Advantages of Self-Massage

While many of the benefits self-massage offers are identical to those you would receive from a professional massage therapist, self-massage also provides a unique set of benefits. To get the most significant health benefits, clinical research shows that massage should be received at least twice a week. The cost of a professional massage twice a week puts these health benefits out of reach for most people. With self-massage, these health benefits are within everyone’s reach. In fact, they’re never farther away than your own fingertips.
Another advantage of self-massage is perfect feedback. With self-massage, the person giving the massage is the person getting the massage. So the person giving the massage gets immediate feedback on the effect of each stroke. That’s one reason self-massage may be more effective than other forms of massage. A third advantage of self-massage is immediacy. With self-massage, you receive the benefits when you most need them. No need to make an appointment with a therapist or beg a friend or loved one. Self-massage also give you an understanding of your body that can’t get from anyone else.
That said, self-massage is not intended to entirely replace other forms of massage. It won’t replace massage therapy for treating injuries or for deep tissue work. It may, however, be used in concert with a massage therapist’s guidance for treating injuries.  It also will not replace the spa massage. While self-massage can be relaxing, it will not produce the feeling of total pampering people report from a spa massage. It won’t replace the connection people feel when a friend or loved one touches them. But self-massage will give you the power to make yourself feel better anytime and anywhere you like.