When we don’t sleep properly it can cause havoc on our health. There’s an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, weight gain leading to obesity and even shortened life expectancy. Poor sleep or insomnia can also contribute to existing mental health issues like depression, anxiety and panic attacks. A few things can encourage better sleep, such as cutting down on caffeine and exercising, but nothing can lull you into a deep sleep like a good massage.
Massage therapy is known for helping us to destress. It releases the pent-up tension we carry with us through the day. Massage improves blood circulation and can greatly decrease body pain, one of the many things keeping people from a restful night’s sleep. It also opens up energy flow, allowing for blocked and negative energy to release itself. Massage can help calm the body and mind, allowing you to switch off more easily and fall asleep.
Here are some of the ways massage can help you sleep better:
- Massage decreases the effect of chronic pains and aches
- Massage encourages the body to switch into the ‘rest and digest’ state by stimulating the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic system. This reduces the stress hormone cortisol that gives you that continual “never switched off ” feeling
- Massage encourages the release of serotonin, a hormone that makes us feel good. Serotonin is also a precursor to the hormone melatonin that helps us to fall asleep
- Massage decreases stress and anxiety, allowing for better and less disturbed sleep
Massage is a great method to implement if you have trouble sleeping. It can help you fall asleep easier and sleep deeper, allowing your natural circadian rhythms to return to normal.
