The couples massage: right there next to a heart-shaped box of chocolate, a gushy card, and a bouquet of red roses, it's one of the most classic Valentine's Day gifts out there.
Any spa brochure will describe it as a relaxing, soothing, and romantic self-care experience for a couple to enjoy together, but the indulgence is actually weighted in quite a few benefits — not just for your physical and mental health, but for the health of your relationship, too. This stress-relieving state, in turn, allows for the possibility of opening up emotionally with your partner, as well as letting go of defenses you might be holding against your partner.
It's not all courtesy of the candlelight and mood music, though. Science is at play. In addition to a plethora of physical benefits, Amanda Berman, a licensed massage therapist with Zeel , says that massage promotes the release of endorphins, "the brain's happy-feel good chemicals, which aid in reducing stress, depression, and anxiety while at the same time helping us to feel more energized.
McNeil adds that when you take part in a soothing activity, the body's process of producing cortisol — the stress hormone — can be slowed or extinguished. If you plan on booking your first couples massage, Berman suggests starting with a minute session of their preferred method of massage — for example: deep tissue, Swedish, or hot stone.
The massage therapy team for a couples massage will familiarize themselves with the couple as a whole and still have an individualized treatment plan for each partner. Click here for more health and wellness stories, tips, and news.
