Why massage in the work place?
Obviously I am a firm believer of massage in the workplace, so I will start by acknowledging my bias on the topic. What people may not know is that during the many years working in IT, I suffered from a verity of neck and shoulder issues. This lead me to go to see a GP, chiropractor, osteopath and masseur. While they all helped, what was most beneficial to me was regular seated acupressure neck & shoulder massage which helped me nip the tension and the problems in the bud.
We all know getting a massage feels great. Once your massages starts, the nerve cells in your skin send messages to your brain to release feel-good endorphins . As a result stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline begin to decrease and the other all effect is to boost your mood and give you a natural high. On a physical level the tension and tightness in the muscles begin to release.
This means your awareness shifts so your mind and body can function better. Researches find your mind gets de-cluttered helping you to think more clearly, improve your alertness which leads to improve performance.
So why not book a massage see>> http://vitalitytherapy.co.uk/booking
Related Posts
How to test if you have good posture
We all know that we need good posture. So today I wanted to share with you how to test if you have good posture.
The Wall Test - Stand with the back of your head touching the wall and your heels six inches from the baseboard. With your buttocks touching the wall, check the distance with your hand between your lower back and the wall, and your neck and the wall. If you can get within an inch or two at the low back and two inches at the neck, you are close to having excellent posture. If not, your posture may need professional attention to restore the normal curves of your spine.
The 'Jump' Test - Feel the muscles of your neck and shoulders. Do you find areas that are tender and sensitive? Are the buttock muscles sore when you apply pressure? What about the chest muscles?
If any of your muscles feel tight, sore or achy then why not book in for a massage.
Is reflexology or massage better at reducing stress or pain?
While amongst my clients there is a clear preference for massage, I decided to investigate if there was any scientific evidence if massage was better than reflexology (or vice versa) at reducing pain and stress. In 2012 there was a small study comparing massage to reflexology on cancer survivors over the age of 75 living in a care home. The study compared the effectiveness of 20 minutes of reflexology treatments against 20 minute Swedish massage by examining the impact on the patients stress levels, pain levels and mood. Pre and post treatment levels of salivary cortisol, observed affect and pain were compared. Both reflexology and Swedish massage resulted in significant declines in salivary cortisol indicating a reduction in stress levels, reduced pain levels and improvements in mood. So to go back to my original question, there is scientific evidence for both and I suggest you book the treatment you prefer. Hodgson N, Lafferty D (2012) Reflexology versus Swedish Massage to Reduce Physiologic Stress and Pain and Improve Mood in Nursing Home Residents with Cancer: A Pilot Trial. Evidence Based Complement Alternat Med. 2:456897
What type of massage is right for me?
The short answer is...
- Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder massage is a short focused massage to release tension in the Neck & Shoulders
- Choose Sports massage over deep tissue massage when you go to the gym with a specific sporting goal in mind, i.e. you are going for more than just generally keeping fit. Or you are really focused on your sport including actively taking part in competitions or you are keen to improve your performance or your training is solely focused on your sport and you do not cross train.
Description of your back Recommended Treatment My back feels like concrete? Deep Tissue Massage – the use of hot stones to relax the muscle can be less painful than other deep pressure techniques My neck and shoulder are tight and sore from sitting at my desk all day? Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder Massage You play sports, don’t cross train and have specific trouble spots? Sports Massage You work out religiously at the gym, but don’t always stretch? Sports Massage as it incorporates stretching You are training for a specific sporting event or just completed one? Sports Massage You are inactive or active but just have a bad back? Sports Massage or Deep Tissue Massage
