Massage Therapy
Massage was one of the more exciting things I learned nearly 20 years go when I became a Personal Trainer. It’s a beautiful contrast to hard training.
There are many benefits to massage therapies. I say therapies, plural, because integration of methods like Swedish, Deep Tissue and even Sports Massage, will have significant effects on the Muscles, Joints, Lymphatic and Hormonal Systems.
Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Insomnia related to stress
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Soft tissue strains or injuries
- Sports injuries
- Temporomandibular joint pain
Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort and connection. Despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you’re trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.
What you can expect during a massage
You don’t need any special preparation for massage. Before a massage therapy session starts, your massage therapist should ask you about any symptoms, your medical history and what you’re hoping to get out of massage. Your massage therapist should explain the kind of massage and techniques he or she will use. In a typical massage therapy session, you undress or wear loose-fitting clothing. Undress only to the point that you’re comfortable. You generally lie on a table and cover yourself with a sheet.
The take-home message about massage
Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever.
I can also teach you to ‘self-massage’ or how to engage in massage with a partner at home. This is AMAZING for couples who are pregnant.
Each treatment is 45-60 minutes in duration and can be done anywhere. I’m totally happy to travel to you, but if it’s outside of a 10 mile radius from the Sweat-Box Personal Training Studio, there will be travel expenses on top of the fee.
Book a treatment for yourself or someone else now.
Pregnancy Massage
I have used massage therapy with my wife through her 2 pregnancies. Please don’t be afraid of this treatment when pregnant. It can dramatically assist in reducing Hip Pain, Lower Back Pain, Leg, Knee and Shoulder pain due to tension and a change in your skeletal structure. Apparently it’s hard to grow a human being!
As a husband who’s wife is baking your bun, theres little I could do to assist in the pain that she went through, but for small things like this.
I have also created a workshop to teach Couples on how to benefit from massage with each other. As the partner and masseuse in my case, I felt connected to the baby and connected to the pregnancy. Pain reduced, tension reduced and then we found that mood was lifted and mobility was much much better. Especially in the second pregnancy when there was a need to chase after a 2 year old too! For information on the workshop, please contact me on training@marcedwardsfitness.co.uk or call me on +44 (0) 7540 487081.
