Benefits of Massage

Stimulating Effects

• Excites dull nerves
• Increases nervous irritability
• Stimulates peripheral nerves
• Clears nerve pathway for improved impulse flow & balance

Sedative Effects

• Relaxes impulses from CNS - stopping minor muscle spasms
• Producing calming effect over large muscle area
• Total body coverage calms & balances the nervous system
• Released muscle tension allows for the release of repressed emotions
• Causes thoughts to focus on the “here & now” and away from preoccupation with problems
• Relaxes spasticity of the involuntary nervous system, allowing for a greater supply of blood to the brain & nervous system

Improving Tone

• Muscles become firmer & more elastic due to improved homeostasis on the cellular level
• Strengthen & balances weakened muscles
• Improves circulation
• Detoxifies the muscles
• Causes rapid contraction of muscles - corrective
• Balances nervous system allowing for improved muscle tone
• Pumps Lymphatic fluids helping with muscular detoxification and reducing of edemas

Relaxing tension in muscles

• Relieves muscular pain
• Relieves pulls on joints
• Removes muscle fatigue faster then resting does
• Allows muscles to recover more quickly
• Greater exchange of nutrients and waste for overall health
• Allows a person to rest/sleep better for improved health
• Allows for better structural alignment
• Relieves muscle & joint stiffness

Adhesions & other adherent factors may be resolved to prevent/correct the following:

• Atrophy
• Paralysis
• Painful crippling conditions

• Improves the quality of blood to an area
• Improves Lymphatic Drainage
• Lessens demand placed on the heart
• Cellular exchange is improved
• Blood manufacturing process is improved
• Pressure against blood vessel walls tones them
• Hastens blood flow through superficial veins
• Stimulates blood flow through deeper arteries
• Stimulation of nerve receptors causes blood vessels to dilate
• Oxygen capacity of the blood can increase by 10-15% after a massage
• Longer lasting dilation and flushing
• Contraction of blood vessels

• Increase mobility of the chest
• Promotes lung expansion
• Relaxes uptight breathing

• Skin condition is enhanced, lubricated. Cleaned. Cooled and more supple with improved tone
• Minimizes wrinkles in the dermal layer

• Increase the body’s secretions & excretions (gastric juices, saliva, urine/nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus and salt)
• Drains internal organs and enhances their functions
• Assists people to feel better about themselves psychologically
• Improves performance & endurance by lowering the fatigue level during competition
• Moves lactic acid & carbonic acids which irritate muscles & causes soreness
• Hastens the recovery of injuries such as sprains, strains, breaks and tears by removing edema and toxic back-up
• Reverses stress which produces vasoconstriction hormones
• Reduces the tendency towards other stress disorders such as heart attacks, migraines, hypertension, depression, etc
• Helps tired, aching feet and legs
• Relieves congestion in head, nose and face from colds & sinus problems
• Helps break the PAIN CYCLE
• Helps insomnia
• Promotes good digestion and regularity
• Shortens post-convalescent time after surgery
• Helps relieve the discomfort of pregnancy & child birth
• Helps to relieve overcompensation that results from casted limbs and misalignment
• Massage replaces exercise for those unable to exercise on their own
• Restores the ability to exercise
• Can be helpful as an adjunct to weight reduction programs
• Increases body awareness