At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re proud to offer our clients not only a diverse array of massage therapy services, but also several massage upgrades as well. We offer various additional areas that many find enormously beneficial during their massage session, from premium towel treatment to relaxing magnesium and many others.
One of our most popular such upgrades is the use of essential oils to create what’s broadly known as an aromatherapy massage. If you’ve never experienced one of these massages before, they come with numerous potential additional benefits on top of those you already receive. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over the basics of infusing aromas into your massage therapy session, plus some of the best and most common essential oils chosen for this process and how they might benefit you.
As anyone who has experienced one is aware, massage involves the use of the hands to manipulate the body’s soft tissue, helping with relief of muscle tension and also assisting with vital blood circulation stimulation. One of the primary physiological impacts here is the release of endorphins, or natural painkillers in the body, which is triggered by several forms of massage.
And as it turns out, aromas can have a major impact on this process. Essential oils, for instance, can penetrate the skin because they are extremely small molecules. This allows them to pass through skin layers other products would not, making their way all the way into the bloodstream and assisting with circulation.
So what kind of impact can these aromas have during a massage? The answers are detailed and varied.
The focus of an aromatherapy massage involving essential oils will be on relaxing strokes and the proper oil choice for the patient’s body and mind. These oils will either be applied directly to the patient’s skin or used as accompanying aromas (sometimes both), and they hold major relaxation and healing benefits for many individuals. Particularly for those who struggle with blood circulation and responses to chronic pain, essential oils have shown to be extremely beneficial.
Your massage therapist will have a detailed knowledge of the best essential oil types and how they’ll influence your body. Our next several sections will go over some of the different essential oil types they might consider for your aromatherapy massage.
One of the single most common and popular essential oils on the market, both for massage and numerous other purposes, is lavender oil. Known as a soothing, calming element, lavender essential oil is often used by those looking to decrease stress, promote sleep or similar areas. It’s commonly used in massage for those struggling with stress or energy levels.
For more on essential oils and their uses within massage therapy, or to learn about any of our massage or float therapy services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.