Why does massage help so much?
In a previous post I outlined some of the benefits of the 15 minutes Seated Acupressure Neck & Shoulder massage including the scientific evidence for these claims.
But I think their is one benefit that stands out above these.
I know in my previous life as an IT project manage, several times I spent most of a day trying to fix a problem and I just couldn’t find a solution. I had a tendency to get caught up in a problem and its just frustrating — it can literally stress you out. When you’re stressed out, it’s harder to think clearly. Emotional stress can send your problem-solving skills into a tailspin. To make matters worse I used to flip over that fine line between being focused on solving the problem and obsessing over it.
The trick to break this cycle is to shift your focus. The purpose of shifting your focus is to temporarily get your mind off whatever challenge has it tied up in knots. So when you come back to it you have are re-energised and have a fresh perspective.
Going for a massage, shifts your focus to your body releases anxiety and the seated acupressure massage energises you & improves your mental alertness. So I found it an ideal way of breaking the cycle of mentally obsessing over problems when I worked in IT.
Related Posts

Myofascia – part 1
What is Myofasci? Fascia is the main connective tissue of the body. Fascia surrounds every cell, muscle, bone, nerve, blood Bessel in the body, creating a three-dimensional web. This is one continuous network from head to toe. Myofascia is the fascia that surrounds all the muscle. Why it is important? In its normal state fascia is fluid and pliable, allowing full, pain-free movement. However, fascia is vulnerable to trauma from
- Accident
- Infection
- Injury
- Surgery
- Repetitive Movement
- Habitual Poor Posture
- Poor biomechanics
- Altered structural alignment
- Compromised blood supply
- Pain
- Reduce flexibility and stability

Headaches – Introduction
Headaches are one of the most common complaints. Yet despite this, the precise mechanism and cause of certain types of headache remains unclear. The three main types of headache are
- Tension
- Migraines
- Cluster

Headaches Treatment & Prevention – Part 2
After introducing headaches, I then explored the downside of orthodox treatments and how massage can help. Now I want to share with you how other complementary therapies may help. Nutrition We all know that if you suffer from headaches you need to avoid becoming dehydrated. But what can be equally important is to control your blood sugar balanced by avoiding sugars and refined carbohydrates (i.e. anything sweet, fluffy or white!) . Certain food substances – such as histamine, tyramine and phenylethylamine – can trigger headaches or migraines. These foods include cheese, citrius fuits, red wine, chocolate & coffee. There is a time lag between eating these foods and an attack, as the problem arises when the food reaches the liver. Some research has been done on the benefits of Omega (3, 6 & 9) essential fatty acids will help control pain & inflammation for migraine sufferers. [Harel Z, Gascon G, Riggs S et al. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of recurrent migraines in adolescents. J Adolesc Health 2002 Aug;31(2):154-61. 2002.] Bowen Technique The Bowen Technique is a hands on therapy that is applied using very gentle pressure. The practitioner uses thumbs and fingers on precise points of the body to perform Bowen's unique sets of rolling-type moves which stimulate the muscles and soft tissue of the body. In association with the Migranie Action Assocation some research was carried out into the effectiveness of receiving Bowen Technique treatment to allieviate migraines. All study participants had been diagnosed as migraine sufferers by their GP. 31 out of the 39 study particpants experienced a positive result of either
- Reducation in frequency of migranies
- Reducation in the degree of pain experienced
- Reduction in both the frequency of migraines and the degree of pain experienced

