One of the great things about massage therapy is how easy it is to combine it with other helpful relaxation and related practices for optimal benefits. One great example here is meditation, which is often combined with massage therapy to improve both relaxation and several other possible benefits to the patient.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're happy to offer a wide range of massage therapy programs to clients around Lehi and Orem, from deep tissue massage to Swedish massage, sports massage and more. Here are some basics on timing options for use of meditation along with massage, plus some of the key benefits that doing so often provides to many people.
Timing of Meditation With Massage
For those looking to add meditation into their massage therapy program, how you'll do this will largely depend on your own personal preferences and goals. In general, most people choose to start their meditation session right after the massage itself is finished. This allows for a nice transition from the relaxation achieved through the massage into deeper states of relaxed awareness accessed through meditation.
Some people also like to start with a brief meditation before the massage itself begins, as this can allow for greater levels of relaxation and deeper release of tension during the massage therapy session. There's no wrong answer here - it's all about what works best for your individual needs and preferences.
Our next several sections will go over some of the benefits of adding meditation to your massage therapy treatments.
Major Anxiety Reduction
Both these practices are already known for helping reduce anxiety, but when combined together the results can be even more dramatic. Meditation helps you to develop a greater understanding of thought patterns that can lead to feeling anxious and overwhelmed, allowing you to intervene with those thoughts in healthier ways.
Meanwhile, massage is beneficial for releasing tension from your body, reducing stress hormones like cortisol while boosting levels of helpful hormones such as dopamine. When used in combination, the results can be powerful when it comes to reducing overall levels of anxiety.
Enhanced Relaxation
Another key benefit of combining massage and meditation is improved relaxation. Massage helps to physically relax your body while meditation takes things further by calming both your mind and body, giving you a sense of inner peace and well-being.
The combination of these two practices can be especially helpful for people who struggle to relax deeply on their own - the massage helps reduce physical tension and the meditation then helps you let go of mental and emotional blocks that stand in the way of achieving total relaxation.
Higher Gratitude, Lower Negative Emotions
For those who struggle with negative emotions, combining massage and meditation can provide powerful benefits. Meditation helps you to gain greater insight into how your thoughts influence your emotions - this in turn makes it easier to recognize the sources of those negative emotions and reframe them in healthier ways.
Meanwhile, massage can help reduce stress and tension in both body and mind - this often gives rise to a newfound feeling of gratitude and appreciation for yourself and the world around you.
Pain Reduction
For others, combining massage and meditation is helpful for reducing physical pain. Studies have shown that the combination of these two practices can help reduce chronic pain levels significantly, helping to both reduce inflammation in the body and providing relief from a wide variety of ailments.
Whether you struggle with chronic pain or just want to relax deeply, combining massage and meditation can be a powerful way to experience physical, mental, and emotional relief.
Heart Health Improvement
Research has long shown connections between meditation and improved heart health. Adding massage therapy to the mix can provide even more powerful results in this area, as both practices help reduce stress levels which is often linked to poor heart health outcomes.
When used together, massage and meditation can help improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation - all of which are beneficial for your overall heart health. This can be especially helpful for those who suffer from high blood pressure or other cardiac issues.
As you can see, combining massage and meditation can be a powerful way to experience relaxation, better manage stress levels, and improve overall wellbeing. From anxiety reduction to pain relief and even improved heart health, the combination of these two practices is an excellent choice for those looking to experience deep healing and relaxation.
If you're interested in trying out this combination, make sure to discuss it with your massage therapist - they can help determine if it's the right option for you and provide guidance on how best to incorporate it into your treatment plan. With the right approach, you can enjoy all of the amazing benefits this powerful combination has to offer.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're committed to helping you find the perfect relaxation and healing combination. Contact us today to learn more about our massage therapy services in Lehi or Orem, and how we can help you experience relief, relaxation, and improved wellbeing.
We look forward to hearing from you!
There are several ways you can optimize the effects and impact of treatments like massage therapy and floatation therapy, and some of these revolve around basic daily routines and habits. A few very simple additions or tweaks to your average day can make a huge difference for your overall wellness and ability to stay free of pain, especially if you also utilize these helpful treatments.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're happy to help clients around Lehi and Orem with everything from overall wellness to various specific needs through our massage therapy and float therapy programs. Here are some healthy habits that will help supplement these treatments and improve your overall wellness.
Sleep Schedule
For many people, one of the most important steps to feeling better is getting a good night's sleep. Making sure you get adequate and consistent rest can make a world of difference in terms of physical and mental health, so it's important to establish a regular sleep schedule that works for you.
Going to bed at roughly the same time each night and getting up at roughly the same time each morning will impact you in several ways. For one, it will help regulate your hormones and body processes, allowing you to feel more rested and energized throughout the day. Additionally, regular sleep patterns also promote healthy eating habits and can even reduce stress levels.
Stretching Regularly
Especially if you have pain or discomfort in a given area, but even if not, it's important to stretch regularly. Stretching helps relieve tension in your body, improve flexibility and range of motion, reduce stress, promote blood flow throughout the body, and help you become more aware of how different parts of your body feel.
Stretching can also be incredibly helpful both before and after a massage therapy session or floatation therapy session, as it can help loosen and relax your muscles before the treatment while promoting quicker recovery afterwards.
Staying Hydrated
Hydration is essential for a variety of reasons. Not only does it keep you energized throughout the day, but it also helps to flush toxins from your system, improve skin health, promote healthy digestion, and even aid in weight loss.
It's important to stay hydrated throughout the day, and if you're working out or doing any kind of strenuous activity, it's even more critical that you pay attention to your hydration needs. Additionally, staying hydrated can help reduce muscle tightness and discomfort from activities like massage therapy and floatation therapy.
Movement or Daily Exercise
While the specifics here can vary widely between individuals, it's important to ensure that you move throughout the day. Moving your body is essential for overall health and wellness, and a variety of exercises can help improve range of motion, reduce stress levels, decrease pain levels, and promote better blood flow.
In addition to adding movement or exercise to your daily routine, massage therapy combined with stretching can also help to keep your body healthy and pain-free.
Healthy Diet
Another great way to supplement massage therapy or floatation therapy is by following a healthy diet. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet can provide you with the energy you need throughout the day while also promoting better digestion, aiding in weight loss, reducing inflammation, and helping your body fight off illnesses.
Eating foods that are high in fiber and vitamins will also give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Mental Health
Massage therapy and floatation therapy can help you relax and reduce stress levels, so make sure to take care of yourself mentally as well as physically. Taking some time each day for yourself—whether that be taking a walk outside, reading a book, or listening to music—can help you destress and give your body time to recuperate.
Additionally, make sure to practice mindfulness and be aware of how your body is feeling throughout the day—this can help you catch any signs of pain or discomfort before they become serious issues.
By making a few simple changes in your daily routine, you can supplement treatments like massage therapy and floatation therapy to help you achieve your overall wellness goals. Keeping a regular sleep schedule, stretching regularly, staying hydrated, moving or exercising daily, eating a healthy diet, and prioritizing mental health can all aid in reducing pain levels and improving the overall effectiveness of treatments.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, you can take advantage of the benefits of massage therapy and floatation therapy to help promote your overall health and wellbeing. Contact us today to learn more about any of our services for clients around Lehi and Orem.
Certain bodily treatments tend to hold more value if they're utilized consistently rather than occasionally, and a great example here is the realm of massage therapy. While taking advantage of periodic massage therapy services when you have temporary aches or pains is definitely a great way to address these issues, many people find they get even greater benefits from regular, scheduled massage sessions even if they aren't in direct discomfort.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, many of our massage therapy techniques for Orem and Lehi patients are ideal for regularly scheduled session maintenance, such as Swedish massage and several others. Here are some of the ways that regular sessions benefit many patients, from those who have aches and pains to those who simply want to maintain their general wellness on a regular basis.
Basic Stress Management
For many people, life is just plain stressful. Whether it's a job, family obligations, financial worries or any other number of sources, stress can build up over time and manifest itself physically in the form of tension headaches, aches and pains in the neck/back area and even fatigue.
Regular massage therapy sessions can work wonders in reducing this kind of stress-related discomfort. By targeting the knotted, tight areas that often result from stress and helping to restore balance within the body, massage can offer a much-needed release not just of physical tension, but also of emotional stress as well.
For instance, let's say you've had a string of long, tiring days at work. A regular massage session can provide the perfect opportunity to let go, relax and just enjoy being in a tranquil environment free from stressors for an hour or so.
And by scheduling these on a regular basis instead of waiting for the stress to build up, some people find that they can even cut down on the amount of stress overall in their lives.
Sleep Improvement
Another major benefit of regular massage therapy sessions is improved sleep. For people who suffer from insomnia, stress and anxiety can be major culprits for sleepless nights - and this makes sense, since the body needs to be relaxed in order to get a good night's rest.
Massage helps to relax both the muscles and mind and improve circulation throughout the body. As a result, many people find that they have improved quality of sleep following regular massage sessions and often experience less fatigue during the day as well.
Better Mobility
One thing that can prevent people from engaging in physical activities like going to the gym or doing yoga is decreased mobility due to aches and pains. And while periodic massage therapy sessions can help with this, many people find that regular sessions offer even greater benefits.
By regularly targeting areas of tightness and helping to restore balance within the body, massage can increase mobility over time, allowing the patient to move more freely and engage in physical activities with greater ease. This is ultimately great for those who want to stay active, as well as for those who may have suffered an injury and need to restore balance to the affected area of the body.
Athletic Performance
For those who want to take their activity levels up even further and engage in more intense physical activities, regular massage therapy can help to improve athletic performance.
This is because massage helps to relax the muscles and joints and reduce tension which can often prevent athletes from performing at their peak level. Additionally, by improving circulation throughout the body, massage also helps to ensure that oxygen-rich blood reaches all parts of the body, which can improve stamina and help athletes to push themselves even further.
Tissue and Joint Lengthening
Especially for people who sit at a desk all day and don't get much movement, regular massage therapy can help to improve posture and even increase flexibility by lengthening the muscles and joints.
By targeting these areas of tightness and helping to restore balance within the body, massage can actually stimulate the body's natural healing process. This not only helps to reduce pain caused by tension or strain, but it can also help to increase overall mobility and flexibility, which is great for those who want to move more freely without fear of pain or injury.
Overall, there are many benefits to be gained from regular massage therapy sessions beyond just feeling good in the moment. By targeting areas of tension and helping to restore balance within the body, massage can help to improve sleep, increase mobility and even enhance athletic performance. So whether you're looking to relax or become a better athlete, regular massage therapy sessions can be the key to unlocking your body's full potential.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, our experienced massage therapists can help you find the perfect balance that works for you and your body. Contact us today to learn more about how regular massage sessions can benefit you, or to learn about any of our massage or float therapy services for patients in Orem and Lehi.
There are several major bodily systems that can receive enormous benefits from massage therapy, and one of the single most significant here is the immune system. Our immune systems are our bodies' primary defense against illness and various threats, and there are multiple ways in which massage therapy boosts the immune system's activity level and ability to protect the body.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're happy to offer a wide range of massage therapy services to clients in Lehi and Orem, including options like deep tissue massage, cupping therapy and numerous others. Here are some of the ways massage therapy may help boost or support your immune system.
Circulation Increases
One of the most important and common ways massage therapy boosts your immune system is through increased circulation. When massage therapists use kneading and other techniques to target specific areas of the body, it results in improved blood flow throughout the body's circulatory system. This increased circulation helps carry oxygen and essential nutrients to parts of the body that can often be difficult to reach with traditional medications.
For instance, a deep tissue massage can help break down scar tissue, which is often linked to decreased circulation and thus hampered immunity. Similarly, Swedish massage techniques are known to improve the flow of lymphatic fluid in the body, helping rid it of any toxins that have built up, again improving overall immunity.
Reduction Of Stress
Another vital way massage therapy boosts immunity is by providing stress relief. Stress can have a hugely detrimental impact on our bodies, affecting our sleep cycles, mental health and so much more. This in turn can weaken our immune systems, making us more susceptible to illness and disease.
By reducing the amount of stress we're under through massage therapy, we give our immune systems an important boost. Massage therapy has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol and other hormones linked to stress, enabling our bodies to better tackle any threats that come their way.
Lymphatic System Filtration
The pressure and touch of massage therapy can also help to increase the activity of the body's lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is responsible for filtering out toxins from our bodies, and massage therapy helps stimulate it into better action. This improved action helps rid the body of any excess waste or toxins more quickly, improving overall immunity.
This can be particularly beneficial for people who have issues like fluid retention or lymphedema, which can lead to the build-up of toxins in the body and a weakened immune system. Massage therapy can help reduce the amount of fluid that's retained and thus has huge implications for immunity.
Digestive System Impact
Another key way massage therapy can boost the body's immunity is through improved digestion. Massage therapy works to relax the muscles in the digestive system, which can help provide relief for conditions like indigestion, IBS and more. It also helps move food through the digestive system much more quickly, ensuring that we're getting all of the essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy.
Traditional Swedish massage, for instance, can be particularly beneficial for those with digestive problems, as the kneading motions it uses help to stimulate digestion and push food through the system.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
If you're not aware of it already, the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming and soothing the body. When massage therapy activates this system, our bodies experience a deep state of relaxation which can help boost immunity as well.
This relaxation response helps reduce levels of cortisol in the body and even lowers blood pressure, both of which have huge implications for improving overall immunity. Massage therapy can also help to reduce fatigue and allow the body to recover more quickly, which again helps our immune systems remain strong.
Overall, there are numerous ways in which massage therapy can boost or support your immune system. From increased circulation to digestive system impact and from reduction of stress to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, massage therapy can help you stay healthy and strong. So make sure to schedule regular massage sessions to keep your immune system in top shape!
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we offer a wide range of massage therapy and float therapy services for numerous needs, including boosting your immunity. Contact us today to find out more about this or any of our other programs in Lehi or Orem.
Anxiety and stress are extremely common issues for people around the world, and many who experience them in significant ways are often looking for treatments and solutions that will help limit their negative symptoms. Among several great options available to you here, massage therapy is highly worth considering and may provide some major value.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we provide numerous massage therapy techniques to clients around Lehi and Orem, along with float therapy solutions - with relaxation and escapes from stress and anxiety serving as top benefits for many of our patients. Let's look at how stress and anxiety often present themselves, both physically and mentally, and how massage therapy often helps with these effects and can be highly beneficial here.
Physical Impact of Anxiety and Stress
There are a few key impacts of stress and anxiety on the body physically, and most of these fall within what's known as the "fight-or-flight" response. This term refers to a set of physical changes that take place when we perceive danger, and these generally involve increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, faster breathing rates and more. All of these elements are designed to help us handle the situation - fight or flee - but they're not always beneficial in the long term.
As this happens, the body produces more of several hormones and chemicals, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause physical tension in various parts of the body. This tension is often felt in the neck and shoulders, but it may also be present in other areas. Besides this, there are other physical effects that can occur on a wide range of levels.
Mental Effects of Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety is a mental issue that can present itself in numerous ways, but some common ones include difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability and more. People often experience both physical and mental fatigue as well due to their stress levels being heightened.
In many cases, these two sets of symptoms tend to "feed" one another, and the physical tension caused by stress may actually increase one's mental state of mind in a negative way.
Massage Therapy for Stress and Anxiety Relief
When it comes to massage therapy, this treatment is designed specifically to target the physical effects of stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on one's mental state as well. By loosening the tight, tense muscles in the body - especially around the neck and shoulders - massage therapy can help reduce some of these physical symptoms of stress, or at least make them less pronounced.
Additionally, massage therapy can be a great way to relax and simply take some time away from your worries and focus on you. This is an important factor in treating anxiety and stress, as it helps people to clear their minds and reset themselves.
Common Massage Techniques Utilized for Anxiety and Stress
There are several massage techniques that may be highly beneficial if you're dealing with stress and anxiety, including:
- Deep tissue massage: By focusing on the deeper layers of muscles, this technique can help to release chronic tension in several areas. It allows for deeper work and targeting of tight muscle fibers as well.
- Swedish massage: This is a more relaxing type of massage that focuses on using light to moderate pressure to help the body relax, while also loosening up muscles in the body.
- Sports Massage: This technique helps target larger areas of tension and tightness within the body, such as those caused by sports activities. It also uses a combination of stretching, massage and other techniques to help one's body reset itself.
- Trigger Point Therapy: This technique focuses on targeting specific points in the body that are often connected with muscle tension, allowing for a more targeted approach to helping these areas.
- Reflexology: This massage technique focuses on the feet and hands, which may both be affected by stress and anxiety. It uses certain pressure points in these areas to help reduce muscle tension as well as other symptoms of stress.
- Prenatal massage: For women who are pregnant and dealing with stress, this massage technique can help to reduce both physical and mental tension in various areas of the body.
Overall, massage therapy is an excellent option for those who are looking for a way to target both the physical and mental effects of stress and anxiety. Not only does it provide instant relaxation, but it also helps to target the deeper issues that may be causing these symptoms. It's important to find a massage therapist who is experienced and certified in order to maximize the results of massage therapy for stress and anxiety relief.
For more here, or to learn about any of our massage therapy or float therapy services for clients around Orem and Lehi, speak to our team at Body Balance Massage and Float today.
Many people are well aware that massage therapy can have a positive impact on numerous systems within our bodies, and a great example here is the heart. Heart health is connected to many other systems and areas of the body, and massage therapy helps with several of these in ways that are often highly beneficial for overall heart health themes.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're proud to offer a wide range of massage therapy techniques to clients in Lehi and Orem, from Swedish massage to trigger point therapy, sports massage and many others. Let's look at some of the broad benefits of using massage for those who want to maintain quality heart health, plus some of the more common massage techniques that may provide these benefits.
Boosting Circulation
Circulation is a huge part of overall heart health, playing a role in everything from oxygenated blood flow to the delivery of nutrients and hormones. Massage therapy can have a direct, positive impact on circulation thanks to the relaxation response it creates, which helps open up vessels and other channels responsible for carrying these substances throughout the body.
This is enormously beneficial to many patients - circulation is a common problem that can result from things like stress, poor diet, or even injuries. Massage helps reset these channels and allows the body to re-establish its natural rhythms.
Reducing Stress Levels
The relaxation response mentioned above can benefit heart health in another key way - reducing stress levels. High levels of stress have been linked to many conditions that affect heart health, from high blood pressure to coronary artery disease. Massage provides an excellent way to de-stress, with all the changes in circulation and hormones that come along with it.
In addition, many of our massage therapy options also provide a sense of emotional well-being that can be beneficial for anyone struggling with anxiety or depression - two conditions which may have significant impacts on heart health as well.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Another key facet of heart health is maintaining healthy levels of blood pressure. Massage can help lower both systolic and diastolic readings, especially when targeting areas of the body that are responsible for regulating these measurements. Techniques such as Swedish massage or trigger point therapy have been known to be particularly effective in this regard.
Slowing Heart Rate
Down related lines, massage can also help slow down a person's heart rate when needed. This can be especially beneficial if the patient is dealing with hypertension or other conditions that cause an elevated pulse, as a slower heart rate can lead to lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular function overall.
In addition, slowing the heart rate means that the body has more time to relax between beats, allowing the body's natural healing and relaxation processes to kick in. This can further contribute to improved heart health over time.
Common Techniques That Benefit Heart Health
While this isn't meant as an exhaustive list, here are a few of the techniques that tend to be most effective in bringing these benefits to patients:
- Swedish massage: As one of the most popular massage techniques, Swedish massage is designed to relax the muscles and reduce tension in the body. It can help with blood pressure regulation and often provides a sense of emotional well-being as well.
- Trigger point therapy: This technique involves targeting specific areas on the body where muscle knots may be present. By focusing on these problem areas and helping them release, trigger point therapy can provide relief and improved range of motion.
- Deep tissue massage: Another popular technique, deep tissue massage is designed to target the deeper muscles in the body and provide relief from tightness and soreness. This can help with circulation issues, as well as providing a sense of relaxation and physical rejuvenation.
- Sports massage: Aimed at athletes or anyone engaging in regular physical activity, sports massage helps prepare the body for exercise and helps the body recover afterward. It can also help with circulation and reducing tension in the muscles.
Massage Alone Does Not Guarantee Heart Health
It's important that we're clear when it comes to massage therapy and its relationship to heart health - while massage can certainly be beneficial, it should never be seen as a replacement for other medical treatments or approaches. Massage is best used in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise routine, and any other treatments that may be recommended by your doctor.
Ultimately, massage can provide some excellent benefits when it comes to improving heart health - however, it's important to remember that any medical decisions should always be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. Doing so can help ensure that you get the best possible outcomes and stay healthy for years to come.
For more here, or to learn about any of our massage therapy or float therapy solutions for clients in Lehi, Orem and nearby areas, speak to our team at Body Balance Massage and Float today.