Stress! Whether it’s a Sunday driver when we’re late, an unstable wi-fi during a zoom meeting, or a cranky child that wants to leave the house in a princess costume. But the problem isn’t really the occasional stressors, because as soon as the trouble is over, we usually relax again. It’s the chronic stress factors that impact our physical and psychological well-being by causing anxiety, headache, sleep problems, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and other detrimental symptoms.
Examples of secret stressors that affect our physical, mental, and emotional health: smartphones, yes, they are great and make our life way easier, but they lead to constant contact with outside stressors, like social media, news, email – everywhere and every time. Working from home is convenient but often it negatively impacts our work-life balance. Lockdown had a huge impact on our personal relationships, a zoom call doesn’t replace a hug and a cuppa with a friend and many of us still feel still insecure about how to reach out to people again.
Massage therapy is a proven way for stress sufferers to seek relief. But how does it actually relieve stress?
Massage helps to decrease stress by lowering the heart rate. Massage increases temperature in the body and promotes relaxation. When the body relaxes, heart rate is reduced. Stress levels are relieved and the feeling of calmness and relaxation increases.
Massage reduces stress by relaxing muscles and soft tissue. When you’re stressed, your muscles tighten in response, normally they relax again as soon as the stress ends. But if someone is constantly stressed, the muscles are struggling to relax, and a constant tension can build up. And this can lead to joint aches, headaches, and neck pains, unless it’s resolved.
Massage also helps decrease stress by releasing endorphins that calm the peripheral nervous system. Massage stimulates and rebalances hormones allowing internal messages of calmness and relaxation to be send out. The release of feel-good hormones makes us content and lifts our mood.
We all lead busy lives in an increasingly busy and stressful world. But it shouldn’t affect your physical or mental health. Massage therapy can be the first step to a healthier lifestyle. I’m happy to help you with a skilled massage, adapted to your personal needs.