The Gift of a Massage Can Help Boost Someone’s Mental Health
Everybody has somebody in their life that is hard to shop for. Male or female, young or old…we have the perfect solution that will not only be a good gift in…
KOH SAMUI, THAILAND – JUNE 18: A woman gets a Thai massage in the open air massage sala at the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary June 18, 2012 . Thailand’s official tourism body, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has set itself the ambitious target of attracting more than 20 million tourists in 2012. According to TAT, In April, Thailand welcomed 1,659,021 international tourists which is a slight increase of 6.87% over the same in 2011. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty ImagesEverybody has somebody in their life that is hard to shop for. Male or female, young or old...we have the perfect solution that will not only be a good gift in itself but it will be good for the person's mental health. A massage!
Yes, a massage can help us unwind, but it also has mental and physical health benefits. Massages can help your physical health by relaxing muscles, releasing tension, improving circulation and more. Massages can improve mental health too and this is how:
- It relieves depression & anxiety - research shows that massage therapy can decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety and one study found that a massage activates the sympathetic nervous system, which reduces anxiety and improves mood
- It lowers anxiety and stress - research has found that those who get massages have a 30% increase in dopamine and serotonin levels, which are the happiness hormones
- It helps with emotions related to ongoing illness - massage therapy has been shown to ease symptoms including anxiety, stress, and anger in people with serious illnesses
- It can help with symptoms of PTSD - Massage therapy has been shown to help reduce pain, irritability, tension, worry, and anxiety in veterans
You can find lots of local massage deals on Groupon, but if buying someone or gifting yourself with a massage isn't in the cards for you in the near future, even a chair massage helps! Studies on healthcare workers who struggle with stress, tension, and insomnia have shown that having a 10-minute chair massage once a week can help with joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and headaches.
Souce: Your Tango
