Let’s talk about stress… Who in the last year hasn’t felt their fair share? I know most people around me have, including myself and I am sure it extends much further afield than my little bubble.
We all know and purport that one of the most significant benefits of massage therapy is its effect on our nervous system and how chilled it can make us feel. Cortisol which is the hormone that is produced under stress is both natural and useful under the right conditions.
Did you know?
Living under chronic stress conditions weakens the immune system and is known to be a leading factor in many diseases.
However, it is not meant to be the prevailing hormone over extended periods of time. It is important that we can fluctuate between our parasympathetic and sympathetic systems throughout the day. Living under chronic stress conditions weakens the immune system and is known to be a leading factor in many diseases.When the body is flooded with cortisol it increases blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate. The evidence has shown that the effects of massage therapy significantly reduce physiological measures of stress and help our bodies to reset, encouraging a healthier environment.
A massage helps us to relax, causing us to feel a sense of well-being which will increase the feel-good chemicals: endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, which in turn helps to decrease cortisol.
Jon Kabat-Zinn says – you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. Most of the time we can’t change the stressful events happening around us, but we can change our reactions and refuse to let the negative energy build up and overwhelm us. Getting a regular massage is one way we can all learn to surf!
