Massage relieves stress and its attendant headaches, backaches, anxiety, fatigue and sleeplessness. But bodywork is not only a relief to our physical efforts, or to injury and pain caused by accident or stress, it's also a balancing influence on our lives. We obviously are a nation of educated people who realize our need to keep a healthy body and now we need to be attentive to our need to feel whole and alive. Massage is not just for people who can't handle their pain or for people who feel the need to be pampered. Massage is in actuality therapeutic. The Mayo Clinic lists the psychological benefits; "Massage relieves stress and can improve your state of mind. Also, massage fulfills a universal human need for touch." Massage is not only the answer to the aching back, it can change our lives for the better

Physical Benefits of Therapeutic Massage:

• Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation.
• Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness.
• Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy.
• Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue.
• Reduces muscle spasms.
• Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
• Enhances athletic performance; Treats injuries caused during sport or work.
• Promotes deeper and easier breathing.
• Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids.
• Reduces blood pressure.
• Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain.
• Enhances the health and nourishment of skin.
• Improves posture.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Treats musculoskeletal problems.
• Rehabilitation post operative.
• Rehabilitation after injury(Source: AMTA).

Mental Benefits of Massage Therapy:

• Fosters peace of mind.
• Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness.
• Helps relieve mental stress.
• Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately.
• Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity.
• Emotional Benefits.
• Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch.
• Fosters a feeling of well-being.
• Reduces levels of anxiety.
• Creates body awareness.
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection.