Why do men need a massage (more than they think)…
Massage for men...
Everyone needs a massage! It can help deal with stress, improve sleep, assist in healing, provide a mood-boost and much more! Yet many more women than men book a massage!
These days though, things are changing. There is less of a stigma around men receiving a massage, as an increasing number of guys prioritise self-care and seek out the mental and physical health benefits of massage.
So if you’re a man and still wondering if massage is for you, here are 5 great reasons why you should be getting a massage – and a few words of reassurance…
Improved mental health. It’s important for our mental health that guys have time out to switch off, reconnect with ourselves and destress. Why? Because 1 in 8 men has a common mental health issue such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression – and 3 times as many men as women die from suicide in the UK. Sadly, most men are less likely to access counselling and psychological therapies than women. This is where massage can really help! The serotonin boost provided by massage can lift the blues and improve mental outlook.
Improved sports performance. Massage is a necessity for men who play physical sports. Massage not only eases the onset of muscle soreness. it can also speed healing by boosting the body’s circulatory and immune system. It can also improve your performance for competitions by relaxing your muscles – and looser muscles mean fewer injuries!
Improved sleep. About 20% of all men suffer from insomnia – an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. According to a study in Men’s Fitness magazine, “Just 45–60 minutes of relaxation massage lowered subjects’ heart rates by more than 10 beats per minute, lowering blood pressure, and promoting serotonin, the sleep hormone.”
Improved flexibility. Men are usually a lot less flexible than women – and massage increases our flexibility. Men often suffer from back and neck pain, caused by riding a desk all day or repetitive injury. A massage can ease back and neck pain — plus, it feels great.
Improved self-care and self-acceptance. Incorporating regular massage into a self-care routine can have profound effects on a man's sense of self-acceptance. Massage promotes self-care by providing dedicated time for relaxation, reflection and self-nurturing. Additionally, massage can help men become more connected to their bodies, fostering self-acceptance and body positivity. Over time, this can lead to improved self-esteem and a greater sense of overall well-being.
If the benefits to mind and body are so clear, what’s in the way for us guys? Often it comes down to a worry about feeling aroused and getting an erection. Some men avoid massage completely because they worry about this, while others can’t relax, ‘just in case’…
Gentlemen, any kind of touch to the body can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and cause this to happen! However, we take the protection of your personal modesty seriously, and in a non-sexual, therapeutic massage session, please rest assured that not only will you be wearing your underwear, this area will be draped and covered with a blanket or towel throughout the massage so any ‘developments’ will be well hidden.