Do you regularly schedule massages, or are you amongst the many American adults who have never had one? Less than 10% of the adult U.S. population has tried massage therapy. That’s a relatively small percentage for a treatment that has lots of benefits. 

You may not be sure if massage is right for you. But massage has many benefits, and you could find that it’s the perfect therapy to relieve stress, ease tension, and reduce muscle tightness.

1. Reverse the Effects of Sitting: Do you have a career where you are sitting for extended periods of time? Sitting for long periods can affect your posture. You may have weakness in your lower back or glutes. You may also show signs of stress in your neck and shoulders. Massage can help alleviate the tension in your neck and shoulders and loosen the muscles affected by poor posture.
2. Reduce Muscle Pain: Athletes often tout the use of massage to help reduce muscle pain brought on by training. But, massage is not just for athletes. Anyone suffering from muscle pain or tightness can benefit from massage. When your massage therapist kneads your muscles, inflammation can be decreased, helping your muscles to recover.
3. Decrease Anxiety: Anxiety is that general feeling of anxiousness and affects close to 6.8 million American : adults. With anxiety, your body produces more cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Studies have shown that a massage can decrease the levels of cortisol in your body by as much as 30%.
4. Improve Sleep: Do you suffer from insomnia? Insomnia is a disorder where you have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. It can be very debilitating if untreated. Massage has been shown to trigger a relaxation response and may be beneficial in helping you get a better night’s rest.
5. Boost Your Immunity: Studies have shown that massage stimulates your lymphatic system. The lymphatic system works to rid your body of toxins, waste, and pathogens. When you stimulate this system, you improve the body’s circulation and, in turn, boost your immunity.
6. Lower Your Blood Pressure: People who receive massages on a regular basis have been shown to have lower blood pressure. This could be due to the decrease in cortisol levels that occur during a massage.
7. Provide Headache Relief: If you have a stressful career, you may find that you often suffer from tension headaches. Tension headaches often manifest at the base of the skull in what is known as the suboccipital muscles. A trained massage therapist can apply pressure to this region to help relieve headaches.
8. Increase Flexibility: Due to a more sedentary lifestyle, more people are experiencing a decreased range of motion and flexibility. As we get older, this can get even worse.Because massage works the muscles, joints, connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons, it can be beneficial for maintaining, or even improving, flexibility and range of motion.
9. Relaxation: Of course, massage is a beneficial relaxation technique. Even if you are not suffering from muscle pain, stress or anxiety, you can benefit from massage. You will find the gentle pressure relaxing and restful.

Are you ready to give massage a try? Are you ready to feel more relaxed and alleviate some stress? If you are a first-timer, investigate the various types of massage that are available. You may find that certain therapies are better suited to treat what ails you.