It’s no secret that over the last decade, social media has taken the world by storm. Nearly every day, there is a new trend to participate in, a new ‘hot item’ to buy, and a countless amount of information to digest, whether good or bad. While having the world at your fingertips is an interesting concept, sometimes it can just be too much. The things and people we see on social media have more effect on us than we may think. Specifically, consider your body image. Do you think social media has made how you view yourself worse? How can we combat body image issues in a healthy manner? Did you know that massage is a great place to start?!
How Social Media Impacts Body Image
How you think and feel about your body, as well as your attitude towards your physical self, composes your body image. Many people struggle with anxiety, disordered eating, low self-esteem, and more when it comes to how they view themselves. This can impact various aspects of someone’s life, including relationships with family, significant others, and food itself.
People, especially celebrities, tend to only post their best moments on social media. When everyday folk like you and I see their posts, it can make us feel like we aren’t what we could be. Although…these posts are edited. They aren’t even real! It’s hard to tell yourself that, though, as one study with over 1,300 people revealed that those who compared themselves to others on social media scored higher on a body dissatisfaction survey than those who do not compare themselves to others.
With general trends, we can see that body image issues affect more than 20 percent of all adults and 40 percent of teenagers on social media. While it may be hard to separate yourself from your online world, we want to introduce another way to get back in touch with yourself again and improve your body image: massage.
Find Yourself Again Through Massage
When we see these edited posts online, we are looking at someone who is pretending to be smaller, more curvy, not as wrinkled, has no acne scars, etc. This can subconsciously have quite the affect on nearly anyone’s brain, leading us to expect ourselves and those around us to model after these unrealistic traits. Having this weight on your shoulders can lead to tension build up, creating even more stress on your body.
Massage is a form of healthy touch. While some may attend therapy to help with the more mental aspects of body image, healthy touch from massage can help you feel better in ways that other therapies cannot. A massage therapist can help you connect with your body, physically and mentally. You will physically feel any built up tension melt away. Simultaneously, you’ll realize as your relationship with your massage therapist grows, that they treat you like a person, no matter what you look like. Ultimately, you don’t have to worry about unrealistic expectations from social media. Be yourself, and be the best you that you can be!
Comfort Your Mind, Body, and Soul
In a healthy massage environment, such as here at Muscle Anthropology, you will never be turned away because of your looks. If you feel self conscious, let’s talk it out. Our goal is to cater to you and make you as comfortable as possible! If you don’t want to talk during your visit, that’s okay too. If you are nervous about asking questions before your visit, check out some of our previous blog posts and you may find that your concerns are common among others!
Book a massage for yourself or a friend with us in the near future and kiss your negative body issues goodbye. We’re excited to hear from you!