Many of us carry our emotions in our body, be that tense shoulders, stiff neck or general aches and pains.

Massage therapy is hands down one of the best things you can do for your health.

Massage therapy continues to hold its place as one of the most effective, safe and natural ways to treat mental and physical ailments, such as stress, pain, anxiety and depression.

Here are our top 5 benefits of massage:

1. Stress Relief
Stress affects everyone in one way or another, but if you’re like one of the millions of people who deal with it every day, you’ve got to manage it. One of the best ways to relieve stress and keep stress-hormone levels in control is to get regular massages.  Immersed in serene relaxation, a full body massage has been known to bring your body and mind in a sleep like state. Massage therapy also raises the body’s production and release of endorphins. These are stress and pain preventing hormones that enhance mood and boost immunity. Reducing your stress levels will do wonders for your current mental and physical health.

2. Pain Relief
One of the biggest reasons people get massages is to relieve pain. Whether it’s chronic pain from an illness or cramps from exercising or physical activities, massage therapy is the key to relieving pain the holistic, non-invasive way. Massages provide pain relief through applied pressure, muscle relaxation and increased circulation. With regular massage therapy sessions muscle cramps and spasms, stiffness and body aches are either reduced or prevent altogether. 

3. Relaxes Muscles and Mind
Considering the amount of stressors surrounding us every day, it’s sometimes impossible to allow our minds and bodies to relax and release. Massage therapy is one of the easiest ways to achieve this because it activates the body’s nervous system that controls its ability to feel good. Massage therapy loosens and relaxes tense, overworked muscles by breaking up adhesions that cause discomfort. In addition to relaxing your body, massage therapy also calms a racing mind.

4. Flushes Bodily Toxins
Massage therapy plays an important role in clearing toxins from your body. Regular massages can flush out lactic acid build-up in muscles. Flushing out toxins and clearing the normal by-products of muscle metabolism can result in reduced fatigue, improved stamina and accelerated healing of muscle tears or injuries.

5. Increases Circulation
Get your blood flowing and stimulate the lymphatic systems through regular massage therapy. While the massage therapist applies pressure, stimulates muscles and relieves pain, your circulatory system is hard at work pumping oxygen and nutrients into tissues and organs. Increased circulation improves blood flow, removes waste away from muscles and internal organs, lowers blood pressure and improves overall body function.