Massage as a means of recovery can be hugely beneficial for fitness enthusiasts pushing themselves to limit, those just starting out with an exercise routine and even those trying to regain mobility after an accident or injury. Here at Zeel we’re well aware of the many benefits of massage that go way beyond the obvious: an hour to relax and unwind.
We think of massage as a way to keep your body “tuned up” while also bringing your stress levels down. We don’t look at massage as a fancy perk or a luxury splurge (check out our prices and you’ll see what we mean), we think of it as a key pillar of wellness, which is why we’re proud to be able to deliver massage to your home (or hotel or even your workspace) in as little as an hour through our app or website. Below you’ll find a few of the major aches and pains that can be eased through booking a massage.
Athletic and workout recovery
Sports massage is not only great for workout recovery, but it can also help to prevent sports-related injuries. The dramatic benefits of sports massage include:
- Heart rate recovery variability and diastolic blood pressure after high-intensity exercise
- Reduced serum creatine kinase post exercise
- Reduced swelling
- Reduced muscle hypertonicity
- Decreased muscle stiffness and fatigue after exercise
- Enhanced athletic performance
- Increased range of motion
According to Men’s Journal, after participants in a workout/massage-related study received a massage after a training session, two specific genes in the muscle cells were affected. From Men’s Health:
“The first gene decreases inflammation caused by exercise, similar to the relief you get from certain pain medications. The second gene turned up production of mitochondria in the muscles. These are the powerhouses of cells. They use oxygen and the broken down products of food to generate energy needed by the cells.”
While other treatments for sore muscles like ice baths and pharmaceutical drugs can reduce inflammation, those treatments are actually blocking muscle repair and growth. Massage can speed up muscle recovery and make you feel good!
If you’re interested, keep on reading to find out more about sports massage with Zeel.
Stress and anxiety relief
40 million Americans aged 18 and up suffer from some form of anxiety every year. That’s nearly 18% of the total population. What’s striking is that only about 36% of those folks seek some form of treatment.
When you receive a massage, cortisol levels decrease. What is cortisol? It’s that rude stress hormone flowing through our body. Even after just one session, your cortisol levels can drop by up to 30%.
Migraine headaches
The dreaded migraine- we’ve all been there (or almost there.) We try to shut out light, rid the area of noise, take medicatiom, and do anything to reduce the throbbing in our heads. Next time you feel a headache coming on, try getting a massage.
Massage can ease muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders, which is actually at the route of many “cervical” headaches. According to the National Institutes of Health, massage “has the potential to be a functional, nonpharmacological intervention for reducing the incidence of chronic tension headache.”
Insomnia
Over 30% of Americans are walking around exhausted and 10% of that total group aren’t just a little bit tired, they’re full-on insomniacs! Anne Williams, the director of education of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, says “massage helps people spend more time in deep sleep, the restorative stage in which the body barely moves, which reduces the neurotransmitter associated with pain.” To be clear, we’re not saying a sleep massage will cure your insomnia, but it has been proven that boosting serotonin levels in the human body will help induce sleep, have you sleeping more efficiently, and can reduce pain that might be keeping you awake.
There are a plethora of reasons why you might be tossing and turning at night: work and family stress, muscle aches and pains, anxiety… there’s always something that can potentially keep us from getting the recommended 7+ hours of sleep we need. You never know, a sleep massage just might become your secret weapon!