Massage: the benefits of, and how I love!

I’m a huge fan of massage, and try and indulge in one whenever I can. Swedish, Thai, Ayurvedic or Balinese, you name it and I’ve had a bash at it at least once. In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself, and that’s what makes it one of my first ports of call when I’m feeling run down. The benefits to receiving regular massage and/or bodywork treatments are numerous, and include:
- Increased circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
- The it stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.
- Increased circulation of blood and lymph systems ie. it improves the condition of the body's largest organ - the skin.
- It relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles
- It reduces spasms and cramping
- It increases joint flexibility, which is essential as we age
- It reduces recovery time, helps prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete at any level. Massge means a more comfortable workout, so you’re going to do it more.
- It releases endorphins - the body's natural painkiller - and is being used in chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
- It reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred.
- Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.

And I could go on! My latest foray into new and wonderful massage options involved a trip to Bliss Reflexology, who offer Traditional Chinese Body Massage. A spectacular 60 minutes of intense massage under the very strong yet caring hands of my therapist, the technique seems to be a fantastic mix of the Chinese culture’s two styles of massage - Tui na, which focuses on pushing, stretching and kneading the muscle, and Zhi Ya, which focuses on pinching and pressing at acupressure points. Both are based on principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine and have a positive effect all over your body, inside and out. I left feeling a million dollars and more than a day – and a run and Pilates class - later, my muscles are still singing. Highly recommended, so get thee to a massage table near you!