7 Reasons to Treat Yourself to a Massage

Read on to find out why, then go book an appointment!

Spa Week - Need an excuse to get a massage? October 20-26 is Spa Week. That means $50 treatments at select spas around the country. So now you can get that fancy facial you've been hearing all your friends and co-workers rave about without the guilt of dishing out the extra dough. Book your appointment now. (Photo: Ruslan Dashinsky/Getty Images)

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Lay It Down - Raise your hand if you adore a nice, long massage. But if you’re like most women, you only schedule them as a treat, reserved for birthdays and vacations. Well, stop that. Massages — particularly Swedish massages with moderate pressure — are so good for you that they should be integrated into your beauty and health routine ASAP. Read on to find out why, and then go book an appointment! By Kenrya Rankin Naasel  (Photo: Ruslan Dashinsky/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Ruslan Dashinsky/Getty Images

Lower Blood Pressure - In a Swedish study, women with slightly elevated blood pressure saw a drop in their numbers with just three 10-minute massages a week. If you have pre-hypertension, or if high blood pressure runs in your family, drafting Bae to knead your back could be just what the doctor ordered.  (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

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Lower Blood Pressure - In a Swedish study, women with slightly elevated blood pressure saw a drop in their numbers with just three 10-minute massages a week. If you have pre-hypertension, or if high blood pressure runs in your family, drafting Bae to knead your back could be just what the doctor ordered.  (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

Sharpen Your Brain - Need to be in top form for an interview or test? Research shows that people who have massages enjoy increased mental clarity and agility right after.  (Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)

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Sharpen Your Brain - Need to be in top form for an interview or test? Research shows that people who have massages enjoy increased mental clarity and agility right after.  (Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Erase Anxiety - They don’t just feel good: Rubdowns have been proven to reduce the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and bump up levels of serotonin and dopamine, resulting in a calmer, more buoyant you.  (Photo: Flint/Corbis)

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Erase Anxiety - They don’t just feel good: Rubdowns have been proven to reduce the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and bump up levels of serotonin and dopamine, resulting in a calmer, more buoyant you.  (Photo: Flint/Corbis)

Start With Your Comforter - Switching up your bedding is an easy way to begin updating your bedroom. And nowadays, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on duvet covers or comforters. You can go to Ikea, Marshall’s, Home Goods and other discount stores and find something amazing for an amazing price. (Photo: BDLM/cultura/Corbis)

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Improves Sleep - Having a massage can help you fall asleep faster and help you get better quality sleep, too, because it increases the time you spend in the restorative stage of slumber. It works even better if the therapist uses lavender oil.  (Photo: BDLM/cultura/Corbis)

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Don’t Rub Your Eyes - This can be especially tricky during allergy season, but rubbing your eyes can cause wrinkles and break the teeny capillaries just under the skin, which results in dark circles. Hands off: Lack of sleep can lead to dryness, and if your eyes are itchy, OTC antihistamine eye drops might help. (Photo: Geri Lavrov / Getty Images)

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Relieves Headaches - Have tension headaches? Getting a pro massage has been linked to relief in as little as one session. (Photo: Geri Lavrov / Getty Images)

Alleviate Chronic Pain - Massage has been proven to help those with long-term back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and even nerve pain function to feel better, and allows sufferers to take less pain medication.  (Photo: Terry Vine/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Alleviate Chronic Pain - Massage has been proven to help those with long-term back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and even nerve pain function to feel better, and allows sufferers to take less pain medication.  (Photo: Terry Vine/Blend Images/Corbis)

Action! - Did you know that you can actually reduce your breast cancer risk? Read on to find out specific things you can do to save your girls — and your life. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Silke Woweries/Corbis)

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Strengthen Your Immune System - Massages boost the number of T cells — tumor and virus fighting white blood cells — for everyone, from premature infants to women battling breast cancer.  (Photo: Silke Woweries/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Silke Woweries/Corbis