Do not underestimate the benefits of a massage. Massage therapy can relieve stress and ease sore muscles but it goes far beyond that. Massage improves blood circulation and relaxes the body to the point that it can lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. What is known as the “relaxation response” generated by massage has also been shown to ease chronic pain and provide a number of other health benefits.

Massage therapy is one of the oldest treatments known to man and remains one of the most effective. The origins date back to 3000 BC when the first book on massage was written by a man in China. Touch therapy continued to develop there and a man known as Nei Ching became well known for what he called therapeutic touch. His work lead to the reflexology movement in Egypt some 500 years later.

It also helped spark the Ayurvedic movement in India which relies heavily on touch therapy.

As the use of massage continued to evolve it became very popular among athletes in Ancient Greece. It was there that Hippocrates told the physicians he trained to rub the body to promote healing and the same principles are still used to help modern athletes. There is no arguing over how it helps them recover quicker from injury. It also helps them improve their range of motion and flexibility. The massage can be done before or after the athlete takes the field or hits the court. Massage can incorporate stretching routines to get the athlete ready to compete.

Massage is also a great way to relieve tension and that is why some athletes prefer to do it before or after a game. It helps them fight off the pregame jitters. This is the same reason that people from all walks of life see a massage therapist to relieve stress. The massage not only works out the stiffness in the muscles but it can bring a peaceful calm over the body. It has long been used to treat anxiety, depression or mental ailments. Scientific studies have confirmed that massage can reduce stress levels in the body. Stress is often the source that causes many physical problems to the body.

The reason that massage has a calming effect on people is the “relaxation response” described earlier. This response was first seen in people who meditated and now is used to describe those who are totally relaxed after massage. Signals are sent to the body by the nervous system to slow down and you are able to unwind. Mental health is just as important as physical health for your overall well being and massage takes the stress away.

There are other ways that massage will improve your overall health. Massage has been shown to lower the blood pressure of patients and reduce the heart rate. It improves the flow of blood throughout the body and better circulation means better health. Massage will also help more oxygen be carried throughout the body because it slows down your breathing, resulting in deeper breaths to improve oxygen transfer.

Author Bio: I write for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stones supplies provider. They carry products for hot stone massage, as well as many other accessories for hot and cold stone therapy.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: massage, massage therapy, therapeutic massage