So, is massage really medicine?  YES!!!

A POWERFUL ALLY : There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it – pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic or the reasons we seek it out – a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management, massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

* Decreased anxiety

* Enhanced sleep quality

* Greater energy

* Improved concentration

* Increased circulation

* Reduced fatigue

Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits.

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs. You owe it to yourself to give massage a try.  –article courtesy of massagetherapy.com

So, are you ready to take YOUR Massage Medicine?

Massage Medicine • 22 Monument Square, room 402 • Portland, ME 04101

maureen@massagemedicine.com • 207-650-9979