April is Stress Awareness month! It is held every year in April to increase public awareness about both the causes and solutions.
Stress is related to many acute and chronic dis-eases. Stress is medically proven to contribute to other health issues, such as:
Insomnia
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity/Over-eating
Malnutrition/Under-eating
Migraines
Ulcers
Low libido
Chronic muscle pain
Inflammation
Allergies/Asthma/Respiratory issues
Depression
…and more!
A relaxing massage or regular massage therapy visits can take all that stress away! I do believe, especially from experience, that massage therapy is every-body’s favorite stress buster!
The benefits of massage therapy on stress
Taking a moment to go somewhere peaceful and give your body to a professional massage therapist for just one hour can improve stress levels significantly. Physical touch reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and boosts the immune system.
Positive effects massage therapy has on the body and mind for stress:
Calms the nervous system
Improves breathing
Reduces anxiety
Alleviates depression
Boosts mood
Promotes mental alertness
Decreases pain
Improves posture
Relieves pressure
Promotes quality sleep
Enhances a calm mind
The reason why massage therapy can have such profound effects in all these areas is because touch promotes the secretion of the “happy chemicals” in the body and mind. Our happy hormones include:
Oxytocin: the love hormone- gets enhanced through touch.
Endorphins: the pain killer- its what massage does!
Dopamine: the reward chemical- often increased when listening to music, and there’s always relaxing music during a massage.
Serotonin: the mood stabilizer- now left in a more relaxed and mindful state, happiness and presence is felt.
Regular massage therapy visits can increase these levels each time. Being consistent with your visits can amount to significant results! Reach out to find out more.