A long time ago, in this galaxy, I was a licensed massage therapist. So when I started seeing some articles about massage for weight loss, let’s just say I was intrigued. As much as I like feeling accomplished after a workout and as much as I like taking care of my body, I’m always looking for the most efficient way to do anything. So if I can get fit by just lying there, count me in.
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Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. You can’t just get a massage and watch the pounds melt away. However, there are weight loss benefits to getting massages. First of all, anything you do to take care of your body makes you more aware of your body. You start to appreciate it for what it can do. Better body image is always a good thing.
That sounds all well and good, but you might be thinking that it’s not a real benefit. So here’s one that you might like more. Getting massages, especially if you get more than the standard Swedish massage, can help you exercise better.
That’s because your muscles might be tight to the point that stretching doesn’t help. Maybe you’ve got issues with edema. There are modalities of massage that can help with both of those issues, as well as other issues you might be having.
Those issues might include, for example, chronic pain. Obviously, it’s hard to exercise regularly, especially to lose weight, if you hurt most of the time. Trained massage therapists can assist in relieving that pain.
And speaking of relief, regular massage can do wonders for stress. Stress, as we should all know by now, contributes to weight gain and even makes it difficult to lose weight. One of the best things you can do, if you’re trying to lose weight, is find ways to alleviate stress.
Those are just some of the benefits of massage. So while a massage won’t make you magically lose weight, it can be a big boon to your weight loss journey.
