Massage therapy isn't just for relaxation.
Massage therapy has been around since 3000 BC. Natural healers in India, China, and Africa have used this modality to heal injuries, relieve pain, prevent and cure illnesses. Many Eastern traditions believe the body has the capacity to fully heal itself, if a person tunes into their natural rhythms and elements, fire, wood, earth, air or water.
Increasingly, there is a trend taking place to add massage therapy into a patient's healing plan. We are seeing more traditional practitioners prescribing massage therapy, as a complement to Western Medicine offerings. It is common to find massage therapists in naturopathic and functional medicine offices, acupuncture clinics, physical therapy settings, as well as gyms and spas. Many chiropractors and nutritionists work in tandem with their go-to massage therapist. Thankfully, the trend is to view LMTs as healthcare practitioners, as opposed to masseuses, folks who offer massage simply for pleasure or relaxation.
Let's face it: we live in a go-go-go kind of world.
The human body - and especially our nervous system - was never intended to handle this much information. With the advent of cell phones, laptops, and myriad channels from which to view media, it's become quite difficult for our brains to shut off. It's not healthy to be "on" all the time. The blue light from our screens affects the brain. Whether it's scrolling through Facebook, catching the latest series on Netflix or responding to an email at midnight, we are all guilty of indulging in too much technology.
As a nation, we are a bit on overload, and the result has been detrimental to our sleep, mental clarity, digestion, and overall physical and mental health., as a nation. According to studies done by the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) , taking time out for self care each month can be a wonderful way to lower anxiety and calm one's nervous system.
Massage therapy activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
When you go for massage therapy, especially for 60 or 90 minutes, the body has a chance to reset and recover. The body can heal itself when given a chance to get quiet and to slow down. The more a person stays in a Fight or Flight state, the more harm can be done to one's internal organs and overall health.
The benefits of moving out of Fight or Flight and into Rest and Digest include:
Decrease one's heartrate and systolic blood pressure
Increase the delivery of nutrients and oxygen
Decrease pain and discomfort, especially from an injury or after surgery
Increase mobility, range of motion and overall sense of well-being
Falling into a meditative alpha state of being can help relieve anxiety and increase mental clarity
Boost a person's mood, with the increased delivery of the feel-good chemicals, dopamine and serotonin
Improve digestion by increasing the delivery of metabolic waste, such as urine
Can help Mother-to-be and her baby feel comfortable and nourished
These are just some of the benefits you can expect from a massage therapy session. Give it a try!
About the author:
Dorina Leslie, LMT has been a massage therapist and alternative healer since 2013. She is honored to hold sacred space for her clients to heal, using therapeutic massage, reflexology, tuning fork sound healing and BEMER vascular therapy. Dorina has worked with clients from all walks of life and is passionate about helping people move into the best version of themselves, no matter their age or physical limitations. She is trained in Reiki, The Alexander Method of Vibrational Sound & Energy Therapy, the Laura Norman School of Reflexology, Mother Massage, Cupping Therapy, and is always evolving and expanding her offerings, as well as her consciousness. She is the mother of three amazing young adults and one four-legged Cockapoo= named Scooter. Please book healing sessions with Dorina by calling our offices here at Northeast Natural Medicine, 800-723-2962, extension 5.
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The content and any recommendations in this article are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to replace the advice of the reader's own licensed healthcare professional or physician and are not intended to be taken as direct diagnostic or treatment directives. Any treatments described in this article may have known and unknown side effects and/or health hazards. Each reader is solely responsible for his or her own healthcare choices and decisions. The author advises the reader to discuss these ideas with a licensed massage therapist.