You probably think of a massage as an occasional indulgence that leaves you refreshed and revived. But the power of touch goes beyond just making you feel good. Massage is real medicine, and just a few minutes of pressing can trigger a cascade of health benefits.
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“Moderate stimulation of the skin’s pressure receptors slows your heart rate and blood pressure, and it alters levels of body chemicals that change your physiology and improve well-being,” says Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. If you don’t have the funds to book time with a pro or can’t convince your partner to play masseuse, self-massage works just as well in many cases, says Field. Take us up on these 10 reasons to treat yourself tonight.