5 Ways Massage Chair Therapy Can Help in Weight Loss

Weight loss is a widely-recognized health concern and may often be addressed in various ways. Typically, a balanced diet and exercise are the most popular and likely choices when it comes to getting rid of those unwanted and extra pounds. But did you know that massage chair therapy may also help you when it comes to achieving your weight loss goals?

It’s not like you need more good reasons to book a session with a massage therapist or to purchase your own massage chair, but a massage could help in reaching your weight loss goals.
Curious? Keep reading.

Massage Therapy Reduces Stress

It is well-known that massage therapy really helps reduce stress levels. Want to know how this is related to weight loss?

You’ve probably heard it many times that binge-eating may be greatly triggered by stress. And we all know where that leads - an unhealthy diet and some more unwanted calories. Also, you know what else builds up when you are continually-stressed? Cortisol. Yes, the infamous stress hormone cortisol is responsible for weight gain and immunosuppression, among others.

So, how exactly does massage help?

Just picture this: As your body loosens up with every targeted massage stroke on your muscles, the levels of your stress hormones go down. At the same time, these lowered cortisol levels are replaced with high levels of neurotransmitters aka happy brain chemicals called serotonin and dopamine.

In short, by helping you destress, massage therapy may help curb your tendency to overeat. Similarly, after that relaxing massage session, you can make better food and lifestyle choices as elevated neurotransmitters lead you to improved well-being and a happier mind.

Massage Therapy Leads to Better Sleep

You know what else connects massage therapy to weight loss? Sleep. Who gets a good night’s sleep after getting a soothing massage? If you answered that most people do, then you’re right. This is because massage improves sleep patterns by relaxing your body’s tensed and contracted muscles. It sends a message to your brain to turn off its “fight or flight mode” and shift to the “rest and digest” state, thereby inducing better sleep.

So, how is this massage chair-improved sleep linked to weight loss? Apparently, sleep and weight loss are linked by one word - Metabolism.

Massage therapy increases metabolism

Metabolism is your body’s capacity to burn calories. The faster your metabolism, the easier it is for your body to use the calories you consume; like when you exercise to help you lose weight. On the other hand, if you have a slower metabolism, your body takes a much longer time to burn calories you take in. And that, combined with an excessive diet, can definitely result in obesity or overweight.

So, what’s the point? If you want to improve your metabolic rate (and make it work to help you lose weight), you need to make sure that you are getting enough good quality sleep because good quality sleep means faster metabolism. Going back, since massage therapy enhances the quality of your sleep, it also gets to improve your body’s metabolism, an important factor in weight loss. Want another reason to get that massage therapy right now and get into shape?

Massage Therapy Aids in Muscle Recovery

Think about how many times you have decided to start your weight loss journey by signing up for the latest fitness class only to find yourself quitting after a few weeks of trying. What gives? Whether it is because of the pain brought about by each exercise routine, concerns on muscle recovery, or even both, you might be surprised to find that massage therapy can help you stick to your fitness goals.

Intrigued? Well, consider this. Oftentimes, working out for weight loss subjects your muscles to more (or even severe) wear and tear. And if you have a goal weight in mind, or you want extra toned muscles, you might end up with injured muscles altogether. Enter massage therapy and its beneficial effect on muscle recovery. Aside from rest, massage therapy (like deep tissue chair massage, for example) has been known to improve delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

That muscular pain you feel post-workout? You can now find relief from it, many thanks to massage therapy. And when you begin to disassociate pain from your weight loss goals, you can be sure that you’ll keep going.

Need more convincing? Here’s another term for you to ponder on: range of motion (ROM). In a nutshell, range of motion or ROM involves the ability of your joints to move in certain angles as permitted by the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around it. Basically, it tells you how flexible (or not) you can be based on the conditions surrounding your joints. And how is this related to weight loss? Well, if you want to be able to do those aerobic exercise moves to shake off the extra pounds, you will need joints empowered by a good range of motion.

And the role of massage therapy is...

Massage therapy improves flexibility.

The mechanical pressure applied to the affected muscles and surrounding ligaments effectively promotes flexibility by relieving stiffness in the massaged area. And when the joints and muscles are flexible enough? You can better engage in physical activities that promote weight loss and overall fitness.