You deserve a massage today!
The benefits of massage
Decreases stressWhen you are upset, your body produces the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrine. Numerous studies have found that a 30 minute massage lowers levels of these chemicals in the blood. Even light touching, such as massaging your hands or getting a pedicure, can have a claming effect.
Brightens your moodAs it lowers the levels of stress hormones, massage can also increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with feelings of well- being and happiness. In one experiment, depressed teenage mothers were given a 30 minute massage twice a week. After a month, their serotonin levels were higher, their cortisol levels were lower, and they felt less bleak.
Boosts immune functioningThe health of your immune system is measured in part by the number of white blood cells circulating in your blood and how well those cells perform. Massage therapist Diane Zeitlin and colleagues conducted an experiment for the AMTA Foundation in the mid 90's in which they gave stressed-out medical students a one hour massage the day before a big exam. After the massage, the student's blood had higher levels of white blood cells and increased functioning of disease-fighting T cells.
Increases concentration and alertnessIt sounds counterintuitive, but a quick massage at lunch can do wonders for your productivity. In one study, workers completed math problems faster and more accurately after a 15 minute massage than before.
Enhances SleepTouch researcher Tiffany Field found that infants and toddlers who were massaged by their parents for 15 minutes prior to bedtime fell asleep faster than children who listened to a bedtime story.
Reduces physical pain
Tense muscles produce toxins and chemicals that cause physical pain. Massage can loosen those muscles and help prevent injuries that tight muscles can lead to. In addition, massage can trigger the production of endorphins, which increase a person's pain threshold. A recent study of lower-back sufferers found that after 10 weeks of treatment, the massage group reported a 47 percent improvement in pain, while the acupuncture group improved by 38 percent.
Resourses:
The American Massge Therapy Association
Touch,by Tiffany Field
Touching:The Human Significance of the Skin,by Ashley Monta
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