What is therapeutic Massage?
Therapeutic massage is a gentle massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes to help you relax. The therapist will move at a slower pace and use lighter pressure. There is less emphasis on working out serious adhesions or “knots” in the muscle tissue, which can be uncomfortable and cause some people tense up against the pressure. In a relaxation massage, the therapist won’t push your pain limits in order to get the muscle to release. You might even fall asleep! It’s a good choice for someone who is getting a massage for the first time, or someone who just wants to bring their stress level down.
Relaxation massage is also good for someone who get massage as a special treat once a year. It’s not realistic to expect that you can get rid of all your knots in one massage. But to drift into a deeply relaxed state in fifty minutes — that’s doable!
Key benefits of Therapeutic Massage
Gentle massage stimulates sensory nerve endings in the skin, which transmit messages through the nervous system and cause the brain to release endorphins. These are the body’s natural painkillers, feel-good chemicals that create a sense of well-being. Massage further aids relaxation by stimulating the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the “rest and digest system.” Blood pressure decreases, heart rate slows, and digestive activity increases. Relaxation massage also increase blood circulation and stimulates the body’s lymphatic system, which carries away waste products.