Massage Therapy Reduces the Stress of Travel

By: Jillian O’Malley

 

Everyone knows the rush that comes along with traveling. Whether you travel for business or for pleasure, there i

s always plenty to take care of before, during, and after traveling. From planning and packing, to flying and driving, the toll of travel can greatly impact the physical and mental quality of your life. One way to keep the negatives of travel from catching up to you is through massage therapy.

                Whether you travel by plane, train, or automobile, sitting for extended periods of time is going to take a toll on your body physically. You will begin to feel your shoulders, neck, back, and legs tighten up. It may be difficult to make it through long hours of traveling with painful muscles screaming out for relief. If you get a massage a few days before beginning your travels (or even at the airport prior to your flight) your muscles will be loosened and will experience less tension. Having a massage before travelling will increase circulation making the tiny leg space or cramped car a little easier to manage.

                When planning a trip it is easy to find yourself overwhelmed, stressed out, and anxious. Packing and itineraries, phone calls and reservations, must do this, must do that! While it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your trip, massage therapy can greatly reduce stress levels. According to an article by The Massage Advancer, “Massage releases endorphins that calm the peripheral nervous system.” While you might be spending every waking hour before travel thinking of everything you need to buy, pack, or set-up, it would be wise to carve out an hour of time to have a massage and drive your stress levels down, which will allow you to actually enjoy the trip.

                While traveling, it is very common to find yourself feeling under the weather and run down. It is much easier to catch a virus or cold when you are in small areas with lots of people, touching objects that many others have touched, having a change in diet, and having an altered sleep schedule. While washing hands and keeping hands away from the mouth are effective ways to lessen the likelihood of getting sick, massage therapy has been proven to reduce toxins from the body. According to an article on Treatment Massage.com “When you receive massage or bodywork, cell waste (which is already in your system) gets released at a more rapid rate than normal. “ Massage therapy will aide your body in ridding the harmful toxins that may find you on your travels.

                Massage therapy after traveling also has great health benefits. When returning from your trip you may have tightness and knots where they didn’t exist before. Often times traveling includes many hours of walking, sightseeing, walking through airports, walking to meetings, etc. resulting in strained muscles. Massage therapy has been shown to aid in jet lag. According to an article on Shizuka New York,  “Reflexology targets the central nervous system and pineal gland which produces the melatonin needed for healthy sleep-wake cycles.” Let massage therapy ease you back into your regular sleep schedule.

Next time you are planning your travels, remember to schedule time for a massage. Whether the massage is before, during, or after your travels, you are benefiting in countless ways, physically and mentally.

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Travel:

• Reduces stress levels
• Reduces jet-lag
• Rids the body of toxins