Massage and Emotions

Massage can provide stress relief for just about anyone. Yet the benefits of massage go beyond stress relief. Moderate-pressure massage for as little as 15 minutes may offer relief from depression, anger, and anxiety.

Massage therapy can improve a person’s emotional health by reducing stress and stress hormones; by increasing serotonin and thereby reducing depression and pain; and by enhancing immune function and thereby reducing bacterial and viral illnesses. 

Research has also shown that:

• Six 30-minute massages over a two-week period can ease pain and improve mood among people with advanced cancer.
• Massage can help reduce depression in both children and pregnant women. As little as 15 minutes of massage on a regular basis may be beneficial to mood.
• Massage therapy is helpful for trauma victims. Aside from physical pain, victims of trauma, past or present, will often hold memories of such events in their muscle tissues. By receiving massage from a trained professional, one can get back in touch with their body and be able to access the held emotions.

Massage is not just a way to gain stress relief — you can reduce many of the other unpleasant emotions in your life as well. Many studies show that massage therapy reduces negative mood states like depression, anxiety, and anger and their associated stress hormones.

There are a lot of studies out there that show how massage is playing a huge part in managing those emotions and having better health. Another great reason is add massage as part of your monthly health routine. As I mention in the beginning of the post, 15 minutes may offer relief. I offer a 15 minute massage. Let's get you in for some emotional wellbeing. 

I look forward to seeing you. - Nancy