7 Reasons Executives Should Schedule a Massage

 

Overworked, overtired, overburdened… If you work in an executive position, chances are you just feel over it some days. Depending on the business environment, executives may be more likely to experience physical exhaustion, lack of sleep, mental health issues, and other problems that have the potential to compromise their overall health and life balance. If these issues persist, they can have long-term consequences for heart health, organ function, or physical ability. Massage and other forms of bodywork can address the concerns—physical or mental—executives are likely to face

You probably need it, whether you know it or not.

Some executives are so busy they find it difficult to even slow down long enough to take inventory of their health. It can be difficult to realize the toll a high-stress position takes on the body. A massage treatment can provide a respite from the daily grind, even for those who don’t frequently experience back pain, headaches, or insomnia. Take the opportunity to check in with yourself and notice any job-related changes or impacts to your body.

It’s an incentive to make good health decisions.

Many people who receive massage say it helps jump-start better health habits in other areas of their lives. If your body feels like it’s working better, chances are you will find ways to support it. That might mean you engage in more physical activity each week, make a change to your morning routine that helps set you up for success, or even just start flossing more. You might feel more motivated to unplug from electronics well before bedtime if your massage treatments are helping you feel more grounded. Whatever changes you make, regular massage can serve as a reminder to keep taking care of your body between sessions.

Massage is an investment in long-term good health.

Improving your physical and mental health means you are less likely to use sick days (or work while ill). You’re also more likely to be more efficient while on the job since you may be less distracted by pain, sleepiness, or general worries. As your health and productivity improves, you can expect to see changes across the board at your business. When executives experience health problems, businesses may face significant risk of financial and organizational instability. So investing in your health by getting a massage doesn’t just benefit you, it can reflect positively on your entire company.

You’ll feel less stressed and anxious.

With more authority and more responsibility comes more stress and more subjects you might worry over. Left untreated, stress and anxiety can lead to hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure, which in turn may affect blood flow to the kidneys, brain, and heart. Massage can melt away some of the day-to-day concerns and help restore calm, as well as address some of the physiological effects of ongoing stress and anxiety.

It may help address an addiction.

Addiction often co-occurs with other mental health issues. This means if executives are prone to one, they may be prone to another. Massage can be a passive way of addressing substance abuse problems and aiding the process of quitting an addiction.

It works by reintroducing the feel-good chemicals keeping a person hooked on alcohol, sex, narcotics, or another substance. During the withdrawal process, when dopamine levels are lower than ever, massage can provide a boost that helps retrain individuals not to look for that feeling from the harmful or addictive substance. It should be noted that while massage can be effective for addressing some of the facets of addiction recovery, it cannot replace psychotherapy as a way of healing from addiction.

You can afford it.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that executives in the United States make, on average, anywhere from $100,000 a year to well over $200,000. Though the value of this sum varies greatly around the U.S., and some executives may also experience greater expenses, the low end of this spectrum is still higher than the average yearly salary for working individuals in the U.S. Thus, executives may be better positioned to spend money on bodywork and other measures to protect health, when these measures are not covered by insurance.

If your company sponsors or supports health initiatives like gym memberships or regular massage appointments, you have all the more reason to take advantage of these services. Organizations that support employee health, especially at the executive level, are more likely to earn employee loyalty.

You don’t have to get a massage.

If touch therapy isn’t for you, many other types of bodywork may be more suited to your needs and comfort level. Reiki, for example, is a type of energy work that does not involve physical contact but offers benefits similar to those of massage: reduced stress, emotional balance, and relaxation.

Other bodywork modalities that have been shown to reduce stress include acupuncture, music therapy, and hypnosis. Aromatherapy has also been shown to have a positive effect on health and, specifically, job-related stress.

If you’re an executive or someone who works in management, consider reaching out to a bodywork professional to schedule an appointment. It’s never too late or too soon to take more control of your health and invest in your future wellness.

What To Do if You’re Nervous About Receiving Massage

 

If you’re new to receiving massage therapy or other types of bodywork, it may feel uncomfortable to reach out for what seems like an intimate service. Perhaps you cringe remembering “massage train” icebreakers or team building events you’ve participated in.

What you’re feeling is perfectly normal. There are many reasons someone might be hesitant about receiving massage. Your fears or concerns need not be barriers to treatment, however. If you’re considering massage or if it has been recommended to you, identifying the feelings holding you back is the first step to finding a practitioner who is right for you.

Start Gathering Information about Bodywork

Some people question the legitimacy of massage for healing purposes, since for many years massage therapy and other forms of bodywork were considered taboo, especially in the western world. Some unfortunate misconceptions still linger about massage therapy’s place in contemporary medicine, though research and extensive studies have helped dissolve that reputation and massage is now widely understood to reduce pain and improve health. The more you read about bodywork practices, the more you can understand why so many people, including medical professionals, endorse massage.

If massage has been recommended to you to treat a specific health issue, do some research to learn more about the condition and how bodywork can help. Massage is contraindicated (or discouraged) for very few, if any, health issues. In some form or another, bodywork can either work around or address any complication you might be experiencing. Heart disease, for example, makes some types of bodywork more dangerous than others, but low-impact treatments such as reiki could be ideal for someone with a heart condition.

Consider also talking to colleagues and friends who have experienced massage to hear about the treatment they received and how they went about finding a practitioner. Learning more about how massage is used today, and the many different bodywork options, can open your mind to its hundreds of applications for physical and mental well-being.

Practice Massage on Yourself

Physical touch, even when it’s consensual, restorative, and professional, can be difficult to accept. The best way to start moving past an aversion to the aspect of physical contact in massage is to explore massage tactics on your own body. Begin by being more deliberate with the time you already spend on yourself–applying lotion after a shower, stretching in the morning, or even washing your hands. Work up to giving yourself a massage, perhaps starting with a foot rub and gradually adding legs, arms, and your neck or scalp.

Use slow motions and gentle pressure, avoiding joints and tender areas such as the backs of knees or insides of elbows. Take a few extra moments to notice how your movements feel under the surface of your skin. Can you notice when a part of you isn’t completely relaxed? Do you feel differences in your muscles after massaging them? Are you aware of tension, soreness, or pain?

Using massage on yourself can help you identify which sensations are enjoyable and which might evoke more negative reactions. Allow yourself to continue performing self-massage in a way you find relaxing and comfortable, noticing your reactions to each sensation without judgment.

When you’re more comfortable with self-massage, try receiving a gentle massage from a partner, family member, or friend. It’s often convenient to exchange foot massages with someone, and while shoulder and neck areas may be more delicate, it’s relatively difficult to do any level of harm by performing a foot massage.

Ease Into It

Take your time familiarizing yourself with the concept and practical application of massage. It’s OK to still feel apprehensive about professional massage even after mental and physical preparation. Don’t force yourself–the resulting tension could compromise both healing effects and your overall enjoyment, ruining the treatment as a whole. But if you are determined to experience bodywork after learning about its numerous benefits, or if a medical professional is urging you to seek massage for a health issue, there are many ways of experiencing bodywork.

Low-impact forms of bodywork may be more appropriate, depending on your concerns. Chair massage, reflexology, acupressure, some types of Thai massage, and others are performed while the client is clothed. Dozens of bodywork modalities, such as reiki and craniosacral therapy, focus on energy work and involve little to no physical contact. All can be used to address both physical and psychological or emotional concerns.

A good bodywork professional, regardless of the specialty they practice, will be open to hearing your concerns and will respect the boundaries you state. Having a positive first experience with massage depends heavily on the communication you have with your practitioner. When you make an appointment with a therapist, don’t be afraid to mention your preferences or even the reason(s) you have been hesitant to seek massage. Your treatment will likely be better for it.

The Benefits of Massage Therapy for High-Stress Professions

 

Massage therapy, widely recognized as an effective treatment for injuries and pain, is also known to lead to improved relaxation and greater overall well-being. But massage can be applied broadly, and its benefits are not only physical. Research shows massage therapy can positively impact mental health in a number of ways.

One way massage can have a beneficial influence on emotional well-being is by helping to reduce the effects of stress. Workplace stress is one challenge most individuals cope with from time to time. While massage therapy can be helpful regardless of occupation or the type of stress experienced, some individuals, especially those in high-stress professions, may experience more stress than others.

Scientific research supports the effectiveness of massage therapy for people in the following five high-stress occupations, though its benefits are not limited to professionals in these areas.

Massage Therapy for Athletes

A primary goal of massage therapy is the treatment of muscle strain, injury, and general soreness, and massage is widely utilized by athletes as both treatment and preventative care.

One study examining the effects of massage on muscle function found massage therapy to be effective at reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness without negatively affecting muscle performance. These researchers found massage to also help reduce swelling, especially 3-4 days after exercise.

Another study found that massage treatments, when they were administered immediately after exercise, showed greater promise for restoring muscle function and lowering inflammation levels than when the massage treatments were delayed.

Massage Therapy for Models

Many fashion models and other performers get regular massage therapy sessions to soothe the stress of their profession. Stress and poor sleep can accelerate the appearance of aging, and models might often seek alternative treatments, such as massage, to help maintain emotional and physical well-being.

One research team tested massage therapy’s anti-aging effect on skin tissues, both inside and outside of the body. Ex vivo (out-of-body) skin tissues responded positively to massage treatments from a mechanical device. Researchers noted increases in essential anti-aging compounds like procollagen-1 and tropoelastin. After the ex vivo testing, researchers further examined the effects experienced by a group of 20 women who received facial massage from a mechanical device. These results were also positive.

Massage Therapy for Office Workers

People who work long hours in office environments might often have poor posture, which can put strain the musculoskeletal structure of the neck, shoulder, and back. Many of us sit down for more than half our waking hours, and this prolonged sitting can shut down nerve impulses in our legs. Sitting also turns off digestive enzymes and lowers the rate at which energy is used. A massage lasting even 20 minutes can get digestion moving again while also flushing out the legs.

One study, which focused on a group of 38 office workers who received manual therapy for shoulder pain, highlighted the ability of healing touch to reduce pain, activate neural structures, lengthen tissues, and increase range of motion.

Another study, this one following 34 female office workers, found that scalp massage reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones. Study participants who received 15- or 25-minute massage therapy sessions showed significant improvements in their levels of cortisol and norepinephrine levels (hormones related to the fight-or-flight response).

Massage Therapy for Nurses

A study following 66 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, who are some of the most stressed workers in health care environments, found massage therapy produced a significant reduction in the occupational stress they experienced. Further, massage therapy led to improved emotional well-being and quality of life in study participants.

Further research showed that massage therapy for nurses did not only lead to improvements in their own health, it also had a positive impact on their ability to provide care to patients.

Tiffany Field, director of the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Touch Research Institute, led a research team that studied the effects of massage therapy on health care professionals. According to Dr. Field, a 10-minute chair massage study with medical faculty and staff found altered brain waves in the direction of heightened relaxation and improved performance on math computations. The professionals made half the errors at twice the speed.

If massage therapy has such a profound effect on error reduction and productivity, it may be a self-care practice worth offering to all health care professionals.

Massage Therapy for Firefighters and First Responders 

Firefighters, like nurses, often work long shifts (such as 24 hours on and 48 hours off). One researcher conducting a study for the Ohio Fire Executive Program at the Forest Park Fire Department in Ohio found firefighters enjoyed reduced stress and increased well-being after receiving massage therapy treatments.

First responders who work with injured or deceased people often experience posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and some show signs of full-blown posttraumatic stress (PTSD). In the months after Norway’s two 2011 terror attacks, for example, first responders such as firefighters, police officers, and EMTs reported on their experiences and any PTSD symptoms they experienced. Over 5% of respondents found their work “extremely strainful,” and 1-2% showed signs of PTSD.

A research group at Boston’s Pathways to Complementary Medicine studied 47 first responders treated by massage therapists (including shiatsu, tui-na, and acupressure practitioners) and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers after 9/11. They pointed out the benefits of these alternative practices, when combined with standard stress treatments such as therapy or counseling, and the increasing demand for CAM services and advocated for rapid deployment of CAM professionals to treat first responders.

Does Massage Therapy Help Professionals?

Massage therapy can be of significant benefit to any professional. People from all walks of life, regardless of occupation, need stress relief. Current research shows professionals in high-performance, competitive, and traumatic workplaces may see even more positive results from massage therapy. No matter a person’s profession, massage therapy can be helpful, whether a person utilizes it regularly for physical health, relaxation, emotional well-being, or preventative care.