Why is good circulation so important?
50-70% of our bodies is fluid. Blood nourishes each tiny cell as it transports plasma, nutrients, and hormones around the body, and it carries away metabolic waste. Poor circulation will result in the pooling of fluid in and around tissues, leading to muscle fatigue and achiness due to a build-up of lactic acid. Good circulation brings healing and vitality to the tissues. As blood flows, it is cleaned, tested for harmful pathogens, and restocked with nutrients by the body. When it stagnates, it becomes toxic, and needs to be moved along. Think of the difference between a running stream and a stagnant pond.
Circulatory and Lymphatic systems
We have two systems within the body to manage circulation – the circulatory system, and the lymphatic system. The circulatory system is the one we’re all familiar with. Veins, arteries, capillaries, all controlled by a brilliant pump – the heart. If the heart stops pumping, the body quickly dies, and massage can do nothing about it. When we talk about massage aiding circulation, we’re actually referring mostly to the lymphatic system.
Although the lymphatic system also transports blood via blood vessels similar to veins, arteries, and capillaries, it does not have that wonderful heart to pump it. Fluid is moved through the lymphatic system by muscle movement and deep breathing. This is, obviously, less efficient and less dependable than a heart. Also, as busy as we may be, few of us are in active muscle-pumping jobs all day. Our lymphatic movement and drainage is often not quite up to speed, and the body suffers. Feeling tired? Feeling achy? Feeling less than 100%? It’s quite probable that you need some assistance with that fluid. You need to encourage that “old blood” along, flush it out of your tissues, get it cleaned (by the lymph nodes) and back into proper circulation.
How can massage help?
The pressure applied during massage pushes the stagnant fluid through the tissues, picks it up from the spaces between tissues, and brings it back into circulation. You might sometimes hear this referred to as “toxin release.” When massage pressure is released, new blood is instantly drawn to the area, nourishing and healing. All forms of massage will use some sort of pressure and release technique, manually pumping and promoting good circulation. This means freer body movement and relief from aches and pains.
