18 Benefits Of Massage Therapy

I was probably in my 30s when I had my first massage, and it was in Thailand, on vacation. (Yes, I know, cue the jokes.)

I was staying at a beach resort in Hua Hin, and they had what I can only describe as a massage pavilion down on the beach.

The ladies who gave the massages used to wander around the hotel gardens looking for people who wanted or needed treatment.

I was reading on a sun lounger one day, and on a whim, I decided I’d give it a go.

The lady who gave me my massage was a tough looking lady, probably in her 50s as far as I could tell, but the experience was more relaxing than I could ever had imagined.

The weather was hot, but not unbearably so, there was a gentle breeze blowing in from the sea, and I could hear the waves lapping on the beach. It was truly difficult not to fall asleep.

After that, I was hooked. I went back at least once more on that holiday, and another two or three times when I returned to the hotel the following year (when the same masseuse not only remembered me but metaphorically fought off one of the other ladies who tried to steal me from her), and then a few vacations later, in Marrakech, I tried a couple of different types of massage there too.

From a health point of view, I have no idea whether they helped me or not, but from a relaxation perspective, I’d never found anything like it.

And finally, shortly before I left England to move to the USA, I did actually have a problem with my neck, and went to see a lady I’d met at one of those business breakfast clubs (it may have been BNI). She practised the Bowen Technique, which is an unusual form of massage, and it too was relaxing but, more importantly, my neck felt better immediately.

That’s my only experience of massage, but I would recommend it in a heartbeat, regardless of whether you have specific problems that need treating or not.

So, what are the benefits of massage?

That’s what this article addresses.

1. Chemotherapy. Massage can reduce the nausea that is often experienced as a result of chemo.
2. Corrects Problems Caused By Sitting. When you spend hours a day sitting in a chair (e.g. at the office), you can end up with neck and back pains. This tends to happen gradually (and may be one of the causes of my neck problems, as described above), so by the time you notice it, you may already have a chronic issue. Massage, however, can help treat that pain, so it may be worth scheduling a regular session to prevent the constant sitting from becoming a problem.
3. Digestive / Urinary System Health. Massage of the appropriate parts of your body can help ensure your digestive system and urinary systems work optimally, and get your liver, for example, working properly again.
4. Detox. The stimulation of your soft tissues provided by massage helps release any toxins that may be stored there into your bloodstream and lymphatic system.
5. Fatigue. Massage can help relieve feelings of fatigue.
6. Flexibility. If you want your muscles loosened and relaxed, massage is difficult to beat.
7. Headache Relief. A short massage after a tension headache sets in can reduce the pain quickly.
8. Hypertension. Massage has been shown to help lower blood pressure levels.
9. Improved Sleep. Since massage is relaxing, it helps promote better sleep, not only for adults, but for infants and children too.
10. Immune System Boost. Research has shown that massage can increase your white blood cell count, and your white blood cells play a major role in your immune system.
11. Infant Weight Gain. Doctors all over the world are now recommending massage for infants (especially preemies) to help them gain weight.
12. Intimacy. Massages are a great way for couples to increase their intimacy and strengthen their relationship. These may not be technically therapeutic massages in the medical sense, but they can definitely be fun and relaxing!
13. Maintaining Balance. There is some evidence that massage can help older people maintain their balance better.
14. Muscle Pain Relief. Massage can help improve your blood circulation, which can ease pains in your muscles (e.g. lower back, neck) or from conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and menstruation.
15. Performance Enhancement. Not only can massage help with recovery following sporting injuries (see below), but it can also help boost performance when used as a pre-event warm-up.
16. Rehabilitation. If you’re recovering from an injury or surgery, massage can be a great way to help the healing process.
17. Skin Care. Massage can help with anti-aging by making your skin glow (not literally, of course).
18. Stress Reduction. As I discovered, massage is really relaxing, but it’s not just me saying that – studies have shown that it can relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, and stress, and release endorphins (i.e. nature’s pain-relieving and pleasure-providing neurotransmitters). This may be as much to do with the physical stimulation as it is to do with the simple act of being touched by another human.

Conclusion

If you have a medical condition where massage may help, then you should try to book a series of sessions, because it may make all the difference.

And even if you don’t need one for medical reasons, I would still recommend trying one, just for the purpose of helping you to relax.

There are, of course, many styles of massage, so you need to accept that it may take you a while to find the one that works best for you – and different problems may require different techniques.

And, of course, it’s possible to learn massage techniques yourself – at one end of the spectrum, you can find books or videos or online courses, and at the other end, you could attend professional courses so you can become a therapist yourself.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Find A Massage Therapist (US only)
2. Massage For Couples
3. Online Massage Courses