A massage is beneficial to your mind, body and soul in many different ways. It can alleviate aches and pains in your body; it can ease stress and quandary in your mind; and it can relax and rejuvenate your soul.
A massage is also clinically proven to reduce anxiety and depression.
The Touch Institute Test
Studies done by the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami have concluded that you can reduce your anxiety and feelings of depression with regular massage therapy. The Touch Research Institute has conducted over 100 studies on the connection between massage therapy and various health conditions. They have discovered that massage therapy has a very positive effect on treating anxiety and depression.
The Touch Research Industry applied a 30 minute back massage for a 50 day period to 52 hospitalized patients suffering from depression. Nurses found that the subjects were less anxious, more cooperative and had lower saliva cortisol after the massage. Urinary cortisol and norepinephrine had also decreased.
Another study done by the Touch Research Institute showed how anxiety levels can be reduced by massage in the workplace. An on-site chair massage therapy program was set up and stress levels were measured before, during and after the massages. The study showed significant reduction of anxiety levels for those who participated in this massage program study.
The Touch Research Institute also studied the connection between depression and massage therapy in women suffering from postpartum depression. Both the babies and the mothers attended an infant massage class. The depression levels fell in the mothers and an improvement on mother-infant interactions was seen due to the massage therapy sessions.
The New Mood Research Results
Anxiety and depression are related to one's mood. According to the New Mood Research Institute at the University of Manchester, there are three main parts to depression. These are the inability to experience pleasure, an excessive sensitivity to stress and a negative outlook on circumstances. This is where massage comes in. Massage therapy can reduce both stress and fatigue so you can get on with your day.
Massage releases both serotonin and endorphins. The serotonin acts as a calming mediator for the body while the endorphins act as a happy stimulator for the brain. Together they can bring pleasurable feelings and general elevated moods in both your body and mind.
In relation to stress, a massage has been proven to lower the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine which can cause your body to tire and your mind to worry. Numerous studies from Touch Institute demonstrate how massage can calm these stress hormones down and let your body and mind relax. With stress out of the picture, you can get back to your daily life, anxiety-free.
For more information, check outwww.miami.edu/touch-research or http://www.newmood.co.uk/.
