Mastering client communication is a key skill you’ll learn at massage school, helping you build trust and nurture therapeutic relationships with your clients. This will include explaining your treatment approach, listening to their concerns, and advising them on how to prepare before and after their session.
Massage Tulsa involves stroking, pressing, and kneading different parts of the body to relieve pain and promote general health. It is also known to increase the parasympathetic nervous system, which decreases anxiety and stress.
A massage has a very positive impact on stress, both short term and chronic. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which slows down the body’s activity, such as the heart rate and blood pressure. When people feel stress, they often experience a “fight or flight” response which causes their adrenaline and cortisol levels to increase. Getting a massage reduces the level of these hormones and increases the amount of oxytocin, which is known as the “love” hormone.
Oxytocin increases feelings of wellbeing and promotes relaxation. It also helps the immune system to fight infections and other diseases. It can even help with conditions like asthma, constipation and high blood pressure. In addition to these, massage decreases cortisol levels and increases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which are neurotransmitters that offer a variety of benefits including relieving anxiety, preventing depression and increasing motivation.
Stress can be caused by many things, such as work or money concerns, or it can be caused by physical problems, such as muscle pain or a health condition. When these symptoms persist for long periods of time, it can cause depression, increase the risk of heart disease and affect your mental health. It’s therefore important to find ways of reducing stress and finding ways to relax.
A study conducted by researchers found that massage decreased the participants’ stress levels. It’s thought that this may be because it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous systems and lowers stress hormones. It’s also been suggested that it may be because massage encourages a sense of care, which is beneficial for patients who are ill or disabled. This is because it makes them feel more cared about and this can improve communication with their doctors. This is particularly true for those with terminal illnesses. In fact, massage is regularly used in hospices and in hospitals for those with disabilities or mental health issues to help them relax and feel a sense of care. This can also improve their self-image and boost their mood. This can then improve their quality of life. It’s also helpful for boosting healing after an injury.
Relaxes the Muscles
Maintaining healthy muscles is an important part of any training programme. Massage helps to remove metabolic wastes and break down adhesions (knots) resulting from high tension and tightness. This assists the recovery process from injury and enables full muscular energy to be maintained throughout a training programme decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
The physiological effects that occur during a massage to help maintain healthy muscles include increased vasodilation, increased temperature and improved tissue elasticity. Vasodilation is when blood vessels widen allowing more blood to pass through, this increases the amount of oxygen available for muscle tissue enabling better cellular exchange and reducing the build-up of toxic metabolic wastes within the muscle. An increase in temperature encourages the release of a number of feel-good hormones including endorphins and serotonin, this improves mood and increases feelings of well-being.
The physical manipulation of the soft tissues during a massage can also aid in the relief of knots by breaking them down and releasing the tightness of the fibres. This helps to stretch the muscle and allows it to reach its full range of movement improving flexibility.
Massaging the muscles also breaks down the adhesions and scar tissue that forms as a result of injury, reducing tightness and improving the suppleness of the muscle. A good massage will also stimulate the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, which helps the body to fight infection and heal itself.
Massage has a positive effect on the respiratory system too, stimulating a release of phlegm which can relieve chest congestion and breathing problems. Using stimulating massage techniques such as cupping, hacking, beating and pounding can also increase the rate of breathing and can loosen the bronchial tubes, helping to improve lung capacity.
Helps Relieve Pain
Massage increases the circulation of the blood in the area being treated. This allows fresh nutrients to flow into the cells and waste products to be removed, keeping the body healthy and ready for action. In addition to this the friction from the hand of the masseuse against the skin causes the temperature of the muscles to rise causing the muscles to relax and tighten, reducing their tension.
This increase in circulation also helps to remove waste products that build up within the muscles. This occurs because the muscles have a small lymphatic system within them which is responsible for transporting waste products to the glands and nodes near the affected muscle to be removed from the body. Massage stimulates this lymphatic system allowing the waste to be released from the muscles which then reduces fatigue caused by chronic pain.
The therapists touch also reduces pain by relaxing muscles, tendons and ligaments. When muscles become tight they pull on tendons and ligaments causing the joints in the body to become stiff and restricted, limiting movement. Massage has been shown to increase the range of movement in the joints of the body, reducing pain and increasing flexibility.
There are many theories as to how massage helps to relieve pain, but one theory is that it can help to close the ‘pain gate’ in the nervous system. This is thought to happen because the pain messages must pass through certain ‘gates’ before they reach the brain. Massage is believed to be able to stimulate the larger nerve fibres which are located close to the surface of the skin and therefore can override or block the pain signals from reaching the brain, effectively closing the gate.
Another theory is that massage stimulates the release of feel good hormones which can reduce pain, anxiety and depression. These hormones are known as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine and can be increased by the stimulation of the autonomic nervous system as well as the increase in blood flow that is encouraged by a massage.
The ‘feel good’ hormones can also help to improve a patient’s mood and increase their sense of wellbeing, giving them an increased motivation to address the issues which may be causing them stress and anxiety. Patients who are more relaxed and have a greater sense of wellbeing are often more open to discussing psychological issues with their healthcare professionals.
Helps You Sleep
The most obvious way massage helps you sleep is by relieving tension. Tense muscles can cause you to feel stress and anxiety, which can lead to insomnia and a lack of quality sleep. Massage therapy also stimulates the production of serotonin, which is a precursor to the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Serotonin regulates the circadian rhythm, or your sleep-wake cycle.
In addition, massage decreases the stress hormone cortisol, and increases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which promotes a sense of well-being and relaxation. All of these factors combined contribute to improved sleep. Massage has been shown to help with sleep disorders, such as insomnia and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Getting regular massages may help you develop better sleeping habits, which can improve your overall quality of life.
If you suffer from insomnia or RLS, talk to your massage therapist about your specific needs. A good massage specialist will understand the issues and provide effective solutions. They can recommend techniques like long strokes, circular motions, kneading, and other movements that will reduce tension in your body and soothe aches and pains. There are also several types of massage that can help you relax, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy.
Depending on your situation, your massage therapist might suggest you try self-massage at home to help relieve the symptoms and prevent them from returning. Your massage therapist will be able to recommend some effective self-massage tips that you can practice before you go to sleep at night.
Incorporating massage into your regular routine can significantly increase the quality of your sleep, which is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you struggle with sleep disorders, make an appointment for a relaxing massage today. It will not only benefit your health but also make you more productive and happier. If you’re not sure where to start, we can match you with a massage specialist based on the type of massage you need. We’ll take your current habits and conditions into account to make the best recommendations. Then, you can get back on the road to restful nights and a rejuvenating life!