-Incresases flexibility in joints and muscles

      -Increases circulation of blood and lymph

      -Reduces blood pressure

      -Provides relief from muscle tension, pain, and stiffness

      -Enhances performance in most physical activities

      -Enhances and speeds recovery from injuries

      -Helps reduce stress and anxiety

      -Enhances capacity for clear thought

      -Helps maintain optimal health

      -Promotes feeling of well-being

      -Helps insomnia

      -Helps relieve pain and decrease occurance of headaches and migraines

      -Increases alertness and awareness

the consequences of stress

experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of disease is stress related! massage helps to combat the effects of stress by helping us remember what it means to relax. besides increasing relaxation and decreasing anxiety, massage lowers blood pressure, increases circulation, improves recovery from injury, helps you to sleep better and can increase your concentration. it reduces fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.
your body's immune system helps you fight off infections and illness, and it helps you recover from injuries. when you are under stress, the immune system may not always work the way it should.
research among different groups of people in stressful situations has shown that massage can increase the immune system's cytotoxic capacity (the activity level of the body's natural "killer cells")....the result is an immune system that is working better.