We often view massage as an occasional luxury – a way to pamper ourselves on Mother’s Day or a holiday. But making massage part of our regular self-care is an essential part of good health.

According to the Mayo Clinic and John’s Hopkins, studies have proven that massage not only effectively reduces stress hormones and anxiety, it can also help control pain, relieve digestive disorders, promote sleep and speed up injury recovery. Researchers have even found that massage gives our immune system a much-needed boost. In our culture where we buzz around juggling far too much, regular massage is a much-needed way to balance and de-stress, which in turn allows our bodies to heal.