Sleep Easy: How Massage Can Reduce Sleep Deprivation

It can be incredibly exhilarating to wake in the morning and feel fully refreshed and ready for the day ahead, but it can also be incredibly frustrating to wake from a full night’s sleep and still feel exhausted.  Some individuals may only experience sleep deprivation on a very rare occasion, while others suffer through it more regularly.  Those who do constantly battle sleep deprivation may try to counter feelings of exhaustion by going to bed earlier and can be confused and irritated when this still fails to achieve the desired effects, especially when one desires to lead an active lifestyle.  The truth is that it may not be the total amount of time one spends sleeping, but rather how deeply they sleep that makes the difference.  If you wake several times during the night and have trouble falling back to sleep, this can markedly affect how rested you feel the following morning.  Fortunately, if you suffer from sleep difficulties, massage may be able to help.

The Importance of Quality Sleep

Getting quality sleep in an ideal quantity every day is vital for a healthy body.  It’s a time for the body to completely relax and recharge itself, which then allows the individual to function at optimal levels the following day.  Individuals who fail to get the proper amount of quality sleep on a regular basis can actually experience extensive health and other issues as a result.  They often have great difficulty performing cognitive tasks and may even suffer physical issues such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.  Some studies have even indicated that individuals who consistently get less sleep have shorter lifespans than individuals who consistently get sufficient sleep.

The Benefits of Massage

Massage can work to relax the muscles of the body deeply enough so that an individual is better able to fall and stay asleep.  Studies have indicated that massage can increase the serotonin levels in the body, which in turn increases melatonin levels and helps the body reset its circadian rhythms.  Even individuals who have experienced specific sleep issues, like sleep apnea, have often noticed an improvement in their ability to sleep well and awake feeling rested when they receive massage therapy on a regular basis.  With the wide variety of massage techniques available, an individual can select the specific massage service that works best to address their personal needs and will help their body achieve a more relaxed and restful state.

Love,

Gen