Registered Massage Therapist with 15+ years of experience.
There are substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage including increasing blood circulation, improving digestion, and helping you sleep better by relieving small aches and pains in the body.
Gentle massage stimulates sensory nerve endings in the skin, which transmit messages through the nervous system and cause the brain to release a particular chemical that acts as a natural painkiller. These endorphins can help create a sense of well-being, and being touched by another human can have positive effects on cognition, empathy, and mood.
Massage further aids relaxation by stimulating the body's parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the "rest and digest system." Blood pressure decreases, your heart rate slows, and digestive activity speeds up.
Relaxation massage also increases blood circulation and stimulates the body's lymphatic system, which carries away waste products.
Massages are a healthy and helpful way to assist you in feeling comfortable and staying active during your pregnancy and after giving birth.
Bonding with your baby through massage is a fun way to help your little one connect with their body and can be helpful in alleviating some common infant ailments.