Winter is here again. The days are shorter and the sweaters have come out of the wardrobe. It’s not unusual for people to get the “winter blues,” which is a condition many people in the northern hemisphere are afflicted with due to lack of sunlight during the colder and darker winter months.
The good news is that massage can help increase health and happiness for everyone during the cooler months of the year. Here a few reasons why…
Massage May Help Banish Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes known as the winter blues, is a problem for many people when there’s less natural sunlight. This is because sunlight causes the brain to release a feel-good chemical called serotonin that improves our mood. When there’s less sunlight, less serotonin is produced, which can lead to low mood, lethargy and difficulty getting up in the morning. In some people it can even cause serious depression, enough to warrant visiting a doctor.
It’s not a happy place to be, but the good news is that receiving a regular massage can help to lift a low mood. A regular massage session will help to relax stressed minds and bodies, as well as releasing serotonin and endorphins. These are the same chemicals produced by the body when you’re happy.
Massage Can Give Your Circulation A Boost
Massage therapy may also help boost circulation during a time of year when noone wants to go outside to run. Everyone knows that getting regular exercise helps circulation and also gets the oxygenated blood pumped around our bodies faster. The lack of movement in winter can result in feeling sluggish; poor circulation can lead to lethargy, aches and pains.
Here’s where a massage has extra benefits. It can help blood to pass through any congested areas and boosts overall flow, which also helps the lymphatic system to remove waste that builds up. At the same time, massage is well known to help decrease blood pressure.
Massage May Help Your Body to Fight Off Minor Infections
Gentle massage of the area around lymph nodes encourages white blood cells to circulate, increasing their ability to fight infection. For anyone that’s prone to suffering from colds and infections during the winter season, massage might be the way forward.
These are just a few of the many benefits that massage therapy can bring during winter. Of course, there’s also the fact that it just feels REALLY good.