Rimmy Dayal, Remedial Massage Therapist at Form & Practice
As I sit here and write this post, we still have about two long months left of winter! Winter can sometimes be tough on our health – my body aches, I am tired and mentally, I am feeling a little burnt out. Whilst I eagerly look forward to spring, I am finding that my physical self seems to need a lot more self-care at this point. So, I put together this post on four reasons why a massage can help this winter.
1. Many people need more rest when it’s cold, massage can help as it gives us time to relax and reset.
You might feel the need to build in rest you are not getting due to our rigid work schedules. For many, the dark and cold winter months is a good time to catch up on sleep.
2. Your body might be more sensitive to discomfort in the winter.
When it is colder, our circulatory system changes. The cold weather causes venous and arterial constriction, blood flow is shunted to your organs and away from your limbs. While it is not an exact science, this contraction likely puts more pressure on your nervous system, making it a little more sensitive.
3. Seasonal mood changes lead to us craving comfort, like receiving a massage.
It is fairly well documented that some people’s moods are affected by summer and winter patterns. It turns out that some people are biologically more sensitive to seasonal changes, which can, in turn, change mood and behaviour. Massage is a great self-care ritual that can help boost your mood.
4. Physical activity behaviours can change based on the season.
Many people move less in the winter. While some of us love the winter and it is an excuse to strap on skis or go for a long hike, some of us just wait for the cold to pass! Poor weather often leads people into doing less physical activity and we naturally look to indoor activities as the weather gets cooler. These sorts of behaviour changes can lead us out of our ‘ideal’ mobility and add to our natural aches and pains.
If you are feeling like you need a little extra self-care this winter, we’ll be ready and waiting!