Written by Debbie Kacic, LMT, Birth Doula, Reiki Master
With all the stress in our lives today, the one thing to focus on now more than ever is our health. We can’t afford to get sick and take time off work, or to let stress wear our bodies down. To many sufferers seek solutions that are synthetic, short lived, and don’t produce the permanent effects that we are looking for. To think clearly and stay healthy, we must make the choice to take care of ourselves.
When stress becomes a regular part of our lives it results in a decline of our health. It will cause us to be angry, unable to sleep, irritable, fearful and downright depressed. In fact, scientific studies indicate that up to 80 percent of all illnesses are due in part to stress. In a heightened state of stress our sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response, is in a constant state of arousal. It produces the hormones cortisol and adrenaline to help us cope with the stress. When faced with a truly stressful event this is helpful, but over a long period of time this every day stress response can produce chronic dysfunction in almost any system in the body. Managing stress and stopping its harmful effects are critical to our over all health.
One of the very best ways to take care of your health and reduce your stress levels is to get a massage. Massage is not a luxury item. It is a natural remedy with many important health benefits for both mental and physical well being. A regular massage can reduce anxiety, calm the nervous system, promote a sense of relaxation and emotional well being, reduce tension, increase self esteem, increase deep sleep and boost alertness. For physical well being, massage improves blood circulation, relieves muscle cramps, aids in pain management, can slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block the nervous system’s pain receptors.
From infants to teenagers, athletes to grandparents, massage offers a natural way to heal from stress and injury. Don’t wait until you’re in pain to start massage treatments. Unlock your body’s natural healing capabilities. Getting a massage will make you feel a whole lot better both mentally and physically for hours and even days to come. There are so many people who depend upon you everyday. Take care of yourself!
Debbie is a medically licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Nature’s Touch Massage and Wellness Center. For more information on massage and how it can help you please give her a call at 330-721-9357, or e-mail naturestouch4u@aol.com, or visit her website at http://www.ntwellnesscenter.com/ for information on the different types of massage and other treatments offered at Nature’s Touch.
Good post! Getting a massage can definitely help reduce stress. There are many different types of massages too for whatever is bothering you. They all promote relaxation, increase circulation and relieve tension to have you feeling nice and fresh when you leave.