Do I really need a massage?
Is a massage for you? Well, probably yes. But here in the UK we have created a poor perception of what a massage is and should be. Massages are not just a treat on a spa day, oh no. Massage is and should always be a key part of any health and wellbeing plan. Whether you’re sat at a desk all day or pushing your body to the limit at the gym, we all accumulate tension, stress and damage in our bodies that no pill can cure.
It’s difficult to sum up the ways that massage works to improve not just your physical but also your psychological condition. While massage sometimes gets a bad rep in the UK, it has stood the test of time, having been practiced for thousands of years in various forms.
There are lots of types of massage but ultimately they boil down to the same basic components:
Increasing blood flow to muscles and tissues in need of repair
Promoting lymph drainage (getting rid of all the waste built up in cells and muscles
Breaking up knots and concentrations in muscles
Creating a warming, physical connection between masseur and patient
Why is all this important? Overworked muscles can struggle to recover, regrow and develop without the vital blood flow bringing oxygen, water, sugars and nutrients. Repair and regrowth also depends on the efficient drainage of toxins and waste material that builds up in overworked muscles. The physical action of the massage combined with the heat generation of the friction acts to flush out this waste into the lymphatic system for removal, while opening up the blood vessels to bring in those all important supplies. As for the knots… breaking these up with sheer pressure and proper physical manipulation allows the muscle to repair and regrow correctly, ensuring maximum strength and endurance within the muscle.
Last but certainly not least on that list is the physical connection. This is often overlooked and can sometimes make us feel awkward to talk about, but it is a vital part of a massage. This physical connection is a core part of relaxing the body during and after the massage, which should never be seen as a luxury or a ‘soft’ massage. Relaxation is essential -both mentally and physically - if the body is to recover properly. Tension causes extra stress on muscles and joints, resulting in pain, tightening of muscles and an increased risk of injury.
So, do you really need a massage? Well, let me ask you this:
Do you work a desk job?
Do you exercise regularly?
Do you suffer with a niggling pain or irritating tightness?
Do you want to clear your head and mind?
If the answer to any of those is yes, then YES! You’d benefit from massage.
But don’t just take my word for it, there are countless studies and articles that go into even more detail about the value and effectiveness of massage techniques - not just in sports recovery, but also in everyday life.
We all know that we should eat better, we should drink less alcohol, we shouldn’t smoke. We endure these in the surety that we are doing our bodies good. Massage should also be included in this list but miraculously… you can actually enjoy a massage! Good for you and relaxing… need I say more?
Mark