Planning for your big day can be stressful, as pre-wedding jitters take their toll. As you run down your pre wedding checklist, making sure that your i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, it’s a good idea to add one more item to your already hectic schedule: a massage.
A pre wedding massage can do you the world of good and provide a much needed break from all the planning and anxiety. During a massage session, your heart rate is lowered considerably and your brain releases ‘happy hormones’ that put you in a good mood. Many people consider massage to be a luxury, but it should actually be built in to any healthy lifestyle. Massage helps to relax the muscles, improves circulation and can aid detoxification.
You could decide to go with your partner, your wedding party, a friend or family member; however you decide to approach it, just one hour of relaxing massage will strengthen your immune system, help you recharge and more than likely provide the inspiration you need to make your day as special as it should be. At the very least, you’ll have an hour to yourself, where you can just forget about it all and relax.
Below are some more prudent reasons why a pre wedding massage is an absolute must before your big day.
Stress reliever
Are the in-laws driving you crazy? Are the contractors not returning your calls? Planning for your big day can be the ultimate test of patience; it can also cause significant psychological and physical fatigue. While there are many things you can do to stay calm and collected during the planning period, one of the most effective ways to relieve stress and promote relaxation is by taking a massage. In small amounts, stress can be useful for getting things done, but in large doses, it can be quite harmful. There are very few activities that can result in severe psychological and physical stress as when you’re planning for your wedding.
Improves sleep
There aren’t many days in a woman’s life that can pose a threat to their psychological health as the last few days before her wedding. As the big day draws closer, the sheer number of things that need doing can affect how well you sleep. Every newlywed knows the importance of catching enough sleep before the big day – not only to maintain that crucial wedding glow, but for cognitive function, improved mood and general health. Having a massage a few days before your wedding will do much to aid your circadian rhythm. Massage has been known to help improve sleep at a chemical level by increasing the delta brain waves that are connected to deep sleep, improving concentration and increasing energy levels.
Lifts mood
Different things work for different people, but sometimes, all you need is just an hour on the massage mat to lift your mood. Planning for your wedding can be overwhelming; when things appear not to be going as planned, it can have a negative effect on your mood. The truth is that a negative mood will only do more to hurt your plans than help. You could find yourself snapping at people who are only trying to help or end up making mistakes that could have been avoided. This overwhelming feeling of stress and moodiness can happen at any time while you’re planning for what should be the happiest day of your life. A good massage session will increase serotonin (the hormone responsible for regulating anxiety) and reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body, effectively putting you in a happy and healthy place.
Radiant and healthy skin
Radiant and healthy skin is another benefit of massage that might not be immediately obvious. Multiple facial massages before the wedding will help in solving the problem of ‘bad skin’, which almost every bride is worried about on the big day. This type of massage helps the lymphatic system, which is the body’s waste disposal system. It also helps to improve circulation, which brings much needed nutrient rich blood to the massaged areas, resulting in healthy skin and a fresh glow.
Reduces bloating
It wouldn’t do to feel bloated during your wedding; you’ll feel so uncomfortable that you might not be able to enjoy your special day. Thankfully, certain massage techniques can help increase the metabolism of antioxidants and nutrients. When your body metabolises faster, you can easily flush out toxins and subsequently digest food better.
This process helps to reduce bloating and any discomfort that comes from improper digestion. Massage sessions can be helpful in making you feel one hundred percent throughout your wedding day. After all, there are better things to think about – such as flower arrangements and bridesmaid dresses – than the state of your stomach.
Enjoying your massage
The importance of a pre-wedding massage cannot be overemphasised. However, you’ll also want to be able to enjoy the full massage treatment and all its associated benefits. This means speaking up if you’re in an uncomfortable position or need to visit the toilet. The most important thing is that you’re comfortable enough to enjoy your massage treatment.
Massage therapists are always interested in getting your feedback, so if the pressure is not what you want or the atmosphere unsuitable, don’t hesitate to speak up. You’re meant to pamper yourself during your pre-wedding massage so don’t feel reluctant to do so.
However, understand that massage isn’t quick fix solution; it usually takes more than one session to feel the long term benefits. It’s also a good idea to have a massage pampering session a few days before your wedding, as you’ll need the benefits to be evident if you plan to be the life and soul of the party.
So, as you plan for your wedding, make provisions for a few massage sessions. Expunge your body of those toxins and put yourself in the perfect frame of mind for your big day.
