5 reasons why men should consider massage therapy:
Massage therapy is far too often stereotyped as being ‘for women’ conjuring images of spa days and pampering. We at Balanced know this image couldn’t be further from the truth. The health and well-being benefits of regular massage sessions are clear. Whether it’s a sports or remedial massage or simply for relaxation, here’s five reasons why more men should consider massage therapy:
1. Soothe and relax tired and overused muscles
Whether you have physically demanding job, a desk job with repetitive motion, or a job that involves a lot of sitting or driving, you are likely to experience some muscle pain from time to time. As muscles tighten up, people lose flexibility and can often start to develop poor posture. As a result, they can become more prone to injury. Massage therapy relaxes tired muscles and promotes healing.
2. Prevent sports injuries
For men who regularly train, particularly at a high intensity or even those who participate in a casual weekend sporting activities, massage can help to ease any injury pain and help aid recovery while also helping to prevent muscle cramps, spasms, and injuries. Massage also leads to improved flexibility, which can help enhance your overall sporting performance!
3. Increase circulation
When your circulation is poor, conditions such as swelling, tightness, tension and pain can increase. Massage can improve circulation as the pressure created during the therapy helps blood to flow through tight, congested areas, bringing damaged muscles the oxygen they need to recover and heal.
4. Reduces stress and boost mood
Research has shown that massage helps reduce stress and anxiety by lowering your heart rate and calming your internal nervous system. A one-hour massage will reduce cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, and release serotonin, sometimes referred to as the "happy hormone" because it reduces feelings of depression. By lowering your cortisol and increasing serotonin, you are boosting your body's ability to regulate your mood. Increased serotonin can also lead to improved sleep, appetite and digestion.
5. Unwind and re-set
These days we are all busy. Busy at work, busy at home, busy with family and friends, just busy being busy! People often neglect to set aside a window of time to disconnect from their phone, emails, or meetings, instead rushing from one thing to the next. If you are feeling overwhelmed, a massage is a perfect way to build some much-needed relaxation time into your day.
At Balanced, we tailor our massage therapy to suit each individual clients needs at any given time. Our massage therapists won’t simply run through a routine of techniques but will assess exactly what muscles need to be worked on and adapt their pressure accordingly. Working on specific muscle groups provides a well-rounded treatment and a long-term fix for aches and pains. What’s more, our massage team is supported by our physiotherapy team to ensure you receive only the highest level of care and attention.