During the winter months as cold and flu season hits, aches and pains seem to become more prevalent , dry skin appears to worsen with extremes of temperature and depression and anxiety can hit harder with the dark, cold days ahead.
Self care during this time is vital – a diet rich in seasonal nutrient dense foods- think warming soups and stews, staying active, wrapping up warm and taking time out for regular massage can all help.
Massage is beneficial to the body no matter what season it is, but can be especially so during the winter months as the temperature drops and the days become shorter.
Massage boosts the circulation, bringing fresh oxygenated blood all over the body, warming up the muscles and making the blood flow better to ease those aches and pains. Not only does massage stretch the muscles but it helps to keep your joints working correctly too.
With regular massage the immune system is given a helping hand (literally!) by stimulating your white blood cells which in turn helps fight infections around the body making it easier to fight off colds and flu during the colder months.
This time of year with the cold air outside and then the heating on indoors, it can play havoc with the skin making it feel dry and tight. During massage the oils and lotions applied can help combat this, also improving skin elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen.
And finally, with the shorter daylight hours, it can be easy to feel unmotivated or down during this time. Massage can help by releasing happy hormones – endorphins and serotonin, relaxing you to help release stress, improve mood and ease anxiety. Improving your sleep is another benefit of massage – the better we sleep the more energised we feel during the winter months.