A massage is a relaxing experience, but did you know it can have immediate and lasting effects to help people coping with anxiety? Today I would like to share some statistics about how I use different massage techniques to make a positive impact on the health of my clients.
In Sweden, researcher Lenita Lindgren at Umeå University measured blood pressure, glucose and insulin levels before, during and after massage. She also studied the feelings of people who had just been given the massage. Her results showed that tactile massage reduced anxiety for patients after major surgery and also reduced stress in healthy persons. People felt better and more relaxed and Lindgren noted that the participants had a decrease in blood pressure and found it easier to breathe.
The type of massage that Lindgren studied was a light stroking of the skin. It didn’t need to be very tactile or intensive to make a difference for people.
I practice a variety of massage techniques and tools to help my clients cope with stress and anxiety. By targeting their specific physical symptoms, my clients tell me they feel more energy after a massage. Research also shows that when people combine counselling with massage, their physical symptoms are eased.
We all lead stressful lives but are you feeling overwhelmed, work too long or too hard and have trouble sleeping? These are classic symptoms of stress.
When you can turn life off for an hour and focus on relaxation it can help alleviate stress. I recommend that most clients get a regular massage every two to three months. If you work many hours and don’t drink enough water or eat as well as you could, then I recommend a massage every three to four weeks to help your body cope with stress.