Not too long ago, we introduced you to Soothe. You know, the on-demand massage app that lets you summon a skilled therapist right to your home or office with the simple push of a button?
If you thought a massages were just for pampering yourself or helping you unwind after a stressful day, think again. Soothe also offers massages that can take your fitness routine to a whole new level.
That’s right. As more people opt for a whole body approach to health and wellness, massage therapy is increasingly becoming an important part of a well-rounded exercise program.
Then again, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since professional athletes have long since relied on massage therapy to help them reach peak performance.
Have you heard about Soothe, the on-demand massage app that lets you summon a skilled therapist right to your home or office with the simple push of a button?
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, incorporating regular massage into your workout routine can have all sorts of amazing benefits that range from better performance and less pain, to injury prevention, greater focus and faster recovery time.
Check out some of the reasons you should treat yourself to a deep tissue or sports massage from Soothe after your next workout.
As we age, our joints slowly start to tighten, decreasing our flexibility and making us feel stiff. However, massage therapy that focuses on muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissues and joints can play a key role in keeping you limber.
Regularly incorporating this type of massage into your fitness regime can loosen up muscles and make joint more fluid. This helps to restore flexibility and increase range of motion. Plus, Soothe offers a sports massage that incorporates stretching and joint movement to keep your muscles and joints supple.
Yep, you’ll be touching your toes again within no time.
Muscling through a really tough workout can feel great, but intense exercise can leave you with crippling muscle soreness the next day. Don’t even get us started on the pain and suffering that ensues the morning after leg day.
If you’re looking for gains without the pain, consider getting a massage after your workout. Massage therapy can be used to combat muscle soreness by reducing inflammation and pain.
All that being said, studies have also shown that massage is a better option for reducing inflammation than anti-inflammatory medications or ice baths, since it doesn’t hinder the recovery process.
In addition to soothing achy muscles, massage therapy can also reduce your recovery time. Massage promotes healing by increasing circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to fatigued muscles, and eliminating metabolic by-products that build up in your muscles during exercise.
Studies conducted at McMaster University have also shown that deep tissue massage after an intense workout stimulates the growth of mitochondria, which play a vital role in cell function and repair.
5. Enhance Athletic Performance
Massage can give your workout a boost by improving muscle performance. In addition to helping you recover faster, new mitochondria growth stimulated by massage can also enhance athletic performance and endurance by increasing the rate of oxygen used by the muscles.
Deep tissue massage can also optimize muscle performance by eliminating tightness in the muscle fibers so they can work smoothly and efficiently.
Regular sports massage also improves blood flow to the muscle tissue, supplying the muscles with additional water, oxygen and nutrients needed to reach peak performance.
An injury can cause a major setback to your fitness goals. However, it turns out that massage can lessen your chances of getting hurt. The American Massage Therapy Association found that incorporating regular message into your routine can decrease the risk of injury when starting a new fitness plan.
Tight and fatigued muscles have a greater chance of being injured. Massage reduces post-workout muscle tension and tightness, decreases stiffness, improves range of motion and promotes muscle recovery, which can all help to prevent injuries.
When it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, your mental wellness is just as important as your physical health. After all, it’s often said that “the brain is the most important muscle in your body.” While it may not be an actual muscle, anatomically speaking, it’s still an important part of every exercise routine.
Massage therapy can promote relaxation, improve mental focus, boost endorphins, and relieve stress by reducing cortisol levels throughout the body.
Overall, massage is an important part to every well-rounded exercise plan that promotes a positive mindset and helps you be the best version of yourself, both physically and mentally.