The Release of Feel-Good Chemicals It helps reduce stress and anxiety, creating a sense of calm and well-being. The release of oxytocin during a massage contributes to that blissful state of relaxation you experience.
Massage can stimulate the release of endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine through stimulating the autonomic nervous system. An increase in the levels of endorphins can leave the individual feeling a reduction in pain and an increase in relaxation and calmness. Massage can reduce feelings of stress.
Increased endorphins, serotonin and dopamine hormones is a common benefit gained through massage. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are positive hormones that circulate around the body.
Many people think that because massage is a natural therapy that it can't do any harm, but this is a classic example of where it absolutely can. Many therapists believe that by relieving muscle tension with a deep tissue massage, they will release emotions and therefore help to heal trauma.
Your muscles and other soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, and fascia) are full of nerve endings. When you get a massage and those soft tissues are manipulated, it can activate nerves in the muscle or even trigger nerve activity in other areas. Another factor for that tingling feeling is increased blood flow.
When your body is being massaged, it triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in your brain. One such chemical is oxytocin, often called the “love hormone.” Oxytocin promotes feelings of trust, relaxation, and bonding. It helps reduce stress and anxiety, creating a sense of calm and well-being.
Known as paresthesia, a tingling sensation in the head is a common experience most of us have had at one point in our lives. It can feel like a burning sensation, or like that pins and needles sensation you get when your foot falls asleep, or you may experience it as numbness in the head or scalp.
Massage induces biochemical and energetic shifts by alleviating physical tension. This release can stir emotions and lead to tears, signaling a healthy, natural process of stress relief and emotional balance.
Massage stimulates receptors that transmit sensory signals to the central nervous system, and this in turn causes the reduction in tension in muscles and the feeling of relaxation. Massage causes the release of endorphins which has been shown to reduce pain and muscle tension.
The hips serve as a storage facility for emotional tension, stress, and trauma. Due to our sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, and emotional suppression, many individuals accumulate tension in the hip region. The hip muscles, particularly the psoas muscle, are notorious for harboring emotional stress.
Ever felt a crunch when massaging a knot? That crunchy feeling can be scar tissue, metabolic waste buildup, or fascial adhesions in your muscle. Muscle knots can be present in both superficial muscles, like the trapezius, and deeper ones like the rhomboids, which reside under the trapezius.
Your urine may become darker and smelly due to the stimulation of the kidneys. Your urination frequency may also increase throughout the day because your body is ridding itself of all the excess toxins. Lastly, you may feel sore and fatigued following your session.
In conclusion, it is not uncommon to notice a smell on your skin after receiving a massage. Factors such as the type of oil used, sweating during the session, and poor hygiene practices can all contribute to any odors present.
It helps to destress and relax you; this in turn may make you feel tired. This is your time to recover your mind and body and it is your body's time to rebalance itself and retune. Sometimes, if you have been experiencing lots of stress, you may feel emotional or teary after the massage.
Side effects associated with massage therapy are rare. However, they can include nausea, headaches, soreness in the muscles being massaged, bruising or bleeding in some cases, fatigue, dizziness, mental/emotional discomfort (anxiety), fainting, and skin irritation.
One of the ways in which massage can help, is by restoring the balance between the complementary parts of your nervous system. This is especially important within the autonomic nervous system, which monitors and regulates situations of high anxiety as well as rest and recovery.
Massage is known to stimulate serotonin and dopamine, improve brain wave activity as well as quality of sleep, and activate parasympathetic response.
These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.
Hydrating and resting can help alleviate these symptoms. After a massage, mild detox symptoms can occur as the body eliminates toxins. Common symptoms include fatigue, muscle soreness, and headaches due to the release of lactic acid and other waste products.
1. What are the general massage frequency guidelines? It is generally recommended to get a massage once a month to maintain the benefits of relaxation and stress relief. However, some individuals may benefit from more frequent sessions, especially if they have specific health concerns or physical discomfort.
A large part of massage therapy lies in extracting negative energy and not letting it flow back or even from the therapist into the client. A clear example of reacting to negative energy is best described in the relief of pain.
Conditions that affect the nerves may cause tingling in the head or face. These include infections, diabetes, MS, occipital neuralgia, and trigeminal neuralgia. Other possible causes include anxiety, migraine, head injuries, seizures, and autoimmune conditions. Some medications can also cause tingling as a side effect.