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)
Well, it’s not like I needed someone to twist my arm! I think we all know getting a massage can help you unwind, but it also has mental and physical health benefits. Massages can help your body because they relax muscles, release tension, improve circulation and more. But massages can improve mental health, too, and this is how they help with it.
- It relieves depression and anxiety – Massage therapy can decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety and getting a massage activates the sympathetic nervous system, which reduces anxiety and improves mood.
- It lowers anxiety and stress – Getting a rub down can help anyone relax and those who get massages have a 30% increase in dopamine and serotonin levels, 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 – Veterans who suffer from PTSD symptoms may find relief from massage therapy, which has been shown to help reduce pain, irritability, tension, worry, and anxiety as well.
- Even a chair massage helps – Can’t book a full-hour massage with a professional? Book a 10-minute chair massage once a week with your sweetie. It can help with joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and headaches.
So break out the massage oils and kick back and relax because science says it’s good for you!
