The Amazing Benefits of Massage Therapy
It is often the case that customers come to our treatment rooms in Brighton and Hove without realising the full strengths that come with receiving a massage. As such, we have put together this guide on what benefits you may discover whilst your procedure is being carried out, whether you require a leg massage to treat an injury you sustained while working, are looking for ways to reduce belly fat and lose weight, or would like to prevent arthritis when you are elderly.
Explore the beneficial elements to receiving massage therapy with us, or speak with us on the phone when you are ready to book an appointment for your very own revitalising massage. Alternatively, you may also book online if you wish to browse the therapy options we have first.
The Benefits to Your Body
The physical benefits and strengths brought to your body from either one or a regular series of massage therapy sessions can often be innumerable but we have listed some below:
Relief from Pain
To give a brief explanation, the treatment will help to reduce pain. This is most usually achieved by eliminating the bodily tension which is causing your muscles to tighten and (often painfully) contract. Such tension causes your body to lose its natural balance, and can lead to further pain in muscles and joints as they attempt to compensate for your current state of discomfort and injury.
Massage therapy also allows for superior management of pain by encouraging the release of endorphins, and may help you to reduce your intake of pain medication.
Reduced Inflammation
It has been noted that massage therapy can often moderate and manage the effects of inflammation on the body. This is because it has the ability to lower the body’s levels of cytokines, which are often inflammatory agents.
Improved Mobility
Massage therapy is often considered for patients suffering from reduced mobility or movement in joints, particularly elderly patients or people with arthritis. This encourages a greater amount of flexibility and a range of arm, hip and leg motion in patients of all ages, whether your particular issue lies with carpal tunnel syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis.
A Boost to Your Immune System and Circulation
As massage therapy is renowned for flushing out toxins from the body, it has also been suggested that receiving regular treatment will help give a boost to your immune system as a whole, as it encourages the creation of white blood cells. Circulation is also improved at the same time, as the friction offered by the handwork of the practitioner encourages both blood and lymph flow around your body.
Improved Posture
Treatment has proven beneficial to posture on many occasions, particularly for elderly patients or those who sit in one position for many hours a day. These strains are usually to be found in the shoulders and neck, but can also be found in the lower back. Such strain is common in office workers and other professionals who spend a lot of time sitting at desks, so we would highly recommend that these individuals seek treatment for themselves on a regular basis to prevent lasting injury.
Relief from the Discomforts of Pregnancy
As well as relieving the discomfort of an awkward or irregular posture, massages have also been noted to reduce the aches and pains associated with pregnancy. Particular points of pain the treatment targets include your lower back, neck, hips and legs. Prenatal massages also have the ability to reduce stress on your weight-bearing joints.
Faster Recoveries from Injury
As massages encourage the increase of blood flow around your body, they are ideal to aid in the recovery of many types of injuries. Sports massages are most commonly used for this, focusing attention on areas of the body which contain soft tissues. When carried out, the practitioner will not only be helping the blood to flow around your body, but will be increasing the oxygen levels and nutrients required for these areas of the body to heal. This is what aids your recovery more swiftly.
Treatment for Physical Issues
It may come as a surprise to learn that massages can also aid and assist in the treatment of a number of seemingly unrelated physical issues. These include any trouble you may have with sleeping, cases of headaches and migraines and even fatigue and nausea (which may be beneficial if you are undergoing chemotherapy). However, if you are receiving treatment for cancer, we also strongly recommend consulting with your doctor before booking an appointment.
Problems with Your Stomach
If you have been struggling with digestive issues or abdominal pain, or have been searching for an alternative method for aiding weight loss, a stomach or “belly” massage may be just what you need. Incorporating essential oils into this treatment is also said to enhance the experience and improve the effectiveness of the treatment, in some cases.
Flat Feet
It’s even been suggested that massage therapy can aid foot problems, including pes planus, which is otherwise known as flat feet. Flat feet may often lead to further distortion in the body and bone stress injuries if not treated, so it is important to ensure that you are receiving treatment to prevent it from worsening.
A Note of Caution
However, we must also state that massage treatments should not be performed on those suffering from open wounds, fractures, severe osteoporosis or blood clots. If you are pregnant, it is possible for us to perform a prenatal massage on you which is specifically designed to support your body during the process, though you may wish to speak with your doctor before booking.
The Benefits to Your Mental Health
As massage therapies encourage endorphins to be released into your body, this allows you to relax and feel comfortable in the space provided. This reduces feelings of stress and anxiety and has even been known to help with cases of depression. Feeling safe and secure in the treatment room is aided by practitioners carrying out a procedure known as towel draping. This involves covering the patient in a towel in a way that allows them to feel warm and not at all exposed during their treatment.
If you are not comfortable with the thought of being nude during your massage, there are also a number of procedures which can be carried out while you are fully clothed.
A Brief History of Therapeutic Massage
Massage therapy is one of the most ancient forms of therapy, with the first apparent writings on the subject appearing on the walls of an Egyptian tomb in Saqqara, dating back to the year 2330 BC. Since this time, massage treatments of many varieties have been noted in the writings and healing practices of Ancient Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, India, China and Japan, as well as further afield.
The practice of massage therapy made its way through Europe as time moved on to the Middle Ages as well. Noted French physician Guy de Cheliac is quoted in one of his books as suggesting “bodywork” should be an adjunct to surgery in the 14th century, while the 16th-century French barber surgeon Ambroise Pare used his position to note the benefits and strengths of therapeutic massage. Even Lord Francis Bacon observed that the practice had physical benefits, such as an improvement in circulation.
Scientific massage therapy was introduced in the United States by brothers George and Charles Taylor, two physicians based in New York at that time. Since then, massage therapy has only grown in popularity. As of 2018, approximately 19% of Americans have had some form of massage therapy, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.
The Types of Massage We Will Provide
We are delighted to provide a diverse range of relaxing massage therapies and procedures, taking our inspiration both from Eastern tradition and Western practices. We have had years of experience in blending these styles together in order to deliver relaxation and replenishment while bringing balance back to the body.
Every session will be carried out by a friendly, fully trained and qualified massage therapist, so no matter what you would like to achieve with your body, you know that you are in safe hands. Our practitioners are also ready and prepared to provide you with a sports massage, should you be suffering from an injury which needs tending to.
How We Provide Massage Treatments in Brighton and Hove
At Little Jasmine Therapies, we seek to offer our customers an entirely therapeutic experience, which we will adapt to your specific needs and requirements as you have set out with us. This service is designed to ensure that all your needs are taken care of, so you won’t have to do anything beyond sitting and relaxing, or stretching out on your massage table, while we provide any form of massage therapy you need. Our practitioners will ensure that this is achieved using the most effective, practised techniques, as well as the highest quality products, so you will truly be receiving the luxury treatment you deserve.
Speak With Us About Your Ideal Massage Therapy
If you wish to learn more about massage therapy types, their benefits, or would like to know what regular treatment might help you to achieve in terms of healing an injury, aiding digestion or reducing belly fat, please contact us to speak with a member of staff today. We will be delighted to offer you any advice you need, or to suggest a treatment for physical or mental ailments that might currently be causing you concern in your day-to-day life.
You may even consider booking an appointment with us right away, either on the phone when talking with one of our team, or after browsing through our selection of services online. Once you have been booked in, we will be glad to welcome you to one of our Brighton and Hove treatment rooms, where you will then be comfortably towel draped in order to receive the relaxing, revitalising therapy you need to reduce stress and let your aches and pains just ebb away.