On the Rega

When people ask me how often they should get massage, it takes me a moment to wade through my bias. Truth be told, I'd get one once a week if I had the resources at my disposal. The benefits of a basic massage for your mind and body overwhelm the negatives. I'd describe "basic" massage as a cross between a true Swedish massage and a massage that includes therapeutic techniques, focused pressure, myofascial release, etc. Most styles of massage received for any considerable amount of time can increase blood and lymph circulation, a true boon for health. They tone down the nervous system, helping to reset it. This can help assuage anxiety and depression for instance, or increase focus and productivity on demanding projects. Obviously, massage can help relieve muscle pain and tension, but feeling that nagging pain signal suddenly lose it's volume can actually help you feel safer. It just feels good to be touched, to interrupt your day of pounding out work. Some massage techniques can actually increase muscle tone. Many stimulate your body to produce more white blood cells, others help detoxify your body. Some techniques can aid in speedy recovery from injury. Other types can even help you align your very posture with gravity. I'm getting ahead of myself though. The benefits of a good, basic massage is like having a magic health fairy cast a replenishing spell over you, helping you accomplish something good for you that you can enjoy. So massage seems like a good idea, but people put it off for a special occasion. Or they wait until things get really bad. Maybe they think they'll get more out of the massage that way? Unfortunately this is not the sweet spot of a basic massage, even a really good one. The effects of a massage don't last forever, and they're not supposed to last forever. The physiology of a good massage runs on the same or similar metabolic time table as a good work out or a couple of good meals. You can't work out once and expect to continue to get good results into the following month. Neither can you turn around a diet with a single day without wheat. Periodicity is the key to lasting results. Taken together it makes sense to approach our time on the table the same way we would approach regular work outs, or regular check ups, or regular acupuncture. I say this because most of us are stressed out, working too long hours, in too tight of spaces, exposed to too many toxins. Our time on the trail or in the gym, enjoyable as it can be, further taxes our bodies. Most of us know that we're overdue for our massage by the time we schedule it. I guess that's part of the fun? Ok, but the results can't gain momentum. Wait. Momentum? Yes. I know that massage effects don't last forever, but that doesn't mean you can't link the effects into a chain of healing goodness. I know from experience. Though I am likely never to repeat this experience, my time in massage school allowed me to have routine bodywork twice a week, and... I. Felt. Awesome. Ten years younger. Now I don't receive massage once a week, but I do get regular body work. I receive regular massage because I enjoy the regular benefits from it. See a single massage raises your health state, but massage in series within a constructive period of time can help you raise your health station. I find the cumulative effects of massage encourage me to get more. Though far from scientific, my n=1 experience is as follows. A massage a month keeps my health baseline from getting worse. I can continue to do what I do, and the stress goes away for a little bit. A massage every two weeks allows me to address health goals. Maybe I've gotten worse due to working too much, or have sustained a minor repetitive strain injury, maybe I'm trying to reset my sleep schedule (yes, massage positively influences sleep). Either way a massage every two weeks or so for about 6 weeks and I'm back in action. Once a week? I'm Bob Hope cheating death, at least for a little bit. With a weekly massage, I am working at elevating my health. Most of this is true for a even a true Swedish massage, but you can accomplish more with more sophisticated techniques. It depends on your goals and your therapist. Advanced techniques can help improve posture, restore range of motion, or even reduce a startle response. It can increase performance or lessen the pain from chronic conditions like arthritis. Now much of this is endorsed by the American Medical Association, but I'm not selling snake oil either. You can visit the Mayo Clinic here for a more mainstream take on the phenomenon http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743