Why Summer is the Best Time for a Massage

As all massage clients would attest, any time is a great time for a massage. While that’s true, massage in the Summer carries it’s own benefits unique to the season and makes the summertime a perfect time to begin a regular massage therapy schedule. Here’s why:

With Summer comes activities like golfing, gardening, rollerblading, kayaking, swimming and boating. These activities bring with them muscle aches, fatigue and pain. When you learn to listen to your body and practice self care methods like massage therapy, you can enjoy these activities fully. Knowing your massage therapy session will provide you with relief to both your body and your mind, there’s no need to say no to the next volleyball game (and with increased flexibility, you’ll probably even play better!)

Are the kids home from school making you feel a little more stressed? Well, experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of disease is stress related. Massage and bodywork is there to combat that frightening number by helping us remember what it means to relax, and what better season than Summer to learn what relaxing really means?

In addition to providing you with increased opportunities to enjoy the activities you love, massage therapy offers a tremendous amount of other benefits as well:

• Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
• Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body’s natural defense system, against toxic invaders. Increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body’s largest organ – the skin.
• Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles
• Reduces spasms and cramping
• Increases joint flexibility.
• Reduces recovery time, helps prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
• Releases endorphins – the body’s natural painkiller – and is being used in chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
• Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred.
• Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain.
• Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication.

So, this summer is the perfect summer to say yes to massage therapy (and to that next round of golf!)