Here we are in December, with the holidays upon us, and much of the imagery we see will evoke roaring fires and the warm smile of a friendly face. Heat is a worthwhile topic when it comes to massage because heat relaxes the body, just as cold contracts it. We are warm blooded mammals and we love a warm smile, healing hands, and a pleasant temperature for therapeutic massage. Some folks are lucky enough to live in the warmer regions of the world, and massage is often among the delicious offerings for those on vacation or staying at resorts in the tropics. Massage in an open air kiosk in the tropics must surely be like heaven. But, what about those of us who spend the winter in Michigan, or northern Maine? Keeping our bodies warm is an important part of health.
While many extol the benefits of sweating out toxins, a primary perk of heat during hot yoga sessions is that the heat lessens muscle tension, relaxing those long strands of muscle fiber and rendering the body far more flexible. The same is true of massage. In fact there is a name for this: thermotherapy. One of the first things heat does is improve circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. This can be especially useful in the case of injury. Thermotherapy is also well known to reduce arthritic pain, and soothe aching muscles. Your massage therapist may apply heat to specific areas of your body to relax tension and speed the healing process. Heat relaxes us, and while a tense, contracted body is a painful one, a relaxed body is a happy one.
Happy holiday season, and here’s to a warm and healthy winter for all of us.
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