues. It can:
- Alleviate muscular pain and improve range of motion
- Assist with a shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers
- Enhance immunity by stimulating the flow of lymph—the body's natural defense system
- Relax and strengthen weak, tight, or atrophied muscles
- Help athletes at any level prepare for and recover from workouts and events
- Improve the condition and function of the skin—the body's largest organ
- Increase joint flexibility
- Lessen depression and anxiety
- Reduce post-surgical adhesions and swelling
- Reduce spasms and cramping
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles
- Release endorphins—the amino acids that work as the body's natural painkillers.