This is a copy of the poster I put up today, following a suggestion from a patient, for a massage session with one of our Sports and Deep Tissue Massage therapists as an alternative, and far better, Valentine’s Day present. It has just got to be more personal than a hideous teddybear or some nasty pink champagne, surely?
If you like the idea, give us a call and we can see what we can do to fit you in.
Ben Tolson, one of our massge therapists writes:
How efficient do you think your blood circulation is and why does it matter?
Blood carries material from the digestive system for body maintenance and repair. Blood also carries away the waste products from your muscle activity. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are taken to and from the lungs and water from the digestive system which is vital in nearly all body processes.
Even now when you are not active your muscles are involuntary activly squeezing the blood slowly back to the heart. When you exercise this process is increased so that blood and lymph flow is increased to cope with the raised demand for oxygen and assocaited heart and breathing rate.
This is great when muscles are relaxed and everything works as it should. However, if muscles are tight then the blood flow is interrupted and the muscle won’t receive a full supply of nutrients and waste products build up. As the waste products build up the blood supply is disrupted further and this causes a viscious cycle causing the muscle to tense up more. This in turn causes the muscle fibres to harden with a reduction in function accompanied by pain and stiffness. The muscle is now extremely inefficient and when used for any activity will tend to tire quickly.
If the body senses any pain (in this example from general tension) then the surrounding tissue will tense up in order to protect the perceived damaged area.
Massage can break down the acquired tension in a muscle and mechanically pump the blood through the muscles. Once the tension has been broken down the waste products will be carried away and stretching and deep massage of the muscle will help restore it to its normal functioning. Massage will need to carried out around the whole area of tension of there will have been a chain reaction of muscle shortening taking place.
Stretching, kneading, gliding strokes amongst others will all aid this process. Also as we get older muscles tend to dry out so having regular massage helps to keep them supple and making you look and feel great. Having a massage can be a very relaxing experience which in itself will promote relaxation and reduce the heartbeat.
Tara Lomax, one of our great massage therapists writes:
As you’re probably very busy along with being stressed out then this is very quick and to the point (or blunt – perhaps that’s my Northerness coming through).
Massage gets deep into the muscles and helps release them from their tense state which will make you feel ‘lighter’.
Massage also releases endorphins which are our bodies natural feel good drugs.
Massage aids a better quality of sleep.
Massage means someone is taking care of you for a change.
You get to lie on a table and do nothing for an hour.
You get to spend time with one of our lovely massage therapists.
What are you waiting for? For a stress relieving massage ring us on 0117 922 1542