Relaxing massage for treating stress
It has been estimated that stress is the cause of 75% of
diseases. Symptoms of stress include: churning stomach, racing heart,
diarrhea, and constipation, loss of appetite, insomnia, sweating, and
headache. In the medium term those symptoms left untreated may cause chest
pains, allergies, persistent insomnia, high blood pressure, ulcers, asthma,
abdominal pains, and migraines. In the long term constant stress is known to
cause heart disease, strokes, cancer and angina.
Stress in itself cannot be cured because treats to our
well-being will always exist. However, it is not the threat but the way it
is perceived and responded. If stress is managed is no longer damaging.
How can massage help?
When the body is stressed it must work harder to remain balanced. Hence, stressed people tend to overuse relaxation methods such as drinking and smoking in order to stay calm. However, too much alcohol or nicotine will have an adverse effect on the body in long run. Whereas massage can help induce deep relaxation and remove the tension without damaging the body. It is easy to forget what deep relaxation feels like and many clients are unaware how much tension they hold in their body. When the body is relaxed problems seem less daunting so the client will not feel as threatened and stressed which will prevent tension building up.
How massage treats stress and its effects?
- It is a treatment that relies on touches one of the most neglected senses. The touch sustained through massage can boost self-esteem and comfort the lonely and bereaved
- It boosts the immune system, stimulates the circulation and the lymphatic system, increases energy levels and induces calm in body and mind
- It releases endorphins, the pain relieving happy hormones
- It slows the body down encourages deeper breathing, lowers heart rate and switches digestion back on