Massage & you

You have probably indulged in a massage during a day at the spa, and if so, you have experienced the positive effects it has on your body, mind, and soul. Why, then, are massages so often reserved for special occasions, considered luxuries rather than incorporated into our regular wellness routines?

Massage is every bit as important to your health and well-being as diet and exercise. Every part of your body is interconnected, and physical or psychological stress can have damaging effects on the many systems of your bodies and your overall well-being.

Whether you are a serious athlete or work a desk job, the first thing you must consider in respect to your health and mental wellness is your posture. We all know that we should strive for good posture, but not many of us take it seriously, unaware that the curvature of our spines affects far more than our appearance. 

The truth is, in addition to creating aches and pains in your upper body, poor posture limits the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body, thereby contributing to the decline of your nervous system and causing migraines, high blood pressure, heart disease, reduced lung function, stress, anxiety, gastrointestinal pain, and more. All of these health issues make it nearly impossible to live out a normal life, let alone an active one, but unfortunately, poor posture is an all too common occurrence. 

Part of the reason why so many people have issues with their posture and suffer consequent health problems is because the position in which they sleep puts stress on the spine. Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, there will inevitably be gaps between your body and the mattress, which throws your body out of alignment, resulting in pain when you wake up. Sleeping position is not the only culprit, however. Sitting at a desk chair for hours on end will ultimately cause you to slouchy our shoulders, become tight through your lower back, and experience grueling back pain over time. An active lifestyle may seem like the easy solution, but that does not come without its own risks; if you are not working out correctly or regularly integrating exercises to improve your posture into your fitness routine, then you will be strengthening the incorrect muscles and throwing yourself out of balance. 

Whether you are an athlete, office worker, or anything in between, your poor posture ultimately boils down to bad habits, most of which you probably aren’t even aware of. Muscle imbalances will naturally cause you to slouch your shoulders, and much more severe health issues will arise from this simple issue. That is why massage is so imperative for your health and wellness. The holistic treatment does not only relax the body, relieve areas of pain, and help realign the spine; it relaxes the mind and soul as well.

Massage will not only improve your posture and save your nervous system; its healing properties also help manage existing malaises, including anxiety, headaches, soft tissue injuries, sports injuries, and more, making it an essential aspect of your fitness program. The wealth of benefits have yet to be utilized by many who still consider massage an indulgence to enjoy on special occasions. North London Massage Therapy will help you tap into the healing powers of massage by customising a treatment to suit your individual lifestyle.