Benefits of Massage
Cardiovascular System
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Increase general blood flow, superficially, deep, and to internal organs
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Increases fluid transportation for nutrients
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Enhance venous return of metabolic wastes
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Reduce blood pressure and heart rate
Growth & Developement
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Promote growth and development in infants
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Allows healthy touch without sex or violence
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Can influence personality traits such as calmness, gentleness and no aggressiveness
Muscular System
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Increases joint mobility and flexibility
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“Milk” metabolic wastes from muscles into venous flow
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Reduces muscle aches, pains, soreness and stiffness
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Helps break up trigger points in muscles
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Helps relieve muscle spasms
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Promote general muscle relaxation
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Passively stretches muscles
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Break up adhesions
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Helps tone muscles
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Helps prevent muscle/ joint injuries
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Stimulate parasympathetic nervous system
Psychological Aspects
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Increase mental clarity and alertness
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Reduce anxiety, fear, and phobias
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Facilitate emotional release
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Promote feelings of general well being
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Increases the mind body connection
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Can help break through “body armor” (muscular tension caused by suppression of emotions) and see things in a “new light”
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Increase self esteem
Digestive System
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Improve digestion with relaxation
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Facilitate bowel movement
Integumentary System
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Stimulate sensory receptors in skin
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Increase superficial circulation
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Remove dead skin
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Add moisture with oil or lotion to skin
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Increase sebaceous gland secretions
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Facilitate healthy scar formation
Nervous System
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Reduce pain, increase endorphins
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Sharpen body awareness
Respiratory System
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Encourage diaphragmatic breathing
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Relax muscles of respiration
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Promote good structural alignment and rib cage expansion
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Improve optimal vital capacity
Endocrine System
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Release of endorphins (with nervous system)
Lymphatic System & Immunity
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Increase lymph fluid movement
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Improve immune function
Pain Reduction
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Massage is an analgesia, meaning pain reliever from its ability to elicit the relaxation response, reduce anxiety, relieve muscle tension, and improve circulation
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Interrupts the pain-spasm-pain cycle
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Blocks transmission of pain to nerves by activating the neural-gating mechanism
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Deactivates trigger points and referral pain
Reproductive System
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Increase urinary production and bladder tension
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Eases pain and anxiety while pregnant
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Improve reproductive function with relaxation
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Promote general breast health
Skeletal System
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Increase joint range of motion
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Promote smooth joint function
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Promote optimal joint flexibility
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Promote proper skeletal alignment
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Prevent joint/ bone injuries
Stress Reduction
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Trigger Relaxation Response
Tissue Level
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Enhance tissue repair and scar formation
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Improve connective tissue health
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Improve pliability of fascia
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Release adhesions and separate tissues
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Brings blood to the surface to “flush out” and deliver oxygen to the area
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Help prevent formation of abnormal collagenous connective tissue
Urinary System
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Enhance circulation to kidneys to improve blood filtration