Have you ever had a spa day? If you have, then you know how great it is to have some time dedicated to you, and only you, where you can get pampered and look after yourself. If you haven’t, then you’re missing out on a treat!
There are a number of treatments that you can have when you spend time at a spa, so it can be tricky to decide which ones you want to try out—especially if you’re on your first ever spa trip. One of the top choices is a massage, and there are many benefits of massage therapy. These are some of the reasons why you may want to choose a therapeutic massage on your next spa visit.
Massage helps with headaches
Try to book a massage when you next get a headache: it could reduce the severity of a tension headache, and decrease how frequently you get them. There’s also research that found that just one massage session has an immediate effect on perceived pain in those who suffer from chronic tension headaches.
Your sleep improves
As well as encouraging you to have a restful sleep, a massage can also help anyone who can’t comfortably rest. This is because it can promote sleep and relaxation for those undergoing treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy. According to research, massage can also help infants to sleep for longer—as well as cry less and be less stressed.
Massage counteracts sitting down all day
Most people deal with some form of postural stress, which usually manifests in the neck and shoulders. However, more advanced forms of this can show up as a pain or weakness in the lower back and gluteal muscles, which is caused by long periods of sitting down.
A massage can counteract the imbalance that you may suffer from sitting all day. So, if you have a desk job, scheduling regular massages can help to improve your comfort levels at work.
Spa massage reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
For most people, a massage reduces their stress levels. It can also help to reduce or manage the symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Some people with depression feel that their symptoms decrease after a massage, although there are currently no studies that prove this. It’s also been reported that massages offer other benefits including better sleep, less fatigue, increased energy levels, and better concentration.
Better skin
Having a full body massage means that you get some help in removing dead skin cells, which improves your skin tone. The stimulation of the blood flow also benefits the health and appearance of your skin—and it can encourage tissue regeneration, which may help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
Reduces pain
A full body massage may release endorphins into your body, which work to relieve pain. If you have any muscles that are overused, tired, or that just feel sore, they can be relaxed and softened by a massage. You may also get relief from sore muscles after a workout, or help with a sports injury.