A person who is frequently under stressful influences will tend to remain locked into a pattern of stress response, unable to relax or let go. What we do notice are the aches, pains, fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, PMS, or a host of other stress-related symptoms. Massage promotes the relaxation response of the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system, sending messages to the body to relax, slow down, and take a deep breath.
Muscle tension is released, circulation is increased and sensory receptors are activated.
All of this results in greater body awareness which can help you to more carefully monitor your own body's responses and needs. Living in a more relaxed and balanced body will enable you to better handle the stresses in your life, and nothing can take you back to that state of well-being more quickly than massage. Sports Massage Clearly, many massage benefits are of special interest to athletes. Different from general full-body massage, sports massage focuses on the muscles relevant to the particular athletic activity, is shorter in time length, and usually more vigorus. Massage prior to the athletic event loosens, warms and readies the muscles for intensive use, especially when combined with stretching.