Regular massage therapy sessions are one of the ultimate forms of self-care. A massage allows you to escape the stresses of your daily life and enter into a state of deep relaxation for an hour or longer. However, regular massages are more than just self-care. While they do help you relax, a massage therapist in Monroe can custom-tailor your massages to improve your health, release tension, and lower your cortisol levels to promote balance and vitality.
Three Big Benefits of Regular Massage Sessions With an Experienced Massage Therapist in Monroe
1. They Reduce Stress Levels
Massages are known for their ability to help us de-stress, but their benefits go beyond just helping you feel more relaxed. We live in a cortisol-driven society. Caffeine consumption, stimulant use, and the need to keep going when our body wants us to stop all compounds and increases cortisol levels. The result is serious negative long-term implications on overall health.
When your cortisol levels are elevated for any length of time, you'll begin to feel the effects. Symptoms include headaches, poor sleep, fatigue, anxiety, depression, accelerated heart rate, chronic pain, and more. Scheduling regular sessions with a massage therapist in Monroe is a simple yet effective way to reduce cortisol levels and protect your body from the effects of chronic stress.
2. They Alleviate Muscle Tension
Muscle tension affects many men and women, especially those under chronic stress or who perform strenuous activities. Tense muscle tissue can cause chronic pain, and most people who experience muscle pain reach for over-the-counter medications to alleviate that pain. Still, these medications only deliver temporary results and can negatively impact your liver and health.
A massage can effectively alleviate muscle tension, increase blood flow to the area, release tension, reduce pain, and eliminate muscle stiffness. Muscle tension can affect any muscle in the body, and the right therapist will know which techniques and methods to use to effectively relax the muscles to promote long-term pain, release, and muscle relaxation.
3. They Can Reset Your Circadian Rhythm
Your circadian rhythm affects your mood, energy levels, and sleep quality. This 24-hour cycle is your body's internal clock that can easily be disrupted by blue light, sun exposure, social interaction, genetics, and age. Disruptions in your circadian rhythm lead to poor quality sleep, which results in different health conditions, including fatigue, depression, anxiety, and irritability, among others.
Regular massage therapy sessions can reset your body's circadian rhythm by decreasing cortisol and increasing dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that stabilize mood. After resetting your circadian rhythm, you can expect improved sleep, increased energy levels, and overall better health.
Before you reach for another cup of coffee to increase your energy levels or for an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce muscle tension, remember there is another way. Regular massage therapy sessions can make all the difference in your stress levels, muscle pain, and how you feel daily. When you make these treatments a part of your health and wellness routine, you'll experience all of the benefits of investing in your health and treating the root cause of your condition.