What is the difference between bodywork and massage? Massage is any technique where you rub or manipulate the skin, whereas bodywork is more of a broad term, incorporating a lot of different modalities like stretching, acupressure, etc.

It's generally considered part of integrative medicine. Massage is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. If you have never tried massage, read on to learn about its many benefits.

Studies of massage benefits have found massage can: Help reduce stress. Lessen pain and muscle tightness. Increase relaxation.

The simple act of human touch has been proven to instill a feeling of well-being in patients. In one massage study, the level of the stress hormone cortisol dropped by 31 percent while feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin increased by roughly 30 percent following a massage.