While massage and yoga do offer different benefits, they share many key benefits:
Relieving stress.
When you think of massage and yoga, one of the first things to come to mind is relaxation. Stress takes a toll on your mental and physical health; both massage and yoga can result in deeper sleep, better physical and mental performance and clarity, higher energy levels, release of tension throughout the body, and an overall sense of peace.
Improving flexibility.
Massage and yoga each help increase your body’s flexibility in their own way. Yoga works gradually on increasing your stretching ability, while massage helps increase the natural lubricants in your connective tissues. Massage and yoga can both help improve your range of motion, limber up your joints, and even improve your posture.
Increasing circulation.
The movement of yoga and the massage therapist’s techniques both help move blood throughout your body more smoothly. Increased circulation means lower blood pressure, faster healing for injured muscles, and no more cold hands and feet!
The best way to incorporate both yoga and massage into your routine is to first figure out which to schedule first, based upon your overall goals.
A massage before yoga class with help warm up your muscles, allowing you to hold poses longer. Massage before yoga can also help clear your mind and allow you to fully engross yourself in the yoga class.
A massage after yoga class will help relax you even further, creating a powerful tranquility and long-lasting feeling of peace. A massage after yoga is best enjoyed when you have more leisure time, since the feeling of relaxation will carry on throughout the rest of the day.