Massage and Meditation

In today’s fast paced society, massage and meditation techniques are being used in greater numbers than ever before. People from all walks of life are discovering the benefits of massage and meditation, not just at a day spa or meditation class but also in the workplace. Many businesses are encouraging massage and meditation for employees, especially those who are seated all day and or those with monotonous or stressful positions. Many employers organize to have a team of masseurs come to their place of business and perform seated massage on these workers. It is also interesting to learn how your meditation can be greatly enhanced by a massage before hand.

Massage and meditation have been used for thousands of years and it is thought that massage can be traced back to 400BC. Hippocrates also used massage, as did Julius Caesar. Now days, massage is used by celebrities, business people students, as well as sports people who often have a good rub down after participating in sports. In fact, people everywhere are enjoying the benefits of massage and meditation. By applying pressure and rubbing by the hands in a rhythmic fashion, massage relaxes tense muscles, helps loosen stiff joints and soothes the nervous system. Massage is used to treat stress, fatigue, back ache and insomnia. In fact, any part of the body feels better after being massaged.

Meditation helps re-balance the emotional state; it reduces stress and aids us in reflecting on what is important in our lives. In meditation, our mind is trained to work different than the way it normally does. We normally let our mind worry about things that we really have no control over. During meditation, we clear our mind of these worries and allow it focus. The stresses of everyday living often build up in our lives and it is important to take some “time out” and spend some time in quiet contemplation.  Meditation produces beneficial chemicals known as endorphins, it helps with respiratory problems, helps normalize blood pressure and reduces emotional problems such as panic attacks.

The benefits of massage and meditation cannot be overlooked. They both bring immediate results and the long term benefits increase in intensity the longer you continue. After a massage, your muscles and tendons are relaxed and with joints loosened, your mind is calmer and not focusing on tired aching limbs, so it is easy to understand how your meditation can be enhanced after a massage as you are relaxed to begin with.

Research has shown that stress is a contributing factor in many diseases. The benefits of massage and meditation cannot be underestimated in relieving the stress and helping to prevent the onset of some of these major health issues.

By Petra Kovlinksy