Massage: An enjoyable de-tox!

Touch is the most basic form of nurture and often forgotten about in our busy modern day existence. Stresses of everyday living take their toll on your body, and a massage is a well deserved chance for your body and mind to relax and unwind. The benefits of massage stretch way beyond simple relaxation as all systems that keep your body functioning effectively are given a helping hand (literally!) Toxins are released, muscles are stretched & lymph glands cleansed. Massage therefore helps a wide range of physical conditions.

By relaxing the body, massage can relieve stiffness, soreness and tension, it’s primary physical benefit being to the muscular, circulatory and eliminatory systems. Taut painful muscles can be loosened and relaxed and the circulation of blood and lymph stimulated. This results in the expulsion of toxins from the body and the eventual restoration of balanced tone in the muscles and the greater freedom in the joints. However, while this alone would be a valuable consequence of massage, it is not the limit of its effectiveness.

Some people think of massage as a luxury. Others think of it only in connection with the treatment of sports injuries and problems arising from over-exertion, in which it is undeniably effective. In fact, regular massage will go further than this and actually improve overall health. It does this by combating the chronic effects of stress. General health deteriorates as a result of continuos stress. Under stress, people do not digest properly, do not breathe properly, do not stand properly. Hormone production becomes unbalanced. Circulation does not function efficiently. Internal organs become strained or clogged with toxins. Heart problems, stomach ulcers and many other ailments have their origins in stress.

Massage counteracts stress by providing an opportunity for deep relaxation and revitalisation. As the muscles relax and circulation returns to normal, digestion, breathing and posture improve. This has further effects throughout the body, resulting in the gradual restoration of balance and health to the internal organs. Furthermore, by stimulating cell functioning massage actively strengthens the body.

As the body starts to change and heal, the feelings of depression, anxiety, fear and irritability that so often accompany chronic patterns of tension may eventually be dispelled. Therefore regular massage can have a beneficial effect, not only on the body but also on mental and emotional life.

Is this for me?

I trained in therapeutic massage from 1991-1992 at the Glasgow College of Holistic Medicine