Better Living wants to promote the benefits of massage therapy throughout Toronto, and for good reason. Massage therapy is beneficial for a number of conditions that large percentages of the Canadian population suffer from:

• 16% of women and 11% of men within Canada will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives.
• 10% of the residents of Canada suffer from some form of anxiety.
• It is estimated that more than 3 million people in Canada are plagued with insomnia.

Therapeutic massages can help with each of these conditions, and many others. At Better Living, we also offer a number of other treatments geared to help you achieve health and wellness in your everyday life.

The Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy consists of different types of manipulation of the muscles, skin, ligaments, and tendons within the body. Generally, this is done with the massage therapist’s hands, though there are types of massage that utilize the feet, elbows, forearms, or even other massage tools in order to achieve the right firmness.

While massage is generally included in the category of alternative medicine, it is often provided alongside traditional medicine, along with various other effective wellness treatments for a number of different conditions. The history of massage is impressive, spanning back thousands of years, and in that time, it has been used for relief of discomfort associated with many different disorders.

One of the key groups to benefit from massage therapy are people involved in sports. Even skilled athletes can end up straining muscles, straining joints and tendons, or getting injured on or off the field. Furthermore, excessive physical activity can lead to muscle soreness in general. Massage can help with all of these conditions by relaxing muscles and eliminating tension, as well as restoring healthy blood flow to the affected area.

People who suffer from back pain often find massage particularly helpful. Massage has helped some people reduce their reliance on painkillers for back pain by up to 36%, which is a better rate than therapies that include acupuncture and spinal modification.

Massage has also helped victims of cancer when offered in conjunction with traditional medicine. Individuals with cancer often suffer from fatigue, pain, depression, and swelling, all of which can be alleviated with the right kind of massage therapy.

The way that therapeutic massage helps individuals suffering from anxiety and depression involves its impact on cortisol, a stress hormone. People who were suffering from depression and received massages experienced a reduction in cortisol of as much as 50%.

Aside from the direct benefits of massage, there are also indirect benefits to consider. Many people obtain scalp and facial massages, which have health benefits but can also lead to a difference in appearance. They report that their skin tends to glow just a bit more, and that the massage can lead to a restoration of a youthful appearance.

How to Find a Massage Therapist

While massage is largely beneficial, it can involve some risk if you do not have the right massage therapist. Having a trained professional conduct your massage reduces the risk of complications like bleeding, nerve damage, and paralysis. While these risks are minimal, they are important for you to consider as you contemplate your various wellness treatments, so that you can find a qualified masseuse.

A qualified massage therapist will have appropriate training, which you can ask about when you book an appointment. It is also acceptable to inquire about experience and licensing to ensure the massage therapist is skilled in the kind of massage you want to receive. It can be helpful to use health stores like Better Living as a resource; we have massage therapists on staff who can help you and offer you the services you require to relieve stress and anxiety and live a healthier life.

Do you currently go to see a massage therapist? What has been the biggest benefit of getting massages for you? Share with us in the comments!

Other Wellness Treatments – Ion Cleanse

Aside from massage, there are other therapies you can consider in your quest to relieve stress and lead a healthier life. For example, an ion cleanse can do wonders to restore balance to your body and detoxify you.

These foot baths are effective for stimulating healing and causing your body to let go of various toxins, like heavy metals, that your body may have absorbed. This is evident by the gradual changing of the color of the salt water as the electric current passes through the water and your body, draining the lymphatic system. Some of the substances that have been found following a detoxifying session using an ion cleanse have included copper, antimony, arsenic, uranium, and lead.

These types of cleanses not only help with stress relief, but can also help your body better absorb nutrients, restoring your energy and health and even assisting you with your weight loss goals. They can also help you become more flexible, relaxing your muscles so that you can stretch more effectively. These cleanses work via the generation of ions that are both positively and negatively charged. These ions then go in and neutralize similarly charged particles in your body and draw them out.

Whatever is causing an imbalance in your life, we at Better Living can help. We assist people throughout the Greater Toronto Area with achieving their health and lifestyle goals. Our skilled therapists are on staff to help you at any time. We also offer a number of other wellness therapies, such as aromatherapy and reflexology massage. Let us do your part to help you eliminate stress in your life and to take your first steps into a healthier way of living.