Are you feeling sluggish, tired and bloated? Rich Christmas foods and excess alcohol can leave us feeling heavy and ready for a detox in January. Whilst its beneficial to juice, eat more fruit and vegetables , exercise and sleep well, a good massage therapy session can assist your body to cleanse and feel better in winter.

How does massage help the body detox?

The rhythmic strokes and pressure applied to muscles, tissues and organs during massage help stimulate the circulatory system. It works sort of like a sponge: When pressure is applied to the tissue and fat, toxins are literally “squeezed” out from in between the muscle fibers and cells. They’re released into the circulatory system for easier elimination.

Your lymphatic system works together with your cardiovascular circulatory system to flush out toxins and carry white immune cells throughout the body to help defend against infections. If your lymph circulation gets sluggish, toxins can accumulate and immune cells may not get carried to the areas of the body where they’re needed.

Since the lymph system doesn’t have a big central pump like the heart to keep things moving, it has to rely on gravity, exercise, breathing … and massage. So if you haven’t been as good as you should about your exercise, healthy diet and “ quality me time” routine (it happens to the best of us!), that can affect how you feel, causing aches, pains and low energy.

Massage also promotes relaxation, relieves stress and increases positivity, meaning you’ll find it easier to stay motivated and on track with your health regime and wellbeing.