At the end of this page is a list of specific benefits of massage, but what do these benefits really mean in everyday life? What are the benefits of less stress, lower blood pressure, less pain, increased range of motion, etc.? The short answer is: More money in your pocket, a better quality of life, and better health. But let us explain why this is so.

Stress accounts for approximately 90% of all illness and diseases, and contributes to chronic pain and injuries – these are the reasons for missed days at work, time off for doctor’s appointments, and costly prescriptions. Although initially massage may seem expensive, you have to ask yourself what is the cost of missing work, co-pays, and prescriptions? What is the cost to your quality of life, when you are in too much pain to participate in the activities you love? What is the cost to your long term health when you take toxic drugs on a regular basis?

When you receive a massage, your body experiences a reduction in stress for the duration of the treatment. But reduced stress lasts long after the massage is over. You get off the table feeling relaxed, pain free, happy, and you take that feeling with you out into the world. For a period of time you don’t mind the long wait at the checkout line at the grocery store, you take more time to spend with your kids at home, you are able to think more clearly and you have a fresh approach to the problems at work. The little things that annoy you, go back to being little things. If you get massage on a regular basis, your body learns to naturally go to a stress free state, even when you are not getting a massage. It’s kind of like muscle memory. Then the above mentioned improvements occur more frequently in your life, not just immediately after the massage.

Receiving massage lowers blood pressure, reduces muscle spasms, and reduces pain, etc… All things you currently take prescription or over the counter drugs for. Prescriptions can be quite costly. All drugs and even some natural remedies have side effects that can be detrimental to your health, so the cure can be as bad as the illness. Massage is non-toxic! It can help with many conditions that you currently take drugs for without causing additional damage, and without the high price of prescriptions. With massage you can significantly reduce the amount of toxic and pricey medications you take, or in some cases avoid taking them all together.

Chronic pain is a problem for many of us. It seriously affects the quality of our lives by making us cranky and irritable, unable to think straight, unable to participate in the activities that make us happy. Reducing that pain through massage is going to make you happier, less irritable and more pleasant to be around. Your family will thank you, your co-workers will stop avoiding you, and the people at your favorite store will stop whispering behind your back! When you address your pain problems through massage, you can enjoy playing with the kids in the yard again, enjoy a round of golf or a long hike, and you won’t have to have three days of bed rest afterward. You will get more enjoyment from the activities you love and you will be a happier person all around.

These are the true benefits of massage. These are the things you can expect when your blood pressure goes down, your stress level is manageable, and the pain that plagues you all the time is finally gone. Below is a partial list of the very specific conditions that massage can help with. If you have one or more of these, think of what it would really change in your life if you were free from these conditions.

• Reduces stress, depression, and anxiety
• Promotes relaxation
• Reduces post surgery adhesions and swelling
• Speeds up injury recovery
• Promotes tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks
• Releases endorphins which are the body’s natural pain killers
• Lowers blood pressure
• Assists with weight loss
• Helps eliminate toxins from your system
• Relieves aches and muscle tension
• Improves concentration and memory
• Helps achieve a more restful sleep
• Improves posture, loosens stiff joints
• Increases circulation of blood and lymph
• Increases and balances energy flow
• Exercises and stretches weak, tight, or atrophied muscles
• Helps athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts
• Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication
• Assists with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers & shortens maternity hospital stays
• Eases medication dependence
• Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain
• Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow
• Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety
• High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones
• Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping
• Menopausal and peri-menopausal, women experience fewer hot flashes
• Strengthens the immune system
• Reduces mental and physical fatigue
• Improves digestion and absorption of nutrients
• Stimulates the nervous & endocrine systems that are responsible for relaxing the body & mind
• Offers relief for chronic illness
• People with HIV/AIDS, arthritis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and other life-threatening diseases often can be helped by regular massage therapy
• Pediatric massage – Children with stress-related illnesses such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have seen improvements with regular massage treatments
• Autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage therapy
• Geriatric individuals with aging health problems can experience pain reduction and increased mobility through massage therapy