Print Post - Do You Really Need A Full Body Massage?

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Body massages are meant to relax one’s body, relieve stress, and rejuvenate one system both mentally and physically. A lot has been said about body massages – while its loyalists will swear by its numerous benefits, there are a huge number of people who believe it does no good and is simply a waste of money and time.

According to a fitness trainer, body massages are an important part of a fitness program especially when training with resistance. They have physiological benefits and are a great way to treat yourself after hard workouts. According to a study by researchers at McMaster University, deep massage after an intense workout causes muscles to enlarge and grow new mitochondria – the powerhouse of our cells, responsible for converting nutrients into useful energy.

In between professional massages with a therapist, you can also give yourself a self-massage with some oil or using tools such as foam rollers or acupressure balls.

Health benefits of a massage:

- Increases blood flow to muscle and tissue
- Promotes warmth in the tissue
- Decreases stiffness and soreness
- Relaxation
- Stimulates the body’s lymphatic system
- Improves blood circulation
- Reduces minor pain and fatigue

Types of massages:

Here are the lists of the various kinds of body massages that you can try:

Ayurvedic massage: This is an ancient Indian massage that uses herbal oils and products for the massage and is performed by either one or two masseuses. It can further be classified into various types like Shirodhara, Udwarthanam, etc which target specific body parts. It is believed that an Ayurvedic massage can go a long way in treating chronic ailments like frozen shoulder, arthritis, slipped disc, etc. It uses traditional massage strokes to detoxify and strengthen the body focussing on the pressure points.

Thai massage: This type involves a series of yoga-inspired stretches to relieve muscle and joint tension and stimulate circulation. It increases flexibility and improves overall energy levels as well.

Balinese massage: This is a blend of acupressure, reflexology, aromatherapy, stretching, and deep tissue massage. It provides deep relaxation, relieves joint pain, and also improves blood circulation.

Herbal detox massage: It incorporates ancient Indian and Thai healing remedies to treat spasms and deep muscle aches. It uses a steamed herbal compress which relieves the body of its toxins, stimulates circulation, and increases the flow of energy.

Sports massage: This is a deep tissue massage especially to relax tense body parts like a stiff neck, lower back tightness, sore shoulders, etc. the pressure is deeper than other massages and the movements are also slower. It focuses on relieving stiffness and treating deep knots.

Reflexology foot massage: This is based on the principle that every area of the body is linked to a corresponding zone in the feet. It is a combination of pressure on specific points and gentle massage to enhance circulation and detoxify and de-stress the complete body.

A word of caution:

Even though massages are good for the body, there are certain situations when they should be avoided unless prescribed by your doctor. These include:

- Inflammation
- Fever
- Pregnancy
- High BP
- Hernia
- Fracture

Though a very gentle massage surrounding the area may be fine, it is best to consult your doctor and massage therapist before you opt for one.

Source: thehealthsite.com