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If you’re like millions of people around the world, you probably made at least a few New Year’s resolutions. In the United States, at least 45% of adults make one or more these promises to do something differently or better than last year. Two of the top five resolutions are losing weight and being more fit and healthy. Of course, making those resolutions is the easy part, right? If you’ve made any resolutions related to being healthier in 2013, regular visits to the spa might just be your ticket to making good on those promises. Here’s how you can revolutionize your health in 2013 with regular visits to the spa:
Physical Health Benefits from the Spa
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When it comes to the physical health benefits you receive at the spa, the go-to treatment is massage. Swedish Massage is a full-body massage technique that imparts many health benefits. Its invention has been inaccurately credited to Swedish physiologist Per Henrik Ling, when in reality it was developed by Dutch physician Johan George Mezger. In Sweden (and most other countries), it’s simply called “classic” massage. It consists of five different styles of long, flowing strokes, including sliding, kneading, rhythmic tapping and friction.
Oil is typically used to manage the level of friction between the therapist’s hands and your skin. The strokes serve to both warm up and work muscular tissues, releasing tension and melting knots. Few things are more relaxing than a Swedish massage. But there’s more to Swedish massage than just relaxation. Regular massage can actually help you meet your weight loss and other health goals. The way it does this is through three primary channels: Hormones, toxins and your metabolism.
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When you’re feeling stressed out, your body produces higher levels of the stress hormone called cortisol. The effect of heightened levels of cortisol on your system is in the creation of an appetite spike. Unfortunately, that appetite spike creates cravings for particular types of food, namely those that are carb-heavy and sweet. And these are the very foods that are more likely to be taken directly to your fat cells. To further compound the problem, this kind of “stress fat” tends to concentrate in your tummy, which is already a problem area for many people. Regular massage can help control cortisol levels, which will keep your appetite and cravings in check.
As cortisol levels decrease, massage helps your body produce more serotonin, the happiness hormone. You’ll feel fuller on less food and enjoy a pleasant boost in good feelings. Another way massage helps your health is by flushing out toxins trapped in body tissues, which get a good workout during a massage. Depending on your diet and environment, the toxins that build up in your system have a dampening effect on your metabolism and prevent your body from properly regulating blood sugar levels and cholesterol. That’s why it is so important to drink plenty of water after a massage, as this helps the body eliminate the freshly-loosened toxins. Making sure your massage regimen includes abdominal massage will help get blood flowing to this area, kick-starting your metabolism to move things through your system efficiently and effectively.
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Deep Tissue Massage is in order if your muscles are really tied up in knots. Deep tissue massage is a sub-category of Swedish massage that goes deeper into muscle and connective tissues to address specific problem areas. The pressure used is significantly more than regular Swedish massage, but the benefits are worth it. Again, be sure to drink plenty of water afterwards to flush out toxins and lactic acid loosened up during the session. If you want a good source of information on the different types of massage and their benefits, check out this Massage Benefits Infographic on Graphs.net.
What about facials, manicures and pedicures? Take note that each of these treatments imparts specific health benefits to the areas they treat. In large part, these physical health benefits come from the fact that each involves a massage as part of the treatment. In all cases, the massage portion of the treatment helps improve circulation to these parts of the body, promoting healing and health. The cleansing portion of the treatments all help remove not only dead skin cells that have built up, but also any dirt and bacteria. On your face, this helps keep pores from becoming clogged, which can lead to blackheads, acne and other skin blemishes and problems. On your hands and feet, the treatments help prevent fungal infections. The pedicure in particular is designed to help reduce or eliminate the buildup of calluses. This can help prevent the formation of painful bunions and corns while also keeping your weight more evenly distributed when walking, which can alleviate the back and foot pain that often results. When it comes to facials, you can maintain the benefits you receive from spa treatments in between appointments by having a good skincare regimen.
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Swedish Massages, Deep Tissue Massages, and smart self-care through manicures, pedicures, and facials can help dramatically improve your health. Book a spa service today at one of our San Jose or Seattle locations.
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