The benefits of massage therapy at all stages of life, from newborns to senior citizens are enormous as shown by research. Studies from the Research Touch Institute have shown the benefits of massage and in particular that touch therapy has many positive effects on different levels.
On a Physical level
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It helps the flow of blood and lymph to eliminate toxins
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It soothes nerves
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Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
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Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion, reducing pain and swelling
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Reduces blood pressure
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Strengthens the immune system
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Firms the skin
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Improves posture
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Eliminates the waste products of nutrition and fatigue
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Helps reduce cellulite
On an Emotional level;
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Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation
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Settles the emotion
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Reduces levels of anxiety
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Alleviates depression
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Enhances attentiveness
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Enhances calm thinking and creativity
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Creates body awareness
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Fulfils the need for touch and communication
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Leads to a positive state of mind and spiritual awareness
Benefits of massage therapy and healthy life style:
The benefits of massage therapy can be a key component of a holistic approach toward general health care. The manipulation of soft tissue and its surrounding structures through massage can directly affect our main systems and tune our body to its highest potential.
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Muscular System
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Skeletal System
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Central Nervous System
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Lymphatic System
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Respiratory System
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Skin
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Digestive System
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Excretory System
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Circulatory System
These systems form together our Postural balance, Systemic balance and our Psychological balance. These three balances can all therefore be directly influenced by massage, and by receiving massage on a regular basis, we can help tune our bodies to their highest potential.
Disease and illness can interrupt that cycle, but outside of that interference massage can be a major influence on our overall health and well-being.
Our bodies are held in postural balance by our
musculoskeletal system, adapted through evolution to allow us to stand on two legs and ensure that our eyes remain level to allow us to balance on two feet. Standing requires many of our muscles to continually contract and relax to maintain our balance, posture and stillness.
Commonly, one or more postural muscles will become overactive or underactive, too tight or too slack and other larger group muscles will become involved to compensate. It is this compensation pattern that over time causes a more permanent postural imbalance to occur with associated dysfunction of joints, abnormal range of movement, ineffective breathing patterns, muscular pain, stiffness and inflammation.
An astute experienced skilled massage therapist is able to quickly assess an individual’s posture by observing skeletal alignment against an “ideal” alignment, palpating muscles for areas of hyper -tonicity or hypo- tonicity together with general tissue health, and testing range of movement actively and passively to identify muscles that are too tight or too slack. The therapist will then take into account any medical issues or contraindications together with the client’s wishes, and develop a massage treatment plan tailored to correct the individual’s postural problems. This treatment plan will be continuously re-evaluated based on client feedback and results in customised approach at each appointment.
