By Gabrielle Chevalier

Massage Envy Spa at Hamilton Place owner Brooke Goodyear knows the importance of therapeutic massage firsthand.

Thirteen years ago, Goodyear was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia — a chronic pain condition which impacts muscles and joints. Since then, therapeutic massage has improved her quality of life so much that she and her husband opened a business to make it available to others.

"I personally needed that form of therapy, and there weren't places that offered it for me at a price that fit," she says.

Now, Goodyear wants her business to help the five contestants participating in the Erlanger Live Fit Challenge, noting that therapeutic sports massage is an important part of whole body care.

"It helps promote better circulation in the body, relieves sore muscles and reduces stress," she says. "These are important factors in weight loss and overall health."

Goodyear is offering free massages to each contestant, and the challenge's winner will receive a Wellness Program membership, which includes both therapeutic massages and facials.

"We do encourage people who are very physically active to have two-to-three massages per month," she says. "And to drink tons of water afterward, which helps flush the lactic acid that builds up in the body when you're muscle training."

In addition to bringing relief to sore muscles, massage provides an opportunity to de-stress and loosen tendons and stiff muscles, which can help prevent injury, Goodyear says. And, relaxing through massage reduces high hormone levels associated with stress, allowing for better sleep.

According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep-related issues which can be associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and more.

"Many other studies show also that regular sleep helps you lose weight," Goodyear says. "Basically, it helps decrease the cortisol [stress hormone] levels in the body which help you lose weight faster and more efficiently."

Goodyear stressed the need for total body care, and said incorporating time to devote to relaxation and recuperation is important.

"I think the big thing is taking time for yourself," she says. "A lot of people get so wrapped up in exercising, taking care of their family and everything else, and they don't take that hour for themselves to wind down and relax and de-stress to recuperate muscles."

Link: http://www.massageenvy.com/regions/TN/Chattanooga.aspx