How is massage like stretching?

Massage is a form of stretching. To be precise, massage is a more precise form of stretching. It’s not the show-offy kind you find in an advanced yoga class. Massage is subtle. When you press a muscle you stretch it. You compress the exact part of your muscle that needs to be stretched. This kind of stretch is often referred to as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, or just plain massage. But a more accurate name for it would be precision stretching because that’s what you’re doing, you’re compressing a precise spot on a muscle and stretching it to release a trigger point, a knot, or an endorphin cocktail.