Surprising Health Benefits of Massage Therapy
Sure, it can help you relax. But massage therapy can do much more than that. Here are six healthy reasons to book an appointment.
It counteracts all that sitting you do
Most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress, more often than not [that stress] tends to manifest in the shoulders and neck.
Desk workers, beware.
More advanced forms of postural stress show up as pain or weakness in the low back and gluteals caused by prolonged periods of sitting.
Luckily, massage can counteract the imbalance caused from sitting, which means you can keep your desk job—as long as you schedule a regular massage.
It eases muscle pain
Got sore muscles? Massage therapy can help. Massage increases and improves lymph and blood circulation, in much the same way rubbing your elbow when you knock it on a table helps to relieve the pain.
Massage therapy is as effective as other methods of treatment for chronic back pain.
It soothes anxiety and depression
Human touch, in a context that is safe, friendly and professional, can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing.
Men undergone back and neck surgery who received massage therapy three times a week reported being less depressed and less angry, and were much more relaxed and happy, and had reduced stress levels after massage.
It improves sleep
Not only can massage encourage a restful sleep—it also helps those who can’t otherwise comfortably rest.
It boosts immunity
Massage boosts patients’ white blood cell count (which plays a large role in defending the body from disease).
It also “improves immune function for individuals with HIV.
It relieves headaches
Next time a headache hits, try booking a last-minute massage. Massage decreases frequency and severity of tension headaches. A single session of massage therapy has an immediate effect on perceived pain in patients with chronic tension headaches.
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What is your cancellation policy?We understand that unanticipated events happen occasionally in everyone’s life. In our desire to be effective and fair to all clients, the following policies are honored. 24 hour advance notice is required when cancelling an appointment. This allows the opportunity for someone else to schedule an appointment. If you are unable to give 24 hours advance notice you will be charged the full amount of your appointment. This amount will be automatically charged on your card on file, or must be paid prior to your next scheduled appointment.
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Where will my massage or bodywork session take place?Your massage or bodywork session will take place in a warm, comfortable, quiet room. Soft music may be played to help you relax. You will lie on a table especially designed for your comfort.
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Will I be covered during the session?You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed.
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What parts of my body will be massaged?A typical full-body session will include work on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck, and shoulders.
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What happens if I am late to an appointment?If you arrive late, your session may be shortened in order to accommodate others whose appointments follow yours. Depending upon how late you arrive, your therapist will then determine if there is enough time remaining to start a treatment. Regardless of the length of the treatment actually given, you will be responsible for the “full” session. Out of respect and consideration to your therapist and other customers, please plan accordingly and be on time.
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What happens if I missed an appointment?Anyone who either forgets or consciously chooses to forgot their appointment for whatever reason will be considered a “NO-SHOW.” They will be charged "in-full" for their “missed” appointment.
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Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you based on your pre-existing or current condition for your maximum comfort and safety.
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Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?Yes. That’s why it’s imperative that, before you begin your session, the practitioner asks general health questions. It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor’s care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session. Depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required for your safety.
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What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.
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What will the massage or bodywork feel like?A relaxing Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting as it normally happens over time, when you're getting a regular sessions.
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How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days or even weeks. Since toxins are released from your soft tissues during a massage, it is recommended you drink plenty of water (electrolyte or alkaline) following your massage.
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Will the practitioner be present when I disrobe?The practitioner will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet.
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Are walk-ins welcome?Appointments must be made ahead of time. We do not take walk-ins.
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Must I be completely undressed?Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly draped during the entire session.
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What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?Prior to the massage, feel free to ask the practitioner any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable. The practitioner will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax, communicating if/when they need more or less pressure, another blanket, or anything else relevant to the session. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask- it's your massage!
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What should I expect at my first massage therapy appointment?To begin, you will be required to fill out a health history form, as well as outline what issues or areas of your body you would like worked on. These questions can include medications, past surgeries or ailments, as well as any allergies you may have. All of this information will help our massage therapists be as effective as possible in your treatment. After that, you can begin your appointment!
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How will I feel after my massage?After a massage, many people feel refreshed and energized, and some can experience an increased range of motion. However, it is not uncommon to also feel some muscle soreness post-massage. When having a massage, muscles that are being worked on can release lactic acid, which can create soreness. Thankfully, this soreness is only temporary.
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How often should I have a massage?The frequency of massage all depends on what is being treated. For stress management, a weekly or bi-weekly massage is helpful, as individuals can build up a lot of stress during a week. For pain reduction, during the first few weeks of treatment, it is recommended to receive a massage one to two times per week. After this, the amount of massages can decrease to two to three massage sessions per month.
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How can a massage therapy help me?Some people use massage therapy as a way to increase their relaxation and wellbeing, but it can also be used to combat varying physical issues after experiencing a muscle overload and fatigue. Massage therapy can help increase circulation and flexibility, reduce compressed nerves and tight muscles, and supplement the healing of tendon, muscle, and ligament tears, as well as reduce scar tissue. Massage therapy can treat a variety of issues caused from muscle overuse, and car accident including: concussions, whiplash, stress and anxiety, and spinal cord and knee injuries.
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Are there instances when I shouldn't use Cryotherapy?Yes, sometimes there are certain times when patients shouldn’t use cold therapy. If a patient is only experiencing acute stiffness or pain, and plans to be active, heat therapy is recommended. Cold therapy can mask pain in some instances, and does not relax muscles, which could lead to further injury. Some people with pre-existing conditions are more at risk for cramping or complications during cryotherapy and should consult a physician prior to use. These conditions include: Vascular diseases Hypersensitivity to cold Open wounds or blistered skin
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Why should I use Cryotherapy opposed to heat therapy?Patients can use both heat and cold therapy during their healing process after muscle overload or maybe a car accident. Cryotherapy is recommended for use when an injury first occurs as it can quickly reduce inflammation and pain. It is not recommended you move the affected area after cold therapy. Heat therapy is more commonly used for chronic pain and stiffness and to help increase range of motion. After receiving heat therapy, muscles are warm, and patients can move and exercise the affected area.
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What does Cryotherapy treat?Cryotherapy can treat a variety of ailments after muscle overuse or a car accident, including but not limited to: Headaches and migraines Whiplash injury Muscle spasms Sprains and strains Acute injuries Breakdown fatty tissues
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What is Cryotherapy?Cryotherapy is the application of cold and below freezing temperatures to areas affected after an injury. The cold temperatures treat tissue directly below the skin to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain after overuse or an auto accident. Cryotherapy is typically used immediately following a trauma as it reduces blood flow to an area, which in turn reduces bruising and swelling.
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How often should I use Cryotherapy?It is recommended that patients use cryotherapy for no more than 20 minutes at a time, leaving at least 20 minutes between each session. Leaving cold packs on too long can cause damage to skin tissues due to lack of blood flow.
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Is Ultrasound Therapy safe?Yes, ultrasound therapy is very safe! However, there are some instances when it should not be used. Therapy should not be used if the patient is pregnant, has a cardiac pacemaker, has cancerous conditions, diabetes, or is under 18 and has not received recommendation from a physician.
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Will I experience any pain during the Ultrasound therapy ?No, you should not experience any pain at all. Some patients may feel a slight warmth or tingling in the treated area. If you do experience pain, tell your therapist immediately, as this is extremely uncommon.
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What does Ultrasound therapy treat?Ultrasound therapy can treat a variety of physical issues (i.e muscle overuse, lack of blood flow) or that can occur after a car accident, including but not limited to: Neck and shoulder pain Sprains Wounds Knee injury Bone fracture Pulled, torn, or strained muscles, ligaments, and tendons
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What is Ultrasound Therapy?Ultrasound therapy is a method that uses sound waves to treat various types of pain and inflammation. It works by stimulating tissue beneath the skin’s surface, which then increases tissue relaxation and blood flow, breaks down scar tissue, and reduces swelling and inflammation. Ultrasound therapy is applied using a rounded transducer. The transducer traces over targeted areas covered by a translucent gel that acts as a conductor.
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Who are the ideal Candidates for MCT and how safe is it?MCT is a drug-free, non-invasive treatment with no known negative side effects. Furthermore, this device has been used for over three decades in both alternative and mainstream medical practices. MCT is best for people seeking pain management for a variety of health problems which include, chronic pain, concussion, sports injuries, muscular strains, ligament injuries, migraines, neuropathy, and edema.
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How does Micro-Current Therapy works?MCT sends low-level electrical currents that uses artificial intelligence to detect the natural frequencies of your body. This helps introduce more electrons to the body, which stimulates cellular and tissue repair. MCT can be used to detect and correct abnormal electrical patterns in the connective tissue and the nerve of the body. After normalizing the electrical patterns, an accurate biofeedback reading is generated, and the healing process of the damaged tissues will soon begin with an accelerated recovery time at the cellular level.
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What is Micro-Current Therapy?Microcurrent therapy (MCT) is a type of non-invasive pain relief therapy. It makes use of the application of electrical currents that are frequency specific to the injured part of the body. MCT helps damaged tissue heal faster and, at the same time, provide relief from pain caused by chronic conditions or the injury. Microcurrent therapy on its own is already a powerful pain treatment method. But when combined with your manual therapy sessions and personalized exercise program, it becomes more effective.
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How often should I get the treatment ?Many people notice an immediate increase in their range of motion after a single session. However, the effect of MCT is cumulative. So, to achieve optimal effect, you need at least three 30 to 60 minutes sessions.
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How does Infrared Sauna works?Studies show that 15-20% of infrared sauna-induced sweat is composed of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, and ammonia (as well as sodium and uric acid.) In other words, an infrared sauna may enable your body to eliminate environmental toxins through sweat. Your kidneys will thank you. Infrared heat penetrates tissue, joints, and muscle to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. Some chronic pain sufferers have claimed that use of an infrared sauna has almost completely eliminated their pain! Studies show that infrared sauna use can improve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Far infrared saunas stimulate blood circulation in your skin, which helps boost your skin’s ability to produce collagen. Sweating accelerates your skin’s ability to detox traces of dirt, makeup, pollution, heavy metals, and alcohol. Infrared heat even relaxes tense facial muscles, keeping that dazzling smile. Infrared saunas help relax you and make you more resilient to stress. Infrared heat is a gentle, soothing, and therapeutic heat that improves relaxation and promotes a better sleep. Studies show that by sitting and relaxing in an infrared sauna for a 30-minute session, you can burn anywhere from 300 to 600 (or more) calories. The reason? As your body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. This causes the body to burn more calories!
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How to get the most out of your Infrared Sauna?Now that you have you know how Infrared Sauna works and make an appointment (or perhaps still pondering how soon you'll losss weight), I’m sure you are ready to get in there and start sweating! You are ready to take the stress of the day away… ready to relax… ready to detox… ready to ease your achy muscles. We’ve compiled a short list for you to ensure you get the most out of your Infrared Sauna Experience. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE- If you do not heed any other advice, heed this one. Most of us do not drink enough water, to begin with. The main purpose of an Infrared Sauna is to sweat. It’s easy math. The more water you put into your body, the more sweat exits your body. A good rule of thumb is to divide your body weight by two and drink a minimum of that many ounces of water on a daily basis (150 lbs. divided by 2 = 75 ounces of water or almost 10 8oz glasses of water, daily). **Alcohol use is not recommended while using your Infrared Sauna. START SLOWLY- Beginners should start with 10-15 minute sessions. Slowly build up to 25-30 minutes. For the first week or two, schedule your Infrared Sauna sessions every other day. Do not exceed 60 minutes in the sauna per session. Be sure to listen to your body. If you begin to feel dizzy or weak, tired or too hot, open the door or simply step out. Try to not overdo any session, especially in the beginning. SAUNA APPAREL- Lightweight shorts and t-shirt are ok. Swimsuits are better. Your “Birthday Suit” is ideal. More skin exposure is preferable because the Infrared light is hindered by clothing. If you have an area that is injured or needs special attention, it needs to have direct contact with the Infrared light waves. NO BODY OILS OR LOTIONS- Do not apply body oils or lotions before or during your Infrared Sauna session, as this will inhibit sweating and clog up pores. Also note: Even your facial cream is wasted if used before or during your sauna. As you drip sweat, your lotion will run, and it can get in your eyes. It is much better to wait until after you have cooled down and showered before applying your favorite body lotion. TOWELS, TOWELS, TOWELS- I cannot stress this enough. Layer several towels wherever you sit or lie down. You will want one towel to help wipe off and absorb perspiration as it accumulates on your body so that you sweat more. You will also want one towel placed under your feet to catch any perspiration that might otherwise fall to the sauna floor. COOL DOWN AND RELAX AFTER YOUR SESSION- Once you have finished your Infrared Sauna session, it is important to relax and cool down while your body continues to perspire. Find a nice spot and sit quietly or recline with a towel or robe around you for about 10 minutes, or until you have ceased perspiring. Once you have cooled down, take a warm shower. Take a minute to exfoliate your skin and remove sweat residue, old skin cells and any toxins that have risen to the surface of your skin. Once you are nice and clean, lower the water temperature to help cool down your body completely and close the skin pores. We're here at Mabjax One Sauna wish you many happy Infrared Sauna Sessions!
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Full-Spectrum Sauna with Chromotherapy - How does it work ?Chromotherapy (or Color Therapy), as described by Dr. Maqsood Azeemi, is a centuries-old concept, which in order to correct the malfunctioning or ailments and diseases, actually suggests providing the needed colors to the most basic unit of our physical system; the chromosomes, by using the light waves of proper frequencies, which, in general terms, are known as colors. Basically, Chromotherapy is the science of using colors to heal our mind, body, and soul. Each color possesses frequencies of a specific vibration, and each vibration is related to different physical symptoms. It is said that people who suffer from ailments like abnormal Blood Pressure, Anxiety, Insomnia, Phobias, Stress, Strain, and other complicated and incurable ailments and diseases, can eliminate them by applying and using proper and correct colors. Here at Mabjax Wellness , our Full-spectrum Infrared Sauna is equipped with a Chromotherapy option. So when you are relaxing inside our Infrared Sauna, you can choose the color that suits your needs for that added bonus. Below is a little guideline for you to choose the appropriate color therapy session. COLOR BENEFIT Red Activates the circulatory and nervous systems. Strong Pink Acts as a cleanser, strengthening the veins and arteries. Pink Activates and eliminates impurities from the bloodstream. Orange Energizes and eliminates localized fat. Helps address asthma and bronchitis. Strong Yellow Strengthens the body and acts on internal tissues. Yellow Reactivates and purifies the skin. Helps with indigestion and bodily distress. Green Acts as a nerve relaxant. Strong Green Provides anti-infectious, antiseptic, and regenerative stimulation. Strong Blue Lubricates joints. Helps address infections, stress, and nervous tension. Blue Stimulates muscle & skin cells, nerves, and the circulatory system. Indigo Helps address eye inflammation, cataracts, glaucoma, and ocular fatigue. Violet Relaxes the nerves & lymphatic system. Addresses inflammation and urinary illness.
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What is Infrared Sauna?An infrared sauna uses infrared light to create heat, which heats your body from within, then warming the air around you. This type of heat isn't as intense as a traditional sauna, and therefore it is a much more tolerable heat. This makes infrared saunas safe for adults of all ages, as well as children and even animals! (Although, please check with your doctor first.)