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A Body You Like Better
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HANDS ON HEALING: A Body You Like Better By Katherine Griffin When women escape for a sybaritic spa weekend, massage is one of the most popular treatments they seek. The oil softens the skin, and the massage therapists soothing touch makes them feel like someone is paying close attention to every inch of their bodies. Research confirms that massage helps women feel good about their bodies-even those so at war with their physical selves that they try starving themselves into shape. A study of young women with anorexia and bulimia showed that their body images, as measured by a standard questionnaire, improved significantly after they got twice-weekly massages for five weeks. They also had less anxiety and depression. Field doesn't have a ready scientific explanation for why that happened. But she suspects that getting a massage was one of the few times these women experienced their bodies as a source of pleasure. During the massage, instead of focusing on what they looked like to others, they had to lie quietly and pay attention to the sensations created by the therapist's hands. For women who don't have eating disorders but who may not always be happy with their bodies, massage can also awaken dormant feelings of pleasure and relaxation. "The basic thing is that massage makes you feel better," Field says. "It makes you more aware of your body. |
Massage Therapy and Healing Arts Center & Day Spa |
2100 Padre Blvd. Suite 3
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