Mental and physical health benefits of a massage

Everyone loves a good massage but did you know that the benefits of a message go beyond just relaxing your muscles but also help with your mental health?

 Writer: Abhilash Manjrekar

Whether deep tissue, Swedish, or sports therapy, massages of all kinds soothe the body and mind. However, beyond the immediate relaxation it provides, massage therapy has a wide range of mental and physical benefits. From cognitive enhancement to physical revitalisation, the benefits of massage are far reaching. 

How does massage help emotions?

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed to us the importance of human connection experienced through touch. A handshake, a hug, even the pressure of a thumb on an aching calf muscle can do more than any modern medicine.

The benefits of massage are many. Massage therapy offers an emotional release for those burdened with stress, anxiety, or emotional turmoil. The physical contact and rhythmic movements of massage aid the release of endorphins or what we know as ‘feel-good’ chemicals – which counteract stress hormones. This gives you an overall sense of well-being.

The gentle pressure and kneading of muscles also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which takes over during the ‘rest and digest’ conditions (as against the sympathetic nervous system that drives the ‘body’s fight or flight’ response). As a result, your heart rate is lowered, and anxiety reduced.

As the massage therapist works their way through different parts of your tense body, what you feel is catharsis. And that in turn, makes you feel more centred, emotionally balanced, and lighter after a massage session. Which is just one of the many reasons why body massage is important.

Importance of massage: What happens to the brain after a massage?

It isn’t just your body that reacts to the gentle strokes of the massage therapist. Your brain is engaging with the experience as well. A 2012 study has revealed that the brain releases more oxytocin in your body following just a 15-minute massage session. The oxytocin hormone is associated with trust and relationship building. It is therefore also called the bonding hormone or the love hormone.  

The massage also helps the brain release serotonin that helps regulate moods and emotions. Higher the serotonin levels in your body, you will find yourself feeling happier and more content. This can reduce symptoms of depression and help you manage stress better.

Does massage help memory?

Simply put, neck and shoulder massage loosens the muscles in the region and helps improve blood circulation to the brain. Better blood circulation to the brain helps improve memory and cognitive thinking. 

Studies have supported this too. One such paper, published in 2018, suggests that memory and attention spans were significantly boosted following a massage combined with binaural beats (better known as soundwave therapy).

Similarly, stress hormones such as cortisol impair the communication between brain cells, which is why chronic stress can negatively affect memory. By virtue of being able to reduce stress levels, massage also indirectly contributes to better memory and cognitive performance.

What happens to the body after a body massage?

One of the first things that your body will experience is improved circulation. The kneading and the long, relaxing strokes of the massage therapist encourage blood flow and lymphatic drainage. So, the toxins are flushed out of your body, and you are left feeling rejuvenated and revitalised.

Another reason why body massage is important is that it helps reduce muscle tension, a common ailment in today’s sedentary lifestyle. The different techniques that a therapist employs don’t merely help release knots and tension; they also allow the muscles to relax. Which is why a massage also helps with poor posture and alignment.

Ultimately, after a massage, your body’s immune system receives a boost. Studies, including a 2012 one, have shown that regular massage can actually help improve the immune system and give the body the ability to defend against illnesses.

Massage after exercise: How does massage improve physical fitness?

The role of massage therapists in sports has grown over the last several years. This should not come as a surprise because several studies have revealed that massage after exercise is a great recovery tool. 

A simple post-exercise massage increases blood flow to muscles, which helps deliver essential nutrients for repair. As a result, a massage after exercise helps reduce muscle soreness and inflammation and thus aids in faster recovery. 

Massage also helps improve flexibility and regular sessions can help you get a greater range of motion while simultaneously decreasing the risk of muscle tears.

Over time trained massage therapists have become more accessible than ever before. Gone are the days when you had to rely on a local malish wallah to visit your home or pay a huge fee to access the spa of a luxury hotel. 

Today, the options for getting a good body massage are no longer in the extremes. All you need to do is book a session with one of our trained therapists who will account for your pains and concerns, so you emerge relaxed and rejuvenated at the end of the session.