Silver Chats welcomes our 1st guest blogger. Jennifer Martinez is a licensed massage therapist, who is passionate about natural medicine and holistic health practices. Please enjoy her chat!
There are many reasons why people seek out massage therapy. In my 8 years of practice, I find most of my clients are looking for relaxation, pain management, injury prevention, and/or injury treatment. Massage is a wonderful modality that can meet and surpass all of those goals. Its healing benefits can be measured on the physical, mental, and emotional scales.
Physically, massage therapists manually manipulate the muscle tissue. This promotes a decrease in muscle tension and an increase in joint mobility and flexibility. As a result, clients experience a better-aligned body, improved posture, and reduced pain.
Additionally, long strokes and superficial pressure encourage circulation and stimulation of the Endocrine and Lymphatic systems. A well circulating Lymphatic system improves immune health, and the Endocrine system regulates hormones that affect numerous functions and organs in the body, including the brain.
Studies have shown that post-massage, clients experience a higher level of endorphins and “happiness hormones”, serotonin and dopamine. Most modern anti-depressant drugs act by increasing serotonin absorption in the brain. Serotonin promotes feelings of happiness, optimism, and satisfaction. Dopamine is the primary driver of the brain’s reward system. It spikes when we experience pleasure.
Mentally and emotionally, massage can decrease feelings of depression, anxiety, and seasonal mood disorders, as well as promote feelings of happiness, relaxation, motivation, alertness, and focus.
There are many styles of massage, and no two massage therapists have the same touch. You must find a therapist who is a good fit for your body and goals. I encourage you to incorporate massage into your regular self-care practice to receive optimal benefits. Most clients I see monthly, though a few come in every week or two to feel their best. I hope discovering massage therapy greatly increases your quality of life, as I have witnessed it do for so many.
About the Author:
Jennifer Martinez is a licensed massage therapist in Washington state. She completed her training at Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts in 2016 and practiced in day spas, hospitals, and clinical settings for years before opening her practice in Cle Elum, Washington in 2021. She is passionate about natural medicine and a holistic lifestyle, continuously learning and acquiring tools to pass on to her clients and community.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash