6 Ways to Get the Benefits of Massage Therapy (at Home)

You know those mini-quizzes on social media that ask if you could have one service for free for the rest of your life? The options usually include a gourmet chef, live-in housecleaner, or massage therapy daily.
It’s hard to choose (even in fantasy world), but personally I’d always pick the massage!
We often have a lot of stress as mothers, and since massage therapy has many health benefits, it’s a match made in relaxation heaven… except for the time and money!
Thankfully there are great ways to get massage therapy benefits at home.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has many benefits besides the obvious one of relaxation. It is now often suggested by doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors for various reasons (along with other therapies such as cupping and acupuncture).
Massage can range from light pressure to deep tissue (a lot of pressure) and there are many types of massage, including:
Swedish– A gentle massage that uses gentle, long strokes. Mainly focused on relaxation and tension relief.
Deep Tissue– Uses slower strokes and more pressure to reach deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.
Sports– A style that often uses a combination of different techniques to help relieve sports strain or injury.
Trigger Point– A focused type massage often used for relief of tension from overuse or injury.
No matter the type, massage can help:Relax Muscles
Massage provides external physical pressure to muscles and helps remove tension. This is the most common reason people get a massage.
Improve Flexibility & Reduce Injury
The pressure and stretching of the muscles can help improve their ability to stretch. Athletes often get a regular massage to help increase flexibility and reduce the chance of injury (and to help rehab from injury).
Increase Immunity
Though less well-known, massage may also increase immune function by stimulating lymph flow in the body. This helps promote a strong immune system.
Shorten Hospital Stays
A study found that women who received regular prenatal massage had shorter hospital stays when they delivered their babies. The reason is not completely clear, but researchers suspect that it is the affects of increased relaxation and blood flow.
Improve Sleep
A number of studies have shown that massage has a positive effect on sleep. This is likely because of its affect on delta waves, the ones most connected to deep sleep.