As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. As the session gets underway, the daily stressors and aching muscles fade into an oblivious relief. But what if that hour of massage did more for you than just take the pressures of the day away? What if that gentle, Swedish massage helped you combat cancer?

What if bodywork helped you recover from a strained hamstring in half the time? What if your sleep, digestion, and mood all improved with massage and bodywork?

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. When you bump your head or have a sore calf, the natural response is to rub it to feel better. he same was true of our earliest ancestors. Healers around the world throughout time have instinctually and independently developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch.We now have scientific proof of the benefits of massage -- benefits ranging from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles.

Having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind -- there are specific physiological and psychological changes that occur, more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not just as luxury.