Massages are relaxing, and having one every day would be ideal – but is that wise? For the best outcomes, how often should you have a massage? Getting a soothing massage every day sounds like the perfect way to live.
While it may seem fantastic, it is unlikely to be possible from a variety of perspectives (beginning with your finances!). Furthermore, getting massages on a daily basis may not be such a smart idea after all. While a massage may seem like something you should get as often as possible to reap the advantages, you may not require one as frequently as you believe. Everything is contingent on your objectives, lifestyle, and overall health.
When Should You Get A Massage?
• Massage Therapy for Relaxation and General Health
Massages are recommended for those under light to moderate stress 1-2 times per month for overall health and relaxation. This would include those who are inactive or just exercise on a limited basis. Massage therapy once or twice a month can be quite beneficial to your health and can help you cope with stress.
• Massage Therapy for Stress Reduction
A higher frequency of massage sessions, such as weekly or bi-weekly, is indicated for persons in high-stress employment or living situations or frequent travelers. Massage therapy aids the individual in coping with their tension in these situations. Weekly massage can help reduce the stress that builds up as a result of stressful events. It can also be reassuring to know that you will be getting massage therapy every week or every other week.
• Massage Therapy for Pain Management
Massage may be given more regularly if you are using it to treat pain or other medical conditions. Your therapist may recommend massage once or twice a week during your recuperation following an injury in most circumstances.
If you have a health issue, once or twice a week is usually sufficient, but it depends on how your body feels. It’s usually time to see your massage therapist again if your pain returns within a few days. After a week, you can begin to increase the time between sessions if you’re pain-free. People usually require more frequent sessions for pain management at first. There are many beneficial massage techniques used in alleviating pain in the human body.
• Massage Therapy for Pregnancy
Pregnant women can also benefit from regular massages, especially as the pregnancy progresses. Pregnant women commonly get massages every 1-2 weeks at this period to help relieve anxiety, muscle aches, and joint problems and improve delivery outcomes.
Benefits of Massage
In the fitness sector, massage therapy isn’t a new concept. It’s been used to help treat the mind and body for thousands of years. Athletes and inactive people alike are turning to this now-ubiquitous therapy procedure. Let’s look at the top eight advantages of massage therapy.
1. Stress Reduction
Massage’s hands-on treatment has been demonstrated to lower cortisol levels and provide a feeling of relaxation and comfort. Massage can help you relax and be more attentive by allowing you to let go of the stress you’re experiencing.
2. Enhance Circulation
Massage warms your tissues and increases blood flow via rubbing and friction. Increased circulation improves the delivery of nutritious substances to muscles, connective tissues, and skin because blood delivers oxygen and nutrients. This can help you perform better in the gym and recover faster. Massaging a tight muscle before an exercise, for example, can improve blood flow and flexibility.
3. Relaxing
When the body is tense and stressed, it creates dangerous levels of cortisol, a well-known stress hormone that has been linked to weight gain, insomnia, digestive issues, and headaches. The body’s cortisol levels have been found to be reduced by massage therapy. The body is able to enter a recuperation state as a result. Furthermore, this type of therapy produces long-term relaxation, enhanced mood, and lower stress levels.
4. Muscle Relaxation
Massage therapy’s goal is to target the root of the body’s pain by releasing stiff muscles, enhancing flexibility, and delivering relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the rest of the body. Massage also provides nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues by increasing circulation to the affected or injured muscles.
5. Good Posture
A massage therapist is capable of realigning the entire musculoskeletal system in order to restore equilibrium, especially after experiencing postural stress, rather than only treating an injury or realigning muscles after athletic training. This has therapeutic benefits as well because a body that has restored postural balance or mobility is more likely to keep that equilibrium even when stressed. Postural issues build up over time, and massage treatment is a terrific method to stop them in their tracks.
6. Better Sleep
Massage therapy can help you sleep better in a variety of ways. To begin with, it calms the patient and creates a sense of peace, which can aid in falling asleep faster, sleeping more soundly, and experiencing fewer sleep disruptions. Massage treatment also helps to ease postural tension, structural irregularities, and localized pain, making it simpler to establish and maintain a comfortable sleeping posture.
7. Enhances Flexibility
Our muscles’ flexibility allows us to move freely and participate in typical activities without experiencing discomfort or stiffness. It provides us with optimal form, posture, and function by allowing our joints to move through their full range of motion. Massage treatment improves muscle flexibility by increasing blood flow and oxygenation, reducing muscular tension or knots, and extending tissue. As we age, it’s also important to maintain flexibility.
8. Boost Immune System
Stress can significantly decrease the body’s natural ability to defend itself against germs and illnesses. High cortisol levels, in fact, make people more prone to illness. Massage therapy can help your body’s natural immunological defenses and lower cortisol levels.
Conclusion
Every individual’s body is distinct and has varied requirements. Schedule your massage as soon as you believe you’ll need it, rather than after you’ve realized you’ll need it. Ask your massage therapist if you’re still unsure.
