I became a massage therapist with the wish to work with the facilitation of healing, or easing a return to health, which itself is a broadly encompassing term.  There are of course the physiological effects of massage: increased circulation, nutrient/waste transfer, and immune system activity, as well as decreased edema, muscle tightness, and cortisol levels.  But there are also the associated emotional effects of massage: decreased stress and anxiety, increased energy, and an improved sense of well-being.   I believe that the body is always trying to return to health and that it has the means to do so.  My work is to support and encourage you and your body systems designed to achieve self-healing and well-being, whether physical or emotional.