Massage and stress

Massage is a good way to relax and relieve stress, not to mention it provides several other health benefits. Stress causes muscular tension, an impaired digestive system, a high blood pressure, and reduced immune system. It gives trouble with sleep, anxiety, lack of patience and even depression.

With a good massage, tense muscles can be relaxed and loosened up. The tensions caused by stress can be reduced or even removed. Since muscular tension doesn’t only work one way, the stress itself is also treated by treating the muscles. When you are exposed to a constant pain, you become more irritable and short-tempered, lose focus and tend easier to become distracted. All these things influence your performance which again can cause stress to build. This again influences your body to become more tense and you have entered a vicious circle. The less muscular tension and pain you have, the less stress you feel.

The digestive system can be aided and brought back to normal functioning by massaging the stomach. Reflexology (reflex zone therapy) is another useful tool when dealing with digestive problems and heart issues. High blood pressure can be reduced by making a person relax completely. The immune system can be strengthened from triggering various pressure points using Shiatsu techniques. The lymph system is stimulated and helped by a massage, by emptying the lymph nodes and the lymphatic flow is encouraged through the work on the muscles and surrounding tissues.

Since it’s essential for stress management to relax completely, this is another aspect of why massage can be so useful for dealing with stress. During a massage the mind is encouraged to let go of worries and ideally the client will focus on the massage giving the brain a much needed rest. A massage can become a meditative experience with the right massage, as well as tools such as music and scents.

Since massage and the stimulations a massage provides encourages the release of endorphins, there is a clear anti-depressive treatment in a massage as well. The endorphins are natures own natural painkillers and antidepressants. Which again aids dealing with stress since depression stops action to improve upon the situation causing the stress.

Touch can have a powerful emotional impact, and a soft, gentle and caring touch can trigger the release of many built up emotions. Emotions is potentially another great stress-factor, especially when the stress is caused by life situation and past trauma. We all know how a good cry can make us feel lighter and more at ease and balanced. A good massage that releases pent up emotions can do so as well.

Getting a massage makes us feel good about ourselves and relaxed, which is needed when we effectively wish address problems that causes stress. We all deserve this treat and too often we forget to take properly care of ourselves. It can make the difference between success and failure.