Massage is more than an indulgence to help you relax.
From reducing stress to alleviating muscle spasms to fighting insomnia and osteoarthritis, massage therapy offers many health advantages.
“Massage therapy can be a powerful tool for taking charge of your health and recovering from illness or injury,” says Judith Lehman, LMT massage therapist at the Chelsea and Dexter Wellness Centers.
“In this hectic, fast-paced life, massage is a great way to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul,” she says.
Commonly used for reducing stress and anxiety, massage also provides other physical and emotional benefits including:
• Improved circulation
• Enhanced breathing
• Improved posture
• Relief for tight muscles
• Increased flexibility
• Enhanced skin tone
• Increased energy levels
• Enhanced feeling of well-being
• Improved mental alertness
• Relief from painful headaches
• Enhanced peace of mind
• Improved sleep
Massage can help muscles after exercise by releasing the lactic acid that causes soreness. In addition, it can improve your range of motion by loosening joints.
Massage can also be beneficial for certain health conditions. For example, massage has been found to increase the number of cancer-fighting cells in breast cancer patients; help osteoarthritis patients become more mobile; and reduce muscle spasms experienced by patients with Parkinson’s disease.
It can also lessen pain for people with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Ask your doctor if massage therapy is right for you.
Working with your massage therapist, you can select the length of massage and the number of sessions that best meets your needs.
For example, a 30-minute massage may target specific parts of your body that need attention while a one hour massage allows for a full-body massage that includes the neck, back, hips, shoulders, legs, feet, arms, hands, face, and head.
Massage therapists offer different types of massage, so when choosing a practitioner be sure to review a menu of services and check for a pleasant, peaceful environment.
A massage therapist should be certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
The Chelsea Wellness Center is located at 14800 E Old US 12 and the Dexter Wellness Center is located at 2810 Baker Road. Both offer a wide range of massage therapy services and have certified massage therapists.
For more information, please call Chelsea Wellness Center at 214-0220 or click here or call Dexter Wellness Center at 580-2500 or click here.
