Health Benefits of Massage

Circulation and blood pressure

Massage helps two fluids pass through the body: blood and lymph. Simple circulation movements will triple the flow rate of both substances, while toning the vascular system. Your hands help do the heart’s work by pressing open tiny capillary valves in the limbs. Post massage blood pressure reductions of 10% or more have been measured. Repeating a simple circulation movement for just a few minutes increases blood flow without straining the heart. In fact, your partner’s pulse rate will actually decline as the heart pumps more slowly.

Skin and wrinkle control

Dead brittle skin is swept aside allowing the living tissue below to breathe. You can feel the difference the moment massage begins. Rough skin becomes more supple. As subcutaneous circulation is stimulated, the skin and hair acquire a healthy glow.

Facial wrinkles are caused by poor muscle tone in subcutaneous tessues, not by a defect in the skin itself. This is why facial creams, no matter how rarified and expensive, fail while simple fingertip massage techniques can actually change the way your partner looks.

Nerves, brain and mood

Massage reaches the nervous system first. Soothe the nerves and the rest of the body will follow. Light to mild pressures will stimulate the nerves, while heavy pressures will sedate them.

Although the brain itself feels nothing—merely registering feelings that originate elsewhere—it works much better on fresh oxygen. By oxygenating the brain, you can transform your partner’s mood.

Muscles and energy levels

When the exhaust gasses, toxins, and wastes produced by ordinary metabolism remain within the body, stress is generated. Since it is impossible to escape from fatigue, anxiety, or depression if the muscles are bathed in toxins and acids, masseurs see stress primarily as a chemical, not a psychological, problem. You can’t talk your way out of it and pills only mask the effects. You have to go directly to the muscles to get rid of stress. Happily, certain massage sequences will virtually eliminate tension-causing chemicals. Simple massage techniques you can learn in minutes will dramatically accelerate the body’s natural cleaning process.