Massage therapy offers clients an all-natural approach to dealing with stress and physical ailments in a day in age where all too often people seek a magic pill to solve their problems.

We have developed into a society that packs in so many responsibilities into each day. Between our careers and family, people often don’t take the time to take a breath and do something for themselves. Massage therapy and bodywork offers that release from those day-to-day responsibilities, even if it is just for 30 minutes or an hour. This is a time of healing and a recharging of our batteries, so that we are better equipped to tackle the everyday tasks in our lives.

As massage can be a source of stress relief, it is equally as effective in resolving recurrent physical injuries. Whether you are a weightlifter, runner or CrossFit-er, work a physically demanding profession or sit at a computer all day, we all deal with muscle pain and other physical ailments caused by our day-to-day activities. Massage therapy offers an individualized approach to each client, and each massage session can be catered to treat specific problems clients are facing. This underscores the importance of having a massage therapist that is in tune to the client’s needs and is able to address these needs during a massage therapy session. There is no greater feeling as a massage therapist than seeing clients benefit emotionally and physically from massage and bodywork.

Besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage lowers your blood pressure, increases circulation, improves recovery from injury, improves sleep and can increase your attentiveness. Studies have shown we can benefit from massage even in small doses, such as a 15-minute chair massage or a half-hour table session. Getting a deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone or Thai yoga massage does more than just relax your body and mind. There are specific physiological and psychological changes that occur, even more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not simply as a luxury (Body Sense Magazine, 2001).

Massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. So, what exactly are the benefits to receiving regular massage and/or bodywork treatments?

• Increases circulation, allowing the body to generate more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
• Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles.
• Reduces muscle spasms and cramping.
• Increases joint flexibility by breaking up tissues and knots that develop over time.
• Reduces recovery time, helps the body prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.

Angie Shiflett, LMBT No. 7151, is a massage therapist at Market Street Massage Bodywork and Gift Shop located at 141 N. Market St. in Washington and can be reached for appointment by calling 252-946-8989.