Massage - Not Just Another Luxury!

Most of you have heard this - and many probably believe it - massage is just a luxury reserved for special times like vacations or birthdays. In truth massage is not just an indulgence! In fact it can give you current fitness routine a much needed boost!

Massage is not just soothing to the body and soul. Sure, it's a great stress reliever but it also can benefit physical conditioning goals - just ask a professional athlete!

Take for example those tight muscles from that tough workout. Massage can release spasms which impede blood flow and can cause inflammation, pain and dysfunction. And it can help prevent and assist in the healing of muscular injuries by decreasing the amount of adhesions (fibrous bands holding together muscle tissue that is normally apart commonly seen during the healing process). It can aid in the prevention of overtraining by relaxing the tension and sedating the nervous system so muscles can work more efficiently. And while massage will not directly build muscles, it is a key factor in the rebuilding of tissues and influencing muscle growth.

Massage can decrease the recovery time necessary between workouts by aiding in the elimination of toxins, such as lactic acid which is the culprit of delayed muscle soreness. By increasing circulation through massage - and drinking adequate amounts of water, these toxins can be cleared out while allowing for an increased blood flow which maximizes the general nutrition (oxygen and essential nutrients) of muscles essential for optimal function.

Power and performance is influenced by massage by increasing the body's efficiency and facilitating the muscle-building response while enhancing range of motion and flexibility. Muscles that are sufficiently elongated increase proficiency while aiding in the reduction of injury risks.

Massage can also help you attain your weight loss goals through assisting the subcutaneous tissue to exude fat to become absorbed - not stored.