What is Massage Therapy?
Many people look at massage as a luxury, only for scenarios after an accident or if you are super stressed. The fact is that massage can be incorporated in your wellness program and benefit your mental and physical health. Massage therapy is manual manipulation of soft body tissues to advance a person’s health and well being. There are many studies showing the benefits that massage offers for veterans, cancer patients, anxiety/depression, post surgical patients, chronic pain patients, office workers, insomnia patients and much more! Massage therapy can vary anywhere from a deep tissue massage to a relaxing, stress reducing massage with many types in between.
Why Should I Incorporate Massage Therapy?
In the Journal of Science Translational Medicine, massage therapy was shown to reduce the body’s production of cytokines – proteins that contribute to inflammation. Massage therapy was also shown to stimulate mitochondria, the energy-producing units in cells that aid in cell function and repair. It can reduce cortisol levels and regulate the effects of the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight system in your body). So what does this mean for you? This means less inflammation, more efficient functions at the cellular level, improved immune response, reduced depression, improved sleep, less pain killers, and promotion of blood flow just to name a few benefits.
With the new restrictions that Colorado Bill SB18-022 has placed on opioids, massage therapy is a healthy alternative for those with chronic pain.
What’s My Next Step?
Michael Coffee, LMT is hosting a free massage therapy seminar for couples on 7/18/2018 at 5:00 pm. Here you will learn simple techniques on how to give a professional massage and dive deep into the benefits of massage therapy. RSVP here and bring a friend or significant other and learn how to give the gift of stress relief.