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The Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Kelly Moore • 1 October 2022

At Rejuvenate Within, we offer a range of massage therapies- you can read more about what's on offer here. But have you ever wondered why we utilise massage, and why it helps you feel better?


The power of touch

We are hard wired to benefit from physical touch from someone else. Combine this with the context of a cosy, relaxing treatment room, and maybe some oils, and your body and mind will soon be ready to be thoroughly relaxed.


Touch can be especially beneficial when you are suffering with pain. There's a reason we instinctively apply pressure to an injury- it helps to override the nervous system and take the edge off the pain. Massage can give a similar effect in three different ways:


  1. directly overriding the way pain is processed (analgesic touch)
  2. breaking down psychological or emotional barriers to pain relief (affective touch)
  3. showing the body that pain is not warranted, and that this touch is safe (somatoperceptual touch)

Mental health benefits

There are reasons why massage has stood the test of time, featuring in all ancient civilisations and still going strong today. Massage is strongly associated with mental health benefits. These include improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as general mental health. Of course, this is no substitution for talking therapies or medication that you may need, but it can certainly complement your progress.


Some of these benefits may be associated with the simple act of having some "me time". When you're laying on the massage couch, you're not at anyone's beck and call on your phone, or overwhelmed with chores, or distracted by a knock on the door when you're mid-thought. Instead, you can let your mind wander without obligation or interruption, knowing that this allocated time is just for you. If you do well with mindfulness or meditation, it might also be an opportune time to take a moment and let your mind clear.


Muscle pain

Of course, deep tissue massage can also help to relieve muscle pain. It's a common misconception that massage is about breaking down scar tissue or other restrictions, but that's not quite right. A tight muscle is only tight because the brain tells it it needs to be, often as a protective mechanism for a perceived threat. This might be an injury nearby, or something completely different that doesn't need to be protected in any way. Another reason a muscle might become tense is that it's following the path of least resistance. For example, if you spend all day sitting at a desk, with your chest muscles shortened as your shoulders hunch forward, it makes sense for the muscle to shorten to the length required of it.


But all of these changes are controlled by the nervous system- not the muscle itself. And as mentioned above, the brain responds to massage. So when we find a tight or "knotty" muscle, working into it can send a message to the brain to stop sending those tightening signals, and allow the muscle to relax.


 You can view our massage therapies here

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Kelly Moore: Why I Do What I Do

by Kelly Moore • 1 September 2022
Kelly is the director and lead practitioner at Rejuvenate Within. What do you do and what is your background? I am both a holistic practitioner and a Dermalogica professional skin therapist. Holistic practitioner As a Holistic practitioner I use the body's natural healing abilities to treat. I use a number of therapies, such as massage therapy, reiki, reflexology, acupressure points, crystal healing, cleansing, life coaching and more. Holistic health is about caring for the whole person: it's about honouring the mind-body connection and treating the whole person providing for your physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs. The foundations are rooted in the understanding that all these aspects affect your overall health, and being unwell in one aspect affects you in others. With all of these points considered, it's also about developing a strong relationship with a doctor who is committed to getting you healthy and keeping you that way. A holistic therapist helps to empower you with the education and motivation to make good choices. Rather than suggesting a long list of lifestyle changes, they include you in the conversation and help you determine which changes would make the greatest impact on your health. They help you set wellness goals and then provide you with resources — whether that's a personalised plan or a referral to a specialist. Dermalogica professional skin therapist I am also a Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist. The qualification behind the title is recognised by The International Dermal Institute and is a step towards becoming a skin care expert. My background I’ve always been into health and fitness, and I love nature and the outdoors. From the ages of 16-18 I was a race jockey. Then between 18 and 24 I moved to the fitness industry, working my way up to a level 3 personal trainer, class co-ordinator, spin class instructor and gym coach. I started to dabble within the beauty industry, I wasn't sure why I didn't really like beauty (doing nails and waxing for example), but it led me to skin working with Dermalogica. I loved the science behind skin and helping clients meet their skin goals. Skin led me to opening my own clinic to go more away from level 2 beauty completely and focus more on private skin care. My health then changed my life again, and led me to my holistic path. This was always waiting for me, even though I didn’t know it.
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