When holiday stress and winter aches and pains hit at the same time, it can feel like a freight train. Massage can help relieve stiffness and soreness to get you back on track. Local therapists help you choose what will help you most.
Winter just hits different in Wisconsin. More precisely, it hits like a Mack truck.
December's average high temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit in Cottage Grove. And the solstice - the official beginning of winter - doesn't even happen until December 21.
You can't change your weather, or the to-do list of things you need to accomplish before Christmas break. But you can help your body combat the stresses of the season. The massage therapists at A Better Body in Cottage Grove explain why this time of year hits so hard and how massage can help.
The time of year traditionally known as the best is also one of the most demanding. While winter holidays are enjoyable, they can also be draining, with extra aches and pains from extra standing, walking, cooking, shopping, and decorating. Late nights and less-than-healthy food often factor in, too.
Wisconsin's cold weather can exacerbate these aches and pains. Colder temperatures mean many fluids thicken and have a harder time circulating. The synovial fluids that lubricate our joints are no exception, according to the doctors at the Irving Medical Center at Columbia University. We also tend to spend less time in traditional exercise at this time of year, so when we do get moving, our bodies take notice. Finally, we tend to hold ourselves more stiffly when we're cold, settling into less-than-usual postures. This trifecta can leave our joints feeling less than jolly.
Massage is a healthy, substance-free answer to the demands of the holiday season, according to the doctors at Irving Medical Center. Massage helps to relax your muscles, counteracting nerve pressure and inflammation. It can also help improve elasticity, improving your range of motion and making muscle function more effective.
And massage benefits your mental health, too. Kneading your muscles removes and flushes toxins from your body and strengthens your immune system. Massage increases serotonin and dopamine levels, helping you relax and release your mental load. Serotonin also aids in melatonin production, the hormone that helps regulate sleep patterns. Individuals often report sleeping better and waking up feeling rested after a massage.
When it comes to massage, there are no wrong answers, but different types address a variety of physical concerns, the experts at A Better Body explain:
We tend to spend much of the holiday season showing our care and concern for others. But you can't pour from an empty cup. Self-care is just as important, and a massage is an investment in yourself and your ability to care for others.
