How Massage Helps You Through Seasonal Changes

Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash

Ready or not, winter is coming, and I’m not just quoting Game of Thrones.

There are days when the air smells like cold, the tops of the trees have begun to lose their leaves, as the ones that are still clinging to the branches are fading into vibrant shades of grayish-greens, yellows, oranges, and reds. Before we know it, the air will be biting at our noses and we will be left wondering where such a strange summer disappeared to so quickly.

Winter isn’t exactly everybody’s healthiest time of the year. We crave warm, comfort foods, and the comfy caress of a pile of blankets on a cozy couch. Running outside now seems uncomfortable and somewhat daunting. The seasons beginning to change means brutally cold days are ahead, and the change in temperature alone is enough to take a swing at your immune system as well as your musculoskeletal system.

There are many ways in which massage therapy can help ease you into a new season, as well as get you through the toughest of winters.

- Massage for Allergies: If you suffer from fall allergies, a facial massage that targets sinus points can help drain some of that buildup and provide relief from the pressure of fluid buildup in the sinus cavities. Adding eucalyptus or peppermint oil can also help assist with congestion relief.

- Aches and Pains: Do you ever hear your grandpa with the bum knee predict a snowstorm because “his knee hurts”? There is a bit of truth to this. Big changes in barometric pressure, such as during the first cold week of the year, can exacerbate joint and muscle pain in the body. Massage is a great way to relieve those aches and pains and help you through the seasonal change.

- Massage helps with migraines triggered by seasonal changes. Nearly 12% of the population suffers from migraines, and many can be triggered by a change in the seasons. Massage is known to help with migraines, sometimes by easing the triggers, other times by releasing tension that builds up due to the mechanisms of the migraine itself. Either way, it’s a non-invasive treatment that, when done with the right therapist who knows their way around a headache, will leave you feeling better than when you came in.