St. Rita's health focus: Relax, refresh and rejuvenate – the benefits of massage...

[massage]

When you get a massage, you probably think to yourself, “Wow! I am feeling much more relaxed.” However, massage does so much more than just make your body feel better.

Did you know that there are two major physical effects of massage that manipulate your body? The two effects are that massage increases blood and lymph circulation, and it also normalizes your soft tissues–muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments. These effects in turn release your nerves and deep connective tissues.

Sounds relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating right? While your muscles get a nice workout, many do not realize that massage can help improve your overall health, too!

Research supports a growing list of health benefits for conditions such as:

• Stress relief

• Postoperative pain relief

• Anxiety reduction

• Management of low back pain

• Increase range of motion

• Muscle tension reduction

• Improve cardiovascular health

• Tension headache relief

• Better sleep

• Ease symptoms of depression

• Reduce pain of osteoarthritis

• Decrease stress in cancer patients

• Improve balance and flexibility

• Improvement of posture

• Decrease rheumatoid arthritis pain

• Lower blood pressure

• Strengthen muscles

The various physical and mental benefits result in the improvement of health and overall general well-being. With regular massage, the quality of life is greatly increased, allowing you to feel younger, healthier and balanced.

With regular massage therapy comes a myriad of other types. At Mercy Health – Rejuvenation Spa, we offer specially designed massage therapy packages to help you with your specific needs. Massages that we offer and a brief description of what they do include:

Relaxation (aka Swedish massage): Feeling tired, exhausted or stressed? A relaxation massage can help lower blood pressure by improving blood circulation. It can also help reduce stress by lowering the heart rate and reducing levels of insulin. A nice, relaxing massage is something one should consider.

Deep tissue: If you need help relieving muscular tension in the sub layers of your muscles and fascia – this may be a massage to think about. Deep tissue massage is comprised of gentle stretching and myofascial trigger point therapy techniques. These techniques are used to reduce pain in the body associated with soreness and tension. This type of massage is also beneficial as it is performed to help with chronic muscular pain, rehabilitation from an injury or reducing inflammation related pain.

Sinus relief: Do you suffer from sinitus? This massage is intended to help alleviate your congestion and promotes drainage. It may also help with those pesky headaches.

Pregnancy: With pregnancy comes many changes to the mother’s body. Pregnancy or prenatal massage helps expecting moms as they go through these changes offering therapeutic techniques including helping minimize stress and enhance muscle tone.

Hot stone: A hot stone massage is performed using basalt rocks. This form of massage relieves tension and stress. The hot stones also enhance the massage experience and provides a calming effect on your body. This can help relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promotes deep relaxation.

Chair: If you sit for most of your day, a chair massage may be a way to help get your blood circulating and relieve some of that tension – especially for those at a desk and using their shoulder muscles and arms to type. A chair massage is typically performed by the minute at the person’s preference, and focuses on the head, neck, shoulders, back and arms.

All of these massages mentioned can help in providing some relief of your symptoms such as those mentioned. We do recommend talking with your physician for options if using massage for medical conditions.

Becky Dunahay is the licensed massage therapist at Mercy Health — Rejuvenation Spa. To learn more about massage services and benefits, visit the spa’s website at mercyspa.com or call 419-996-1300. Mercy Health — Rejuvenation Spa is located at 2749 Fort Amanda Road in Lima.

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