Lessen Your Fatigue With Massage
Everyone gets fatigued or exhausted at one time or another from running themselves ragged; and some people seem to live in a perpetual state of energy deprivation. There are also people who have chronic illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome, for whom the exhaustion will never go away completely. No matter which group you fall into however, massage can help. The benefits are different for those with chronic illness, but there are benefits. I’ve broken the benefits down into 2 categories: 1) everyday fatigue, and 2) chronic fatigue.
For everyday, doing-too-much fatigue, massage can:
- Turn off the ‘fight of flight’ response
- Activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the ‘rest and digest’ response. This counteracts the ‘fight of flight’ response.
- Increased energy and mental clarity (after an initial period of grogginess)
- Provide a period of rest for your body – if you’re like many people it may be the only rest you get all day. Rest is vital for your mind and body to function properly. Find out why it’s vital, in this post: Rest is Not a Four Letter Word
- Relax you
- Relieve stress
- Relieve muscle tension and pain
- Improve your sleep – many people report sleeping longer and more soundly after getting a massage
For chronic fatigue or chronic illness, massage can:
- Turn off or tone down the ‘fight of flight’ response while you’re on the massage table
- Reduce feelings of stress
- Increase relaxation response
- Increase energy and mental clarity (after an initial period of grogginess)
- Reduce muscle tension and pain
- Provide a positive touch for those who spend a great deal of time being poked and prodded by other healthcare providers
So now that you know some of the fatigue-reducing benefits of massage, why not call your massage therapist today to schedule an appointment? If you don’t have a massage therapist, you can use this handy massage therapist directory from Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, the leading professional organization for massage therapists. Every therapist on the list has met educational and licensing requirements for their practice location and must submit proof of education for all specialties, so you know you’ll be in good hands. Why not spread the stress-reducing, relaxation-inducing love by sharing this post with your peeps? There are handy one-click buttons right below this post to make it easy. Thanks!
At the most basic level, I love being able to give my clients (even if it is only an hour) a moment to say… Ah, yes. Here is my body. Here is what it feels like to be with body. To be aware of it, and, hopefully, to appreciate it just a bit more for doing all we ask of it.