1. Lose Weight

The release of toxins has a firming effect. Massages tighten skin and increase blood flow, which give you a better hair and a better complexion. This in combination with a healthy lifestyle is the recipe for success--if you look good, you will feel good. It will be sure to improve your self image.

2. Reduce Chronic Pain

Sitting at a desk for eight hours a day hunched over a computer isn't doing anyone good. Distressed shoulders, neck, and back due to chronic pain, body posture, or cramps from exercising need to be massaged to reduce pain. This noninvasive technique of applying pressure improves circulation. The benefits are just as good as medication, acupuncture, yoga, and exercise.

3. Relieves Depression and Stress

Depression is difficult to get out of. Once you get to that dark place it can be difficult to get out. Tension and anxiety associated with depression can be alleviated with a good massage. Touch boosts happy hormones, or endorphins, and decreases stress hormones, or cortisol. Massage regulates these hormones, which lifts your mood and well being.

4. Promotes Better Sleep

By decreasing tension in the body, massages release serotonin which affects your sleep. This is also shown to help encourage deep sleep, so you're getting a better nights rest. So when you're getting a rejuvenating full nights sleep, you'll have a much better day.

5. Boosts Your Immunity

The answer to your prayers is finally reality. Put the pills away and resort to a more holistic approach to a sickness. The common cold and other ailments that often strike that you can never get any relief from can be alleviated because of an increase in lymphocytes--white blood cells that fight diseases. If your immune system is strong, you're less likely to catch a cold. So take your vitamins, drink plenty of water, get a good nights rest, and regularly get massages to keep colds away.

6. Reduce Blood Pressure

Hypertension is very common in todays society. Lowering blood pressure leads to lower anxiety depression, and stress. This prevents kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes. What more reason to indulge yourself in a relaxing massage!

7. Helps Headaches and PMS

Migraines, headaches, and awful pre-menstrual symptoms are not fun to constantly deal with. Massages help soothe these pains to either ease the pain or get rid of it entirely.

Therapeutic professional massages are well worth your time and money. If you've never gotten a massage before and are unsure, try something new--you deserve to be pampered. How has massage therapy helped you? Comment below!