Massage, It’s Not Just for Feeling Good

Did you that massage not only makes you feel better but it can actually help you sleep? As it turns out massage is good for boosting serotonin and dopamine levels. Those hormones help in slowing your heart rate, reducing your blood pressure and blocking your nervous system’s pain receptors. It also increases blood flow to the muscles, which can help them heal.

More serotonin and dopamine in your blood stream may also mean less stress, anxiety and depression. Massage has been shown to increase activity in the left side of the frontal lobe that controls happiness and decrease activity in the right, which is more active during depression.

So why wouldn’t you want to make massage part of your regular routine? Sure sounds good to me!

Written by Jessie Jo Egersett, LMP
Massage Practitioner, Seattle Athletic Club Downtown