One of the educational components of my job is to debunk the common idea that massage is just “pampering.” I think that many view receiving bodywork and taking an hour for yourself on a massage table is somehow excessive, rather than a responsible use of time for your overall health. We would not view taking the time to brush our teeth, take a shower, attend a doctor appointment, or exercise frivolous- because we understand the implications of not taking care of our bodies will result in pain, sickness, and increased medical bills down the road. For many people, monthly massage therapy would benefit them greatly, both in the short- and long-term.
The most common benefits of massage therapy include:
Stress reduction
Increased circulation
Pain reduction
Immune System support
Better Sleep
Increased Range of Motion (Flexibility)
Improved Mood
So many of these benefits play off of each other. When your body is pain free, you can move better, and your mood improves; when you feel and move better in your body, you are less prone to pain and stiffness; sleeping better helps support your immune system and improve your mood; it is easier to fall asleep when your body isn’t aching and you’ve been more active that day, because you’ve felt better and were able to move your body better. Massage therapy can be a catalyst for this change in someone’s life, and it’s one reason why I love what I do. (This can be the result from one session, and maintained monthly, or in other cases, where chronic pain is present, the result of multiple sessions over time, gradually spread out to monthly maintenance sessions.)
Apart from these physiological changes that have been measured by research, I would also note that massage and bodywork teaches us how to receive, in a culture that puts so much emphasis on giving. Taking time for yourself, letting your (physical and mental) guard down in a safe space, can be extremely therapeutic in itself. This learning to “allow” can be transformative for those to whom it does not come naturally.
Additionally, and maybe most importantly, receiving good bodywork gives our body a reset- both in soft tissue tension and alignment. This allows us to move freely, pain free- something those in chronic pain have not done in months to years. This not only makes a huge impact on one’s movement patterns for days to weeks after the appointment, but emotionally and spiritually, we are no longer as burdened in our bodies with constant pain, making space for renewed energy and a more positive outlook.