Massage Therapy & Weight Loss

Everybody loves a good massage. Massages relax us, relieve stress, decrease the effects of depression and even help our bodies recover from physical activities or injuries. Massage helps us both physically and mentally but did you know massage therapy can also help you lose weight both directly and indirectly?

Massage can directly influence your ability to lose weight. Massage can improve circulation and the supply of nutrition to the muscles. The increased blood flow helps the muscles grow and burn more calories. According to new research and studies, massage is thought to be able to burst the fat capsule in subcutaneous tissue so the fat exudes and becomes absorbed. This can also help with cellulite.

When massage therapy activates your body’s parasympathetic nervous system, it counteracts your body’s negative response to stress, relaxing muscle tension and allowing your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to return to normal. The following is a list of physical benefits from massage therapy:

• Relieves stress and chronic pain
• Aids in relaxation
• Relieves muscle tension and stiffness
• Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy
• Facilitates faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments
• Reduces pain and swelling
• Prevents the formation of excessive scar tissue
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
• Enhances athletic performance
• Promotes deeper and easier breathing
• Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids
• Reduces blood pressure
• Relieves tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain
• Improves skin tone
• Improves posture
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves nerve function
• Treats musculoskeletal problems

The mental and emotional benefits are just as numerous:

• Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness
• Improves sleep performance and sleep patterns
• Relieves mental stress
• Improves ability to monitor stress signals
• Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity
• Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch
• Fosters a feeling of well-being
• Reduces levels of anxiety
• Promotes body awareness
• Promotes greater creative expression
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection

Massage therapy also helps you become more aware of your body and your unconsciously held tensions. As you become more aware of your body, you will begin to recognize tension as it builds during the day so that you can consciously release it before it can have a negative effect on your body.

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