How Massage Stimulates Your Body's Anti-aging Power
The benefits of massage go far deeper than relief of pain and stress.
Regular massages can boost the power of your anti-aging regime. How? By unleashing two forces that enable your body to counteract the effects of biological aging and environmental stress.
Reduced Inflammation
When it comes to our health, inflammation is a double-edged sword. The inflammatory process triggered by illness or infection enables our body to heal. But when inflammation becomes chronic or prolonged, it can cause a host of diseases and disorders. Many scientists consider inflammation the prime culprit in the symptoms of aging, including skin damage, weight gain, and muscle loss. Recent research indicates that massage not only helps control inflammation, but also speeds up recovery of injured or weakened tissues by improving cellular functioning.
Increased Circulation
The kneading and stroking techniques used by a skilled massage therapist not only increase the quantity of blood circulating around your body, but also improves its quality by multiplying its store of oxygen-rich red blood cells. By keeping all of our body's cells properly nourished, healthy blood flow helps fuel the growth and repair of aging skin, muscles, and bones.
Rejuvenating Rewards for Every TasteVirtually every culture has its own massage tradition. The one that's best for you depends on your goals as well as your temperament and tastes.
- Deep tissue massage uses intense pressure to relieve tension and maximize circulation in the layers of soft tissue that lie beneath the surface muscles.
- Shiatsu means "finger pressure" in Japanese. Shiatsu massage therapists use their hands and fingers to apply light to medium pressure. For more intense pressure, they may employ their elbows, knees, and feet. This tradition is also widely practiced in Europe.
- Acupressure exerts gentle pressure on various points of the body to release tension and stimulate circulation.
- European facial massage applies a combination of techniques including light stroking, Shiatsu, and acupressure to increase blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues. It also softens expression lines by releasing facial tension.