Hello! I am Herbert Gooden and I would like to give you a brief overview of massage. You may be surprised, but massage is something we naturally do every day. Have you ever reached down and rubbed your aching feet? When we accidently bump into an object hard enough to cause pain, we instantly reach toward it, apply our hands to the injured area, and rub it. Whenever an injury occurs to our body, our natural intuition is to ease our aches and pains with our hands. Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies are defined as the application of different techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body. When we touch or are being touched, its action represents a basic instinct within us. Touch is a potent and extremely …show more content…
Massage therapy offers a number of mood-enhancing benefits because of the body’s production and regulation of neuro-hormones. Research conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami revealed that massage increases the availability of all neuro-hormones affecting brain chemistry.
Dopamine, a neuro-hormone released by the hypothalamus, is elevated when you are massaged. Dopamine influences fine motor skills like painting or playing a musical instrument. It affects intuition, inspiration, joy, and enthusiasm. Those who exhibit clumsiness and poor focus and who are easily distracted more than likely have a low dopamine level.
The increase of serotonin, a neuro-hormone activated by massage, regulates emotional behavior, suppresses irritability, and craving for food. If you have a low serotonin level, it is possible you have problems sleeping and may suffer from depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
There are other positive results that can be achieved by massage. For example, a 15-minute seated chair massage can elevate epinephrine or adrenaline levels by stimulating sympathetic nervous system. This can increase a person’s alertness. On the other hand, a deeper, slower, longer, and rhythmic massage can reduce epinephrine levels, creating a feeling of relaxation and facilitating deep