6 Surprising Benefits of Massage Therapy

Sure, it can help you relax but massage therapy can do more than that. Here are six healthy reasons to book an appointment.

1) Massage therapy counteracts all that sitting you do

“Most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress,” says Aaron Tanason who is a registered massage therapist, kinesiologist and owner at Paleolife Massage Therapy in Toronto. “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 therapy can counteract the imbalance caused from sitting, which means you can keep your desk job-as long as you schedule a regular massage.

2) It eases muscle pain

Got sore muscles? Massage therapy can help. “Massage increases and improves circulation. Just like rubbing your elbow when you knock it on a table helps to relieve the pain,” says Tanason.

A 2011 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that massage therapy is as effective as other methods of treatment for chronic back pain.

3) It soothes anxiety and depression

“Human touch, in a context that is safe, friendly and professional, can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing,” says Tanason.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer who received massage therapy three times a week reported being less depressed and less angry, according to a 2005 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that patients who were depressed and anxious were much more relaxed and happy, and had reduced stress levels after massage.

4) It improves sleep

Not only can massage encourage a restful sleep-it also helps those who can’t otherwise comfortably rest.

“Massage therapy promotes relaxation and sleep in those undergoing chemo or radiation therapy,” says Lisa Marie de Miranda, registered massage therapist and kinesiologist at Paleolife Massage Therapy.

Also, massages help infants sleep more, cry less and be less stressed, according to research from the University of Warwick.

“Most RMTs can do infant massage,” says de Miranda.  And if parents want to do it themselves, it comes naturally. “There’s not really a particular technique. Whatever parents normally do to soothe their baby will be effective.”

5) It boosts immunity

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that massage boosts patients’ white blood cell count (which plays a large role in defending the body from disease). Additionally, it also “improves immune function for individuals with HIV,” says de Miranda.

6) It relieves headaches

Next time a headache hits, try booking a last-minute massage. “Massage decreases frequency and severity of tension headaches,” says de Miranda.

Research from Granada University in Spain found that a single session of massage therapy immediately effects perceived pain in patients with chronic tension headaches.

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Pole Dancing for Health and Fitness

The combination of acrobatics, muscle-building and toning exercises is a characteristic of pole dancing. It would suffice to know pole dancing benefits to the body to prove pole dancing is as effective as a gym workout.dancing benefits to the body to prove pole dancing is as effective as a gym workout.

There are still people who think pole dancing is merely about doing twirls, bends, and poses on a pole, but little do some people know that these are exercises not easy to do. Aerobics make your heart muscles stronger and your cells more oxygenated. The more the heart pumps, the more efficient the blood circulation is throughout the body. The fats are broken down and the calories are used as an energy source as you do the intensive exercises. This sport is one effective way to lose weight.

Pole dancing for health and fitness

Since it can also include anaerobic exercises, your muscles, especially in the back, upper and lower extremities, are toned. In addition, it can improve your flexibility since it involves a variety of range-of-motion exercises. It can improve your posture, too, as it helps strengthen your back muscles, so you can say no more to slouching.

Climbing the pole is that one seemingly difficult task in pole dancing. It may take a while for those who are overweight to climb. They will need to lose pounds so they can carry their own weight easier. Pole fitness classes are emerging. They are open to overweight people, to moms, and some even to men. These classes are being attended for health and fitness reasons. Women wanting empowerment opt for pole dancing classes because here, they are able to learn a new skill that is difficult to do.

Boosting self-confidence is, without a doubt, one of the key benefits of pole dancing, not because you are able to wear stilettos and clothes of your own choosing but because this exercise triggers the release of happy hormones, the so-called endorphins in your brain. You enjoy the poses that you do despite the muscle soreness and bruises you get as a result.

Enjoy pole dancing for health and fitness

As a beginner in pole dancing, you will experience muscle pain, but you need not worry as this is natural. It is a normal part of the body’s adaptation for the incoming more intense exercises and difficult poses. This delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) that you are likely to experience is due to the microscopic muscle tears. These are injuries but are not that serious and are the ones that can heal. The muscle heals itself through inflammation, the body’s natural way of healing injuries. This healing process is be accompanied by pain.

That muscle soreness should not discourage a beginner in becoming a professional poler. You get to do stretching as warm-ups, and that will challenge your flexibility. The purpose of stretching is to improve blood flow to the muscles so they get used to the stress in the succeeding exercises.

The negative criticism about this sport, like it is merely about club stripping, will be dispelled once its health benefits become widely known. In addition, you would not be wasting time thinking about those criticisms once you get focused on how you will do those challenging poses.

Happy Polling

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The Health Benefits of Water

The Health Benefits of Water

Did you know that your body weight is approximately 60 percent water? Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors. Those factors include the climate you live in, how physically active you are, and whether you’re experiencing an illness or have any other health problems.

Water Protects Your Tissues, Spinal Cord, and Joints

Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body’s temperature; it also keeps the tissues in your body moist. You know how it feels when your eyes, nose, or mouth gets dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and the brain. In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.

Water Helps Your Body Remove Waste

Adequate water intake enables your body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation. The kidneys and liver use it to help flush out waste, as do your intestines. Water can also keep you from getting constipated by softening your stools and helping move the food you’ve eaten through your intestinal tract. However, it should be noted that there is no evidence to prove that increasing your fluid intake will cure constipation.

Water Aids in Digestion

Digestion starts with saliva, the basis of which is water. Digestive process relies on enzymes that are found in saliva to help break down food and liquid and to dissolve minerals and other nutrients. Proper digestion makes minerals and nutrients more accessible to the body. Water is also necessary to help you digest soluble fiber. With the help of water, this fiber dissolves easily and benefits your bowel health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass.

Water Prevents You From Becoming Dehydrated

Your body loses fluids when you engage in vigorous exercise, sweat in high heat, or come down with a fever or contract an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea. If you’re losing fluids for any of these reasons, it’s important that you restore your body’s natural hydration levels. Your doctor may also recommend that you drink more fluids to help treat other health conditions, like bladder infections and urinary tract stones. If you’re pregnant or nursing, you may want to consult with your physician about your fluid intake because your body will be using more fluids than usual, especially if you’re breastfeeding.

How Much Water Do You Need?

There’s no hard and fast rule. Many individuals meet their daily hydration needs by simply drinking water when they’re thirsty, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. In fact, most people who are in good physical health get enough fluids by drinking water and other beverages when they’re thirsty. Also by drinking a beverage with each of their meals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine. If it’s clear, you’re in good shape. Conversely, if it’s dark, you’re probably dehydrated.

Drink Water

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