When you think of massage, the first image that may come to mind is lying down on a comfortable massage table, relaxing to soft music, surrounded by peace and tranquility, and letting your worries and concerns slowly drift away while you let your body and mind escape the daily stresses, giving you a personal moment out of your hectic day to unwind and focus on yourself. Discover how Clover Therapeutic Wellness Centre can help you!
Massage Therapy Self Care
Selfcare is incredibly important, and this alone is one of the many reasons massage therapy is an important and helpful addition to your well being. There are numerous reasons that people seek out massage from relaxation and general wellness to muscular pain and tension, headaches and migraines, joint pain, injury recovery, changes due to pregnancy, to helping improve athletic performance.
For many of us this last year has been difficult with the effects of the pandemic becoming increasingly visible. If anything, Covid-19 has taught us all how to slow down, take a step back and look at what is truly important, our health and the health of our loved ones. With that positive focus there also comes the hard realities of the pandemic; job loss and financial distress, illness and losing loved ones, over worked, and burnt out and nervousness and uncertainty of the future.
How Stress Can Effect You
These worries and feelings can not only cause physical stress but often emotional and mental fatigue. As a massage therapist I see this daily with patients coming in exhibiting signs of exhaustion, burnout, tension, anxiety and worry and the only amazing part of all of this is that they choose to visit me and allow me to be apart of their healing journey.
The fact that they trust me to help them through their health struggles reassures me of the role I play in healthcare. Giving patients a calm, relaxing and private escape to help them let go is rewarding, however the most rewarding aspect is seeing them leave their treatment, renewed, relaxed, feeling at ease (most of the time somewhat sedated) in less discomfort and pleasantly more positive and optimistic.
The art of Swedish massage is one of long soothing, gliding strokes and manipulations that allows the muscles and tissues of the body to lengthen and relax. Endorphins, specifically, serotonin and dopamine (the body’s happy hormones) are released into the bloodstream through touch, this naturally helps to reduces pain receptors, booting the feelings of pleasure and a sense of euphoria which in turn encourages the body to relax.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage can help decrease your blood pressure, your heart rate, and the physical stresses on the body. It is also known to help improve your immunity as well as combat sleep disturbances and help to improve your sleep patterns. Does that not make you want to get a massage?
The benefits of receiving massage therapy are endless. Whether you choose massage to help heal from an injury or chronic condition or simply to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body, it can be a powerful tool to help aid in your health and wellness.
Massage was once thought to be a luxury, often only accessible in high-end spas or clubs, but it is so much more, and it is now recognized as an integral part of healthcare. The profession has become widely recommended to the public by doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and naturopathic doctors as a helpful aid suggesting that it is a great modality in the recovery of many conditions and that it is highly promoted by the medical and holistic communities.
As an RMT, I take great pride in my career. In the 18 years that I have been practicing as a registered massage therapist, I have enjoyed helping many individuals regain and improve their health. Knowing that I have helped many patients and have seen their improvements and transformations firsthand, has propelled me to continue doing what I love.
Massage Techniques
Through my years of practice, I have also taken several courses that have allowed me to offer a variety of techniques to help in the recovery of a variety of ailments. Two modalities that I have been offering for several years and have grown to love and often suggest or recommend to patients are Cupping and Gua Sha.
Both techniques are derived from ancient Chinese medicine and are becoming more recognized by western medicine, gaining great popularity amongst athletes and the public. These techniques offer a different approach to healing and when combined with massage have profound effects on the body’s ability to heal and repair.
Blending eastern and western modalities offers the best of both worlds and the most effective outcome. The effectiveness of these treatments is often surprising to patients, and it is encouraging to see them want to continue with additional treatments after seeing the positive reaction from their session.
Why Choose a Massage Therapist
If you have been hesitant or contemplating adding massage therapy to your healthcare, I encourage you to book a treatment and see how rewarding and beneficial it will be for your health and wellness. Research where you want to go and who you would like to see, as well as being comfortable with the setting.
Please make sure that you choose a licensed massage therapist (RMT), as they are trained, educated, and insured in relation to provincial standards. Often family, friends and colleagues can be a great source for referrals or suggestions and may help make your decision process easier.
Your health and comfort are your therapist’s top priority, never be worried about asking your RMT questions regarding your massage, various techniques, side effects, outcomes, and homecare etc. They will happily offer any information and suggestions that they feel will help you on your health journey.
Open communication is always best as this will help both you and your massage therapist ensure you receive the optimal care and the best possible outcome.
I wish you all the best in health,
Serving the Niagara Region, Clover Therapeutic Wellness Centre can be contacted at 289-296-4610 owned by Christy O’Hara, RMT.
