Staying in Touch®
|
|
Hello, and welcome to the September 2025 newsletter. Are you ready to shift gears and pick up the pace for fall?
Here are three reasons fall seems so stressful:
Shorter Days, Less Sunlight– As fall progresses, the days get shorter, and natural sunlight becomes scarce. This can throw off your body’s natural rhythm, known as the circadian cycle, and reduce serotonin levels—a neurotransmitter responsible for keeping your mood stable.
Back-to-School and Work Routines– For many, fall means a return to more demanding schedules— whether it’s back to school or a busier work life after the relaxed pace of summer.
Financial and Social Pressures– Fall also kicks off a season filled with social events and holidays, from Halloween to Thanksgiving, which can put pressure on your budget and your time.
Source: northernmedical.org
This month’s article discusses why massage is the ideal tool to maintain optimum physical and emotional health. Make your health and happiness a priority with regular sessions.
Have a great month; see you soon for your next massage!
Say “I really care about you!” with the gift of health
— a massage gift certificate!
Print or e-mail today from this website ...
The truth about massages and flushing out toxins
by Daryl Austin (USA Today)
Few things feel better than lying on a massage table with the scent of eucalyptus or lavender (not in our offices due to allergies) filling the air as a skilled therapist begins their work. ... Full-body massages remain one of the most universally loved wellness practices.
But beyond just feeling good, a high-quality massage can also help you reset both your body and your mind. Here’s a look at the benefits associated with massage therapy ...
Are there actual health benefits to massage?
A massage that's performed by a licensed, well-trained therapist can bring a cascade of mental and physical benefits, thanks to the body’s natural response to therapeutic touch.
One of the most well-known of these benefits is stress relief. “Massage lowers levels of the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol, while also increasing mood-boosting hormones like serotonin and dopamine,” says massage therapist Jonathan Dunagan. It can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, he adds, “shifting you out of your 'fight-or-flight' mode and into your natural 'rest-and-digest' state."
In addition to easing stress, this deep sense of relaxation is one reason massage “can be so effective at reducing anxiety,” says Elizabeth Newman, a licensed massage therapist at Mayo Clinic.
Research shows that massage can also help regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle, improving sleep quality. It may enhance mental clarity as well by increasing oxygen delivery to the brain, potentially sharpening focus and easing intrusive thoughts.
And for those recovering from injury or trauma, massage also has the potential to support physical healing. “After falls, car accidents or surgery, the body forms protective muscle tension around the affected area,” explains Samuel Yamamoto, an Arizona-based chiropractor, who uses soft tissue therapy in his practice. While such tension helps guard against further harm, it can also restrict blood flow and limit mobility. Massage helps this by increasing circulation and bringing oxygen and nutrients to the area, "to gently loosen tight muscle fibers and encourage healing," Yamamoto says.
In this way, "massage can also reduce pain from certain conditions," says Richard Harris, a professor of anesthesiology and a chronic pain researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Massage can also improve your risk of future injury and help alleviate issues related to repetitive strain, muscle imbalances or poor posture resulting from favoring one side of the body or frequently carrying a child on one hip. “Massage therapy can help this by improving blood flow, breaking down adhesions (tight bands of tissue) and releasing spasms that may have formed,” says Yamamoto.
This combination of effects may also "relieve tension headaches, back pain and improve symptoms of osteoarthritis," adds Newman.
What toxins are released after massage?
Beyond these well-documented benefits, there are widespread claims that massage helps “flush toxins” from the body. While Newman says the term toxins is often vague or misleading, and the exact mechanisms aren't fully understood, massage does support the body’s natural detoxification systems by enhancing circulation and lymphatic flow.
“When muscles are tight, overused or injured, they can accumulate waste products like lactic acid, inflammatory fluids and metabolic debris,” explains Dunagan. "'Toxins' is a catch-all term for these byproducts, which can all contribute to soreness, stiffness and inflammation, if not efficiently cleared by the circulatory system."
Massage can also improve the health of connective tissues by keeping them pliable and well-hydrated.
Additionally, massage stimulates the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in removing cellular waste and regulating inflammation. Hydration is key in this process as well as it supports kidney function and further ensures waste products are flushed out rather than reabsorbed. "This is why it’s always recommended to drink plenty of water after getting a massage,” advises Yamamoto. ...
Open and honest communication is key to an overall successful outcome. “When you meet with your massage therapist,” Newman says, “you should feel comfortable expressing your goals and providing feedback if something isn’t going well.”
Source: uk.style.yahoo.com
Mental Health Tips for Fall:
- Embrace Natural Light
- Maintain a Regular Sleep Routine
- Stay Active
- Connect with Others
- Keep Your Diet Balanced
Source: nextstep.doctor
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
— Albert Einstein
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, consult a physician.
© 2025 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, consult a physician.
© 2025 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.