According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) those who participate in exercise from the novice to the elite can benefit from massage therapy. Of course, I am completely biased in my beliefs that massage therapy is a great therapy to release stress, tension, and fatigue in order to improve overall performance. From my studies in massage school and experiences receiving massage, I have noticed a vast difference in my own body's health and performance, but to take out the bias, I have compiled a list of 5 reasons that massage therapy is beneficial and links to the sources.
Please continue reading below to find out the reasons why massage is beneficial to help the body rejuvenate and restore.
“Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden
Improves Sleep - According to the National Library of Medicine, massage therapy assisted in the recovery of athletes by improving sleep. In this study, cycling athletes received a massage every week for four consecutive weeks, and then bi-monthly while the athlete was actively training. During the study, each athlete reported improved sleep.
Improved sleep is a fantastic benefit because better sleep quality and adequate duration can:
Improve immune function by regenerating the cells and proteins that help fight off infection,
Prevent weight gain by putting the hormone gherlin (controls appetite) at bay,
Strengthen your heart by lowering cortisol release,
Improve memory by allowing your mind to process and store memories from the day, and
Increase exercise performance because the body is allowed to recover and restore hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and muscle recovery. *SCL Health
Relaxes the Athlete - Massage taps into the parasympathetic nervous system by relaxing the sympathetic nervous system - our "fight or flight" reaction. By calming our body and mind, we tap into the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the state in which our bodies rest and digest. By activating this state of mind, we allow our bodies to rebuild, repair, and recover from any stressors we hold or experience from day-to-day activity.
Improves Muscle Tightness - In the same study in the National Library of Medicine, the cycling athletes reported decreased muscle tightness after receiving massage weekly. Lessening muscle tightness is a result of dilating blood vessels during massage to increase circulation throughout the body. This increased circulation allows for more water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the muscle to aid in its repair and removal of toxins (it lessens the build up of those pesky knots massage therapists always find bound in muscle tissue, too). * Moyer Wellness
Reduces Inflammation - When receiving a massage, the therapist manipulates the muscle tissue to warm the muscle, stretch the tissue, and breakup any bound areas in the muscle (scar tissue, adhesions, knots, etc). By breaking up any adhesions or releasing knots in the muscle, the body is able to increase circulation to the area, and flush out any stagnant energy or toxins to help remove inflammation in the area. By removing the blocked area in the tissue, the body is able to flush out what was stuck in the area.
Increased Energy - According to Moyer Wellness, massage therapy has also been shown to promote the growth of new mitochondria following strenuous activity. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of cells - they can convert our food into ATP, or energy. The more mitochondria you have in a cell, the more that cell can make energy to be used as work. The more energy an athlete has at the cellular level, the more they can perform. * Moyer Wellness
The body is pretty cool, right? If you are intrigued to learn more, stay tuned for more information about the benefits of massage therapy, and how innate our body can be to heal. If you have any special requests or follow-up questions, please do not hesitate to write in the comments, and I'll answer!
For now, keep active, and book regular massages to allow your body to heal and continue to perform!
All my light. All my love.
Namaste,
Jordan
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