Date of publication 04/07/2017
Healthy Life Advantages of Getting an Outdoor Massage
A massage on the beach, the forest or under the stars multiply the therapy's benefits
If you are in need of complete and utter relaxation, why not kill two birds with one stone and combine getting a massage with the great outdoors? Of course, the type of outdoor setting that your massage takes place will have different effects on you, so it is very important to select the type of setting that is most suitable for your needs.
The most obvious benefits of massage are increased circulation, increased flexibility and a feeling of well-being, but depending on where your massage takes place, you can reach even greater heights of rejuvenation. Spending time in nature has been linked to improving both short and long term attention spans, boosts in serotonin (the neurotransmitter that is responsible for us feeling good) and shows increased activity in the parts of the brain responsible for empathy, emotional stability, and love.
Another benefit of getting a massage in a natural environment is an increased level of fresh oxygen to the cells also allows you to release airborne toxins from your body. The amount of serotonin your body has is hugely affected by the amount of oxygen you inhale. Serotonin can significantly lighten your mood and promote a sense of happiness and well-being.
Get a Massage in a Forest
Spending time in forests has been linked to boosting your immune system, lower blood pressure, increased energy levels and improved sleep. According to a study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the effect of bare skin contact on a natural surface (dirt, sand, grass, etc.) can also have an intense anti-inflammatory and energizing effect on the body. The theory states that because the earth is negatively charged and has a greater negative charge than your body, we therefore absorb earth’s electrons.
Find a massage in an open-air treatment pavilion that is overlooking greenery. Perhaps you can also think about having a pre or post massage meditation session surrounded by the lushness of the trees.
Get a Massage Under the Stars
Rejuvenate with a relaxing massage under the celestial night. Opt to gaze at the stars under the night sky and bask in the gentle moonlight. When you’re watching the stars, the world suddenly seems still. You feel calm, lose the sense of the passage of time and you’ll feel incredibly connected to the stars despite realizing that we’re no more than a tiny speck of dust in this gigantic universe. If you’re lucky you might get to see a shooting star and make a wish!
You can experience a midnight massage under the stars that takes place in an outdoor garden under a luminous starry sky where you can soak in the splendor of the stars. The massage ends at midnight, in just time for a new day and new start for body, mind and spirit.
Get a Massage during Sunrise or Sunset
Having a massage during sunrise or sunset can also be incredibly beneficial. Being “attuned” to the natural beauty of sunsets can improve a person’s emotional wellbeing, according to a study from the University of California at Berkley.
A similar study by the same researcher, Jia Wei Zhang, found that those same emotions that improve your personal wellbeing were also found to cause people to be more generous.
Sun-gazing is an ancient method of healing. The sun is able to recharge you. Composed of ultraviolet light that the body needs for optimum health, the sun stimulates the production of melanin as well as stimulating metabolism, (especially metabolism of minerals). In humans, Vitamin D changes to calcium in the body which encourages the production of endorphins, the hormone that causes happiness and satisfaction which prevents depression.
Sunlight is also good for the nervous system, lowers blood pressure and can reduce anxiety. It is a known fact in Scandinavian countries that reduced sunlight causes nervousness, depression, and other health issues. Even a single exposure significantly lowers blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure and taking Vitamin D pills does not guarantee enough of a dosage.
Sunlight has very similar to the effects of exercise and has a great effect on stamina, fitness, muscular development and even the immune system. It increases oxygen content in human blood and enhances the body's capacity to deliver oxygen to the tissues. The white blood cells, which increase with sun exposure, play a major role in defending the body against infections.
Sunlight can also cure depression. The noon sunshine can deliver 100,000 lux compared to the 150-600 lux that one would get from artificial lights. Sunlight deprivation can cause a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression. It is more common in winter months, but also common in people who work long hours in office buildings.
Soak in the Sounds of your Natural Environment
In additional to the psychological effects of looking at natural beauty, the sounds of nature are incredibly healing to the human body. Nature sounds help alleviate sleep problems and are regenerative. “Nature sounds can have a restorative effect on our cognitive abilities,” claims Dr. Jonas Braasch, a musicologist and researcher studying the effects of nature sounds on the human body at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Get a massage next to a waterfall, listening to the natural sounds of the water rather than a recording. Another option is to get a massage on the beach and listen the sounds of the ocean, the scents of the ocean air mingling with natural oils and the calming breeze.
Let the Blues and Greens Calm You
Looking at colors of the great outdoors can also have a positive impact on your health. A color that suggests peace, blue, is the color of the calm sea and the clear sky, both of which are linked to clarity and inner serenity. Sky blue is the most calming shade of blue that helps a person relax. Sky blue is also a color that inspires safety and serenity. Physiological effects of the color blue include lowering heart rate and encouraging deeper breathing, which makes it a wonderful color for meditation or relaxation. Light blue is also the color most linked to creativity.
Green, being in the center of the color spectrum, it is the color of balance - a more important concept than many people realize. Green indicates the presence of water and of a successful harvest, so on a primitive level, we are reassured by the color green.
Green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, of renewal and rebirth. It renews and restores depleted energy. Green is an emotionally positive color, giving us the ability to nurture ourselves and others unconditionally.
Open Air Soaking
Make sure to give yourself time after your outdoor massage, to sit in a soothing soak under big blue skies or under the stars in a private outdoor pool or mineral infused soaking tub and take in all that nature has to offer for the ultimate relaxing mind and body experience.
Get a Massage on an Urban Rooftop
For those who can’t escape the big city you can get as close to nature as urbanely possible by getting a massage on a city rooftop. Let the sounds of city turn into a cacophony of music as you get drift off into your massage. Find a rooftop with a wonderful garden and a breathtaking view. Start your massage at sunset so you’ll wake up in time to bask under the city’s glowing lights.
PATRICIA SERRANO CHUNGSATHAPORN
Photography by Cordon Press
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