Human touch is one of the most natural reactions to suffering. We instinctively massage a sore muscle or settle a crying baby with rhythmic tapping. Massage is also one of the oldest healing traditions. We know that many ancient cultures – the Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese and Indians amongst them – were convinced that massage could assist in the healing of a number of different ailments.
Although few of us need convincing that massage helps ease our suffering, recent studies show that a 10-minute Swedish massage goes a long way to helping your muscles recover after exercise. Further studies indicate that high-stress levels impair the immune system, which helps explain why the calming effect of massage has long been believed to improve overall health and well-being.
One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm afterward. This occurs because of the physical effect on the muscle, and the hormonal response that it provokes. The manual techniques in massage are intended to mobilise the soft tissue and maintain flexibility, and these methods are especially effective for breaking compensatory pain postures and patterns.
Massage also prompts the release of endorphins, the brain chemicals that produce feelings of wellbeing. Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol, and norepinephrine, are also reduced by massage, which has an immediate effect on our mental health and a long-term effect on our immune system.
The various benefits of massage become more apparent depending on a subject’s individual needs and the style of massage used, but even if you book a massage to relieve post-exercise soreness, you’re likely to enjoy some of the other benefits that massage offers as well.
The most popular benefits of massage include:
With wide-ranging benefits that affect the lymphatic, nervous, endocrine and muscular systems, it’s no wonder that massage is used to treat a wide variety of ailments.
Though massage can help numerous ailments, it is not appropriate for all conditions. These include neoplastic diseases, fractures, acute inflammatory conditions, certain skin conditions, systemic infections, fever, severe hypotension, and cancer.
If you have any of these conditions, ensure that you speak to your health care physician before having any massage treatment completed.
There are many different massage techniques, and an experienced masseuse will choose a style that best suits their client’s immediate needs. They are adept in a number of different techniques and may use one or more of these techniques in a session.
There are so many ways that massage is beneficial to people, and so there will always be a need for an experienced and trained masseuse to help. The International Career Institute offers a Health and Fitness course in Massage Therapy to those who are interested in learning the art of massage, so contact us online today to enrol.
Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.
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