A massage feels fantastic. In fact, you start to feel better even before the therapist walks into the room.
You're in a dark, silent room, surrounded by relaxing music and scents. The chilly blankets feel silky across your skin. And once your massage begins, all of that tense tension and stress is removed via the power of touch. What is the source of this pleasant sensation? Discover what is going on within your body and brain that makes this touch therapy so enjoyable.
Your Awareness Changes
As you sit motionless on the massage table, you can concentrate on the rhythm of your own breath, quieting your mind and allowing your thoughts to pass by. You're completely present in the moment, which is known as mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of consciousness that draws your attention to the current moment, remedial massage near me and increasing physical awareness. When you practice mindfulness, the emotional parts of your brain, particularly the insula and prefrontal cortex, become less active, causing you to become less reactive. You can disconnect your sentiments and simply examine your mental process while remaining interested in the current event.
Your brain produces feel-good chemicals, and pain decreases.
Your brain reacts immediately to the therapist's touch. When your skin's nerve cells sense pressure, they send a signal to your brain, causing it to generate feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which increase your mood and provide a natural high. As a result, the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline begin to drop, resulting in euphoria and ecstasy.
If you have true aches and pains, the endorphins' morphine-like impact will help alleviate them by blocking pain signals from the brain. If your muscles are tired after a strenuous workout, a nice rubdown will help them heal faster. Massage, according to the researchers, reduces the inflammation generated by exercise and promotes the occurrence of cell repair.
Smells and Aromas Trigger Your Brain
Aromatherapy is used by many massage therapists during their sessions by adding scented essential oils to your naked skin. These oils not only compliment the therapist's calming touch, but they also stimulate specific brain activity. Grapefruit oil can stimulate the creation of enkephalins, neurotransmitters that function as natural analgesics, whereas marjoram oil can increase serotonin levels, making you feel peaceful. Lavender is one of the most well-known essential oils, and it is believed to promote relaxation and sleepiness. And the oil extracted from the tropical plant ylang-ylang causes the release of those previously stated feel-good endorphins.
Try pouring your favorite essential oil into a bath or mixing it into unscented body lotion at home. The aroma of the oil intensifies as it interacts with hot water or the heat of your skin.
Your Body and Mind Can Perform Better
We frequently believe that when we receive a massage, we can practically feel the tension being eased out of our muscles. The pressure from the therapist's hand movements enters the picture once more, increasing your circulation by moving blood more efficiently and removing cell waste (such as worn-out proteins) faster than your body does naturally.
And your mind gets a good cleaning as well. According to studies, a 15-minute rubdown will help you think more clearly and boost your attentiveness.
