The Long Term Benefits of Massage
Sonia Jones ND from the Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic, Boquete, Panama
The aches and pains of everyday wear and tear, your over stressed muscles from hours of computer work, or the need to be pampered yourself make many people seek a massage. You escape the world for a while. In fact the meaning of the word Haven (our name), the dictionary – an outlet of sea, allowing you to anchor your boat in a safe place, to shelter from any storms out at sea. Our meaning – a safe place to escape to, away from the hassles of everyday life. Massages do much more than just allow you to anchor in a safe place for a while, to escape from the everyday storms that are out there.
Massage, as we know has been around for a very long time, used as a healing tool for thousands of years all a round the worlds. You might think the treatment of massage with hot stones is a relatively new spa treatment, not so many cultures, including the native North Americans where using this therapy hundreds of years ago.
Touch of healing and health is instinctive – children hurt themselves, immediately feel better when their mother rubs the area better. When we want to comfort someone in distress we immediately touch or hug them, it’s a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support.
We are now able to see scientific proof that massage has far reaching benefits ranging from – treating chronic diseases, injuries and reducing the affects of stress. Having a massage does more than just relax you – there some very specific and positive physiological and psychological changes that occur within the body.
Allow yourself to reap these benefits by having regular treatments, as there is much more than a feel good factor.
It has been reported that if you have regular massage the effectiveness is much more powerful. They have an accumulative affect. It is a wonderful thing when the therapist begins to melt away those stress-tightened muscles, and your day’s troubles begin to fade away. But it’s the icing on the cake to know the treatments are having real long-term health benefits.
How does massage benefit?
By increasing circulation, more oxygen and nutrients are sent to the tissues and vital organs. This means very system in the body functions more efficiently.
By stimulating the flow of lymph, the body’s natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example the research shows it helps cancer patients, by increasing the cells that fight cancer. Moving the lymph encourages the body’s detoxification processes. This can ultimately help to reduce inflammation.
By relaxing and softening tight, injured and/or overused muscles
By reducing spasms and cramps
By increasing joint flexibility
By reducing recovery time from strenuous workouts
By releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller
By speeding up recovery from chronic illness, injury and recovery time from surgery
By reducing post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred
By improving range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain
By relieving pain for migraine sufferers
By providing movement and stretching for atrophied muscles, reducing shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion
By encouraging shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and anxiety, and shorter hospital stays
There are several types of massage all are beneficial -
Hot Stone Massage
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Deep Tissue Massage
Swedish Massage
Remedial Massage
Relaxation Massage
Aromatherapy Massage
Our staff are all well trained, and be would happy to advice and explain the various treatments to you. Every member of staff recieves on-going training here at the Haven Spa and Clinic.