The Bodycare Journal: Get a Massage. They say!

Featured Image: Laetitia Casta for Guess (1997) photography: Dominique Issermann

If you’ve ever booked a massage, you may have been told to come back every 2-4 weeks. Based on the budget you allocate, this can always be adjusted. This is usually what I suggest but I also, have clients that I see weekly. Your massage therapist does not recommend this body care plan for their sake but for yours!

Massage therapy feeds your body in so many ways. Not only does it relieve knots and muscle tension but it can also recenter the body. Most of the time we don’t realize how much stress the body carries. This is from everyday repeated motion, injury, exercise, etc. Every time you receive a massage, your muscle mobility increases. You will start to see a change in how your body performs with routine massages. 

The knots built over time take more than one session to release. After working those stubborn knots out, they will return if you do not keep up with massages regularly. For example, let’s say you’re working on having clear skin. If you stick to a regimen and cut back on foods that cause breakouts, your skin will become clear. Once you stop the regimen or eat the food/beverage that causes a reaction, you will have to restart the process from the beginning. Muscle tension works similarly. To see impactful results it’s best to repeat this body care treatment.

Sometimes we may not feel achy but need a sense of relaxation. Getting massages regularly can help to regulate your mood. During this treatment, blood circulation is increased. This causes an increase of dopamine by lowering cortisol levels (a stress hormone). So if you receive massages as recommended, even if you’re not feeling achy, you will still benefit.

Take the time. Ask yourself, “How can a massage benefit me?” There are so many other reasons but these are two that I advocate for. Most of the time when my body is getting ready to suffer from burnout, I stop and book a massage. Regularly, I try to receive them once a month. What about you? Do you think massages will become a part of your non-negotiables?

By Jazmine Jamal

Founder of @521wellness

You Start Dying When You Stop Dreaming