After a tough workout, it’s important to take some time for yourself and relax. Flow State Massage is an excellent option – it can energize muscles and improve overall recovery.
Studies show that massage lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin, which is a feel-good hormone. It also enhances the parasympathetic nervous system response that slows heart rate and blood pressure and decreases inflammatory responses.
Poor circulation can have a wide range of detrimental effects, including memory problems, pain in the arms and legs, fatigue, digestive issues, and even blood clots. Massage increases the flow of blood and lymph through your body, thereby helping your organs and tissues get the oxygen and nutrients they need to work properly.
A massage consists of pressure being applied to the body’s muscles and joints. This pressure stimulates the blood vessels and the nerves that control them, and it also causes the muscles to relax. The relaxation part of the process helps to relieve tension, which in turn reduces circulation issues.
The muscle relaxation also triggers the release of the hormone endorphins, which help to diminish pain signals from the brain. The exact endorphin release varies from person to person, however. This means that while some people might experience a very powerful effect, others may feel only a mild or minimal impact.
Another way that massage can increase circulation is through the stimulation of the lymphatic system, which carries metabolic waste away from the muscles and into the glands where it’s filtered out of the body. The kneading motions of massage, especially those used in Swedish technique, have been known to stimulate the lymph flow.
Finally, massage can increase your blood’s circulation by causing vasodilation, which is the expansion of your body’s blood vessels. This allows your blood to circulate better and flushes toxins out of the body.
There’s a lot of research out there on whether or not massage really does improve your circulation. The truth is that it depends on the type of massage and your individual body. The best way to know if a particular massage will benefit you is to try it out and see for yourself.
As a general rule, light or medium-pressure massage techniques that move toward the heart are good for increasing your circulation. Vigorous tapotement movements like cupping, hacking, beating and pounding are stimulating, however, and they might not have the same benefits for circulation as more gentle or soothing techniques. Trigger point massage, which involves squeezing and releasing tight or knotted muscles, might also have an effect on circulation, but there isn’t a lot of research to back this up.
Reduced Stress
Stress is a natural response to any perceived threat, but the way we deal with it can be detrimental to our health. In addition to causing muscle tension and increasing the risk of injury, chronically high levels of stress can lead to depression, anxiety, heart disease and weight gain. Massage helps to reduce this stress by lowering the heart rate, relaxing the muscles and releasing feel good hormones.
A study conducted by researchers found that massage decreases the level of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. The study also shows that massage increases the level of serotonin, the “happy hormone,” and improves mood and emotional stability. Another way that massage can lower stress is by stimulating the lymphatic system to remove metabolic wastes, which can build up in the tissues and cause swelling, muscular fatigue and a restriction of movement. Massage increases the elasticity of tissues, which allows the muscles to move more freely and prevents the formation of scar tissue in damaged areas.
Studies have shown that when a person is stressed, it can tighten the muscles of their back and neck, which can lead to poor posture and discomfort. When the muscles of these areas are relaxed, they can return to their normal posture, reducing tension and stress levels. Massage can also increase a sense of well being and enhance sleep quality, both of which are important for decreasing stress and improving mood.
In addition to calming the nerves, massage can help to relieve pain by triggering the release of feel good hormones and blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. Adding aromatherapy to a massage session can also encourage the body’s production of these hormones by using different scents that stimulate the sense of smell.
A therapeutic massage can also increase feelings of connection and affection, which are associated with the feeling of being loved. This can reduce a person’s sense of isolation, which is one of the major causes of stress. While it might seem like an indulgence, adding therapeutic massage to your routine can actually help you live a longer and happier life by lowering the level of stress and anxiety that can damage your body, mind and mood.
Increased Flexibility
Whether you want to improve your flexibility for a specific sport, or simply for the comfort of moving more freely, massage can help. Many people find that the increased blood flow during a deep tissue massage, along with the friction applied to the muscles, helps to elongate the muscle and soft tissues. Any style of massage that involves myofascial release or breaking down adhesions in the soft tissue can be useful for increasing flexibility.
The elasticity of the muscles and connective tissues is also improved with massage by the warming up of the muscle. This increases the pliability of the muscle and can make it easier to stretch. The friction and vibration of massage can also break down adhesions that can form in the muscle and restrict movement and range of motion.
A number of studies have shown that incorporating massage into an athlete’s routine can reduce the negative acute effects of static stretching on performance. A study compared the SS protocol (static stretching alone) with the SSM (static stretching followed by massage) and found that although static stretching decreases jumping performance, massage alleviates this effect.
The researchers of this study believe that this is due to the increase in temperature and elasticity of the muscles that occur during massage. This allows the muscle fibers to move more freely and decreases the likelihood of injury. Massage also stimulates the release of endorphins in the body which act as natural pain killers, further decreasing the chances of injury and allowing the muscles to move more easily.
Other research suggests that massage can help to lower the levels of lactic acid in the blood which can cause pain during and after exercise. Studies of the effect of massage on lactic acid in athletes have found that after a short-term (20 minute) massage, lactic acid was significantly lower than in a control group without massaging.
It’s important to plan ahead for a massage session. Obviously it’s not a good idea to book one before an important presentation, children’s party or three-hour drive up the M6 to visit your ex-husband – but if you can do it, then you should! Try to schedule your massage for a time when you can relax and enjoy it. You’ll get much more out of it if you can give yourself time to wind down afterwards, too.
Reduced Pain
Many people find that the pain associated with certain health conditions can be reduced through massage. Whether this be the chronic pain of arthritis or the acute muscle injury a massage can provide relief.
Pain reduction occurs through a number of mechanisms within the body including the activation of the body’s natural painkillers and the increase in the blood flow around the area of the injury. Massage also causes an increase in the release of positive hormones such as endorphins and serotonin which act to reduce stress levels increasing relaxation which can further help with pain management.
A massage increases the blood supply travelling around the body which in turn promotes a better exchange of substances between cells, bringing fresh nutrients into tissues and removing waste products. This helps in decreasing the inflammation caused by an injury allowing the injured tissue to heal quicker.
Another way a massage can decrease pain is by encouraging the circulation of lymph fluid that helps to carry metabolic waste away from the tissues. This is especially useful for those suffering with chronic illness as this waste can build up in the muscles causing pain and stiffness.
Massage has been shown to decrease the levels of cortisol which is a key indicator of stress and therefore can significantly reduce pain levels. A study found that massage can also lower the perceived need for pain medication when used in conjunction with other treatment.
A massage can also increase the temperature of both superficial and deep muscular tissue enabling them to relax more easily. This is achieved through the friction techniques used during a massage which creates an increase in blood flow to the tissue, warming the muscles and the layer of fascia (a tough fibrous connective tissue) surrounding them. The increased temperature also helps to ease the tension in the muscles reducing tightness and easing flexibility. This increased flexibility can also help in reducing the symptoms of some health conditions. Various studies have shown that massage can aid the healing process, improve self-image and increase emotional well being in those with chronic physical disabilities or terminal illnesses. Some of these positive effects can also be seen in individuals receiving massage for non-pain related issues such as anxiety and depression.
