When’s the last time you treated yourself to a massage?
This isn’t the equivalent to an indulgent candy bar or tacking on an extra Netflix episode to your watch list when you should be going to bed. Massages are a proven health boon that can see you gradually improving your life little-by-little when you invest in weekly or bi-weekly sessions. Americans are well-known for being a stressed bunch and studies only continue to show the long-term ramifications of ignoring your stress rates.
There are a myriad of benefits you can get from a massage. Here are just five of them to get you re-considering your upcoming free time.
Did You Know?
The benefits of massage are becoming more well-known as the United States plunges into a deeper state of rampant job stress. An increased focus on improving both physical and emotional wellness saw 2016 one of the most successful years for spas and resorts, with an estimated 179 million Americans choosing to visit their local saunas. The term ‘sauna’ is Finnish and, while multiple countries boast natural springs, Finland is still rather well-known for their massive, beautiful resorts. A study in Finland saw participants who used a sauna two to three times per week being 20% less likely to experience a sudden cardiac death.
Reduce Stress
Putting a dent in your stress is one of the many benefits of massage. A recent 2014 survey saw an overwhelming majority of respondents at 90% viewing massage as very beneficial to their overall health. Another survey conducted the same year saw 20% of people stating they received their massage at a spa. Which choice would be best for you depends on your pain. Are you struggling to fall asleep multiple times per week? Do you have serious chronic pain that keeps you from doing your work? That answer will help you figure out if you need a day spa or a more specialized location…
Ease Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is rampant. If you’re one of the lucky few not to suffer from lower back pain or neck stiffness, chances are you know a co-worker, friend or family member who does. The benefits of massage include reducing this chronic pain to more manageable levels by targeting the affected tissue and stimulating healthy blood flow. Studies have shown over 40% of all American adults will suffer adverse health effects from chronic stress, leading them to develop chronic issues that can be either avoided or dramatically reduced with a little check-up once in a while.
Improve Emotional Health
One thing leads to another, as the saying goes. Spa amenities will not just reduce your stress and your chronic pain, it’ll boost your emotional health by giving you that much needed break from routine. Booking a day spa can see you enjoying all sorts of lush activities including a massage, a dip in the sauna, a facial and more. Saunas are also a fantastic resource for weight loss, with a single 20-minute session at over 170 degrees Fahrenheit able to burn an excess of 500 calories. Sound like a cure-all? Far from it. Saunas have been popular for years and will only continue to do so in the future.
Sleep Better At Night
Not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep at night is just awful. You toss and turn, trying every remedy in the book in an attempt to curb your sudden insomnia and get that blessed REM you need to stay awake the next day. The benefits of massage chip away at your stress, relax your sore muscles and make it much easier for you to sleep. Stress has been found to be linked to the six leading causes of death in the West, including heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, liver cirrhosis and suicide. A day resort is more than just a break. It’s the equivalent of taking your medicine.
Why go to a spa? In a short…to improve your life in all aspects and just feel good again.
