Professional Skin Care
Let’s begin with a simple question: why wouldn’t you get a massage? When you weigh the health benefits, there aren’t many good reasons. Maybe you feel guilty, or think they’re too expensive or take too much time. With deadlines, meetings, errands and an endless to‑do list, massages can feel like an indulgence you can’t justify. But are they just a treat, or do they offer real health benefits?
A Treat and a Treatment
Massages do feel wonderful, but they’re more than just a feel‑good moment. People have used therapeutic touch for thousands of years. As Brian Goodwin, International Trainer for Eminence Organic Skin Care, notes, therapeutic massage began about 4,500 years ago and has grown to include techniques like facial lifting massage, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and Swedish massage.
Five Health Benefits of Massage
How does massage help our body and mind? Here are five ways:
1. It boosts the immune system. Research from Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center found that massage can raise white blood cell counts, strengthening the body’s defense against illness.
2. It may reduce inflammation and help healing. Chronic inflammation contributes to many health problems. Massage seems to lower some of the signals that cause inflammation and may help cells produce more energy, supporting recovery, says Dr. Mark A. Tarnopolsky.
3. It eases anxiety. Massage can lower the stress hormone cortisol and raise feel‑good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Boldijarre Koronczay, President of Eminence Organic Skin Care, says the goal of massage is to release tension throughout the body.
4. It helps you sleep and feel more alert. The National Institutes of Health reports that massage can boost serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps you relax and sleep better, improving mood and overall well‑being.
5. It benefits the skin and appearance. The friction from massage helps remove dead skin cells and encourages fresh skin to surface. Massage helps creams penetrate better, supports lymph drainage, loosens tight muscles and improves blood flow to the skin—resulting in a hydrated, radiant complexion and a healthy glow.
How to Prepare for Maximum Benefit
You’ve booked your massage—here’s how to get the most from it:
– Don’t rush. Arrive with plenty of time so you’re relaxed.
– Exfoliate at home beforehand or ask for a body scrub during your treatment.
– For extra glide and hydration, choose a nourishing oil, such as Apricot Body Oil or Stone Crop Body Oil.
– Add a body wrap, like the Stone Crop Restorative Body Wrap, to boost hydration and renewal from head to toe.
– Drink plenty of water before and after your session.
Few things make you feel as happy and healthy as a good massage. Use our Spa Locator to find an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you. Which Eminence Organics body product finishes off a relaxing massage for you? Tell us in the comments or share on social media.