Let’s talk about massage. Most people think of it as a way to treat themselves or to help them relax. This is true, and from our brain based perspective there are also other cool things that happen when you get a massage!
According to health experts at the National University of Health Sciences, having regular massage therapy in your health and wellness strategy can:
-
Massage is a powerful way to create movement within the circulatory system. This includes the lymphatic system.
Your lymphatic system is involved in digestion, white blood cell transportation for bone health, and many parts of our immune responses.
When you increase circulation, you are also allowing for greater functions of all of these systems.
-
One of the many reasons why when you get a hug, or a pat on the back, you feel better, is because of how the brain’s feeding pattern works.
The feeding pattern of the brain goes from bottom to top, and back to front. Meaning things that live in the top front of your brain will get resources last (things like mental wellness). Compared to things that live in the bottom back that get first pick (things like organ function, and your ability to sense the world around you).
Imagine a city with only one road in and out of it got hit by a natural disaster, and the responding trucks coming to help had to stop at the entrance to distribute aid and supplies. Likely they will run out of supplies before they can get through to the other parts of the city.
Which means if you want your mental health to improve, you need to make sure the bottom back areas are being well taken care of and still have plenty of resources to go around.
-
Our 5+ senses help us identify and respond to the world around us. This is what is called “mapping”, and our brain has maps for everything in our body.
Stress, disuse, overuse, and injuries will often change our brains ability to detect things accurately.
Think of the software on your computer. Every now and then it needs an update to make sure all is well. Go too long without updating and things start to slow down, malfunction, or crash all together. Keep things updated and things will likely operate as you expect them to.
Your body works the same way. Your brain needs sensory updates to make sure it can regulate what you feel and function the way you expect it to.
-
Massage lowers stress not just because it feels good, but also because it is feeding your brain vital information about your body. Particularly when the type of touch is pleasant, it can calm your sympathetic nervous system, allowing your body to function better.
-
As mentioned earlier, making sure your maps are updated and keeping systems functioning well will allow you to be at your best. When you feel good you are more likely to perform better in your physical fitness as well.
That’s the beauty of how our bodies work. Everything is connected in an infinite feedback loop.
Feel good -> better brain function -> think clearly -> take action -> feel even better, and so on!
Check out how one of our clients used massage in her health and wellness regimen!
“I started seeing Molly at BioFit for lower back and hip pain. She developed a plan for me to come in monthly for massage and cupping. Now I enjoy more energy, less pain and can get back to exercising comfortably!”