1. Massage can help spark creative ideas. The business world is fast-paced and stressful.
Sometimes people need to stop their mind and relax in order to solve a problem and think of
a better solution. “Massage frees thoughts,” explains Yodi Richeson, a massage therapist with
iBody Sports Therapy in El Segundo, CA. “When you are so focused on something and stressed
out, you have blinders on and don’t see the whole picture. You just see what is in front of you.
Massage lets executives calm down to think clearer and get a better picture—its better than
coffee.” Richeson, who has been a massage therapist for more than 25 years, is currently the
sports therapist for the USA National Volleyball Team and also has a number of clients who
are high-level executives in the business world. She has witnessed first hand the “aha
moment,” her clients have after letting go and relaxing.
2. Massage can help reduce pain and even boost your immune system. According to the Mayo
Clinic, massage has proven to be an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle
tension. Some studies have also found that massage can help people suffering from anxiety,
headaches, digestive disorders, sports injuries, joint pain, fibromyalgia and lower back pain.
Considering how many executives sit at their desks for long hours, suffering from neck and
back pain, a therapeutic massage may be just what they need to feel better, think clearer and
be more productive. Not too mention a growing body of research now indicates that massage
can help boost your immune system. If you want to avoid taking time off for being sick and
stay healthy during cold and flu season, scheduling a weekly massage may help. Having a
massage on a regular basis increases the activity level of the body’s white blood cells that
fight viruses.
3. Massage can help increase your productivity. For the past 20 years, there have been studies
linking massage to improved brainpower and productivity. That may explain why roughly 11%
companies offered workplace massages to employees in 2015 and 3% of companies planned
to add corporate massage in the next 12 months, according to a survey by the Society for
Human Resource Management. Corporate massages typically involve having a massage
therapist come to the office and provide 15-minute or 30-minute chair massages for
employees.
4. Massage can help you sleep better. Studies have found that people who receive regular
massages spend more time in deep sleep, which is the restorative stage of the sleep cycle.
Want to avoid tossing and turning and not getting enough sleep the night before a big
presentation or a day packed with back-to-back meetings? Try scheduling a massage on the
way home from work the day before. It will help you relax, relieve work stress, reboot your
mind and sleep better, so you are ready to tackle the next day feeling completely refreshed.
5. Massage can reduce stress symptoms. Massage helps alleviate stress, but it’s more than
just the dim lights, calming music and healing touch helping the body to relax. Research
suggests that frequent massage reduces cortisol, which is a major stress hormone, and high
levels of cortisol have been linked to high blood pressure, suppressed immune system
function and obesity. And you don’t need an hour-long massage to reduce cortisol levels or
lower stress. Studies have found that even a brief 15-minute chair massage once a week can
reduce stress systems.
Richeson recommends business leaders should schedule a massage on a weekly basis or every
10 days. Some of her clients, in extremely stressful positions, schedule massages twice a
week. She says that the type of massage she provides often varies based on what the