Long-stemmed roses? I’ve been there. Dinner for two? That was completed.

Treat yourself and your partner to massage therapy, a modern gift that expresses passion, nutrition and well-being like no other.

American massage therapists and spas offer exclusive discounts and sessions for Valentine’s Day 2015, making the gift of a sure touch memorable.

Massage should be at the top of your Valentine’s Day gift list for seven reasons:

1. Stress reduction

Massage helps release feel-good hormones and chemicals by calming the nervous system. Energy work, such as reiki or polarity therapy, can be included in a Valentine’s Day session to add a degree of deep relaxation to your table time.

2. Improved mood

Massage has been shown to help the body release oxytocin, a wellness hormone (also known as the love hormone) that promotes social bonds. It also increases the production of serotonin and dopamine. This could explain why couples massage is such a common Valentine’s Day gift.

Imagine lying next to each other on opposite massage tables, each receiving a relaxing contact with gently scented oils while soft music plays in the background. Whether or not you eat dinner after your session, you will both be in a more assertive and open state of being.

3. Pain relief

Massage improves a person’s overall well-being by increasing circulation, improving flexibility, and releasing knots and wrinkles from the muscles. Massage has been shown to help with chronic problems like fibromyalgia and arthritis, as well as lower back and upper back pain, neck pain, and headaches. The pain relieving properties of massage can be amplified and extended when combined with aromatherapy.

4. Self-awareness

On Valentine’s Day, singles don’t have to do without. Booking a massage session allows you to confidently declare, “I love myself.” By receiving treatment and care from the masseuse, the client can be fully present and happy. A massage session provides a deep release from daily stress and sends the message to the body: “I am taking care of you.”

5. Unroll

Massage therapy has been shown to relieve anxiety and improve feelings of well-being, making it a gift to the emotional heart. The relaxation response is “a physical state of deep rest that changes a person’s physical and emotional responses to stress,” according to an article published by the American Psychological Association, and massage therapy is an activity that affects this response.

6. Take time to take care of yourself

Massage can be relaxing, but it can also be a relaxing pleasure that transports the client to a happy place. The essential oils of rose, jasmine and sandalwood, mixed and applied to the client’s face with light touches and gentle taps, can be used in a Valentine’s session.

Facelift massage is a common trend among clients who want the youthful results of surgery or Botox without pain and toxins. For an unforgettable Valentine’s Day treat, consider a champagne rose body scrub, foot bath, chocolate-scented massage lotion, and a warmed eye pillow.

7. Cardiovascular health

Massage has been shown to reduce heart rate and have a long-term beneficial effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Massage has also been shown to help heart surgery patients relax while reducing anxiety, pain, and muscle tension. By booking or gifting a massage, you can turn your typical Valentine’s Day heart from a red greeting card cartoon to a life-supporting muscle beating inside you and your loved ones.

Chocolates are good and a romantic card is nice, but nothing beats the gift of massage therapy to say, “I really care about you and your health.” Search for “Valentine’s Massage” on Google and be prepared to receive a lot of gratitude from the person to whom you offer the gift of the healing contact. If you really wanted to get excellent massage therapy then go through Physio DNA in Oakville