By Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T.
Most people enjoy a massage, though some don’t believe it’s worth the price. I believe massage should be a regular part of a healthy lifestyle. Here’s why…
- They relieve stress and tension in your body. We all have plenty of that.
- Improve circulation. Better circulation means enhanced blood flow to all parts of the body. Cells are better nourished.
- Ease musculoskeletal pain, soreness, stiffness.
- Ease headaches.
- Contribute to healing/rehabilitation of injuries.
There are other, less obvious, attributes of massage that are important and which many people may not think about:
- When a practitioner applies a hands on therapy like massage, and with a positive intention to help an individual, he or she can actually redirect the body’s energy field in a healing direction. A treatment can thus be energizing and uplifting for an exhausted or lonely person.
- An overall rejuvenating effect for someone with a chronic illness.
Think of it this way: Your body deserves it.
And – just in time for Mother’s Day – massage makes a great gift too (provided the recipient enjoys a massage).
Which massage is right for you or a loved one?
Massage Basics:
The price of massage are variable, depending on whether you get it in a spa, a fancy resort, in a clinic, or the massage therapist comes to you house.
There are many different kinds of massages – ranging from relaxing Swedish massages and body-balancing Abhyanga massages from the Ayurvedic tradition, to more therapeutic kinds like deep-tissue, myofascial release, and sports massages, and lymphatic massages to promote the body’s detoxification process. Shiatsu, from Japan, focuses on unblocking the flow of life energy and restoring balance in the meridians and organs to promote self-healing. There are massages for pregnant women and for kids.
I always suggest interviewing a massage therapist first to get a feeling for the energy of that person. Is that person positive and radiating good energy? You don’t want a negative person putting their hands on you.
Ask a friend or relative for a referral, or visit the website of the American Massage Therapy Association for the location of therapists near you.
© 2015 Heart MD Institute. All rights reserved.
