ontheedgeofeverything

Up until recently, I have never been someone who has had the privilege of healthcare benefits. Blaine was kind enough to list me as his sole beneficiary at his work long before we were ever actually even engaged, and because of this, I’ve been using Blaine’s benefits for a couple of years now.

It has been a hell of an experience, let me tell you. The shift that occurs when one goes from not having any benefits whatsoever to having exceptional ones is tremendous, and I am taking full advantage of Blaine’s benefits whenever I can.

I deal with a lot of inflammation and joint pain courtesy of Lyme disease, and Blaine mentioned to me a while ago how I should consider trying massage therapy, which his benefits conveniently cover. I’ve had, I think, two massages in my life, and both were wonderful, so Blaine’s prompt encouraged me to think on the matter, and because I was curious about the benefits that come from long-term massage therapy, I wanted to share my findings with all of you. This information comes from betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

“One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins – the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing.

“Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol and norepinephrine, are also reduced. Studies indicate that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system.

“Some of the physical benefits of massage and myotherapy include:

• reduced muscle tension
• improved circulation
• stimulation of the lymphatic system
• reduction of stress hormones
• relaxation
• increased joint mobility and flexibility
• improved skin tone
• improved recovery of soft tissue injuries
• heightened mental alertness
• reduced anxiety and depression.

“Research indicates that massage and myotherapy are effective in managing:

• subacute/chronic low back pain
• delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
• anxiety
• stress
• soft tissue injuries
• high blood pressure
• insomnia.

“They can also be effectively used to support people with:

• a chronic disease
• a life threatening illness such as cancer,” the web page explains.

Good to know.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash