Yes, you read that right. You SHOULD treat yourself to a massage, and you should have NO shame doing it! Don't let anyone make you feel bad for buying an ungenerously priced gift (minimum of $50, but the good ones are pushing $100) on yourself. The haters are simply jealous that they will not be reaping all of the benefits that you will after you have had hot stones on your back for 30 minutes or small fists repeatedly punching your shoulders. Studies from The Better Health Channel have shown that massages are an effective relief for a variety of physical, mental, and physiological conditions.

The most obvious benefits of a massage appear to be physical. Popular among athletes and active people, massages are the go-to cure for sore muscles and misaligned joints. Massages help alleviate soft tissue injuries while reducing muscle tension and even improving skin tone due to increased blood circulation. Apart from tending to sore muscles, massages can actually aid in building flexibility and expanding joint mobility. Maybe you'll finally be able to touch your toes for once! Lastly, massages are a fantastic relief for chronic back pain due to targeted pressure points that ease and relieve both sharp sensations and duller pain.

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Now that it is 2020 and mental health and well-being issues have finally entered the conversation, I am glad to share that massages are also quite beneficial to a person's psyche as well! Feeling nervous? Get a massage. Anxious? Treat yourself. Stressed? Do it. Now, I know that a massage doesn't magically make anxiety vanish into thin air; massages, however, are scientifically proven to reduce an individual's anxious and stressed feelings. Also notable are massage's effects on insomnia. As the chair of the insomnia committee, I can personally vouch for this one. Massages induce a state of relaxation on the body, and when received close to bedtime, these magical back-rubs can aid in the falling and staying asleep.

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Some of the most shocking benefits from massages actually come from a physiological and neurological standpoint. The feeling of relaxation during a massage is derived from the immediate release of endorphins inducing a state of calmness and safety. This release goes hand in hand with the reduction of negative hormones. Cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline all decrease as each minute of the massage passes. Moreover, these hormonal changes help regulate high blood pressure and can even manage symptoms of certain chronic diseases. What more evidence do you need??!

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To garner all of these irresistible benefits, you are solely required to take a single action: relax. Even though you probably already wanted a massage, here are some proven reasons to justify your desire. Happy massaging!