How does Stress affect your Health by Anne Andrews As a licensed massage therapist and from my own personal
There are many ways to relieve stress: meditation, walking, being in
experience, I have seen how stress affects my own body and mind
nature, spending some quiet time reading a book, massage, or even
as well as that of my clients. Stress is universal, and it's not always
having a glass of wine. Massage can be a key component for anyone
bad. Whenever you jump to catch a badly thrown ball,
trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Research has also shown that
feel especially energetic before an important meeting, or hit the
massage can lower your heart rate, cortisol levels, blood pressure,
brakes in time to avoid a car accident, stress is doing its job.
and relax your muscles. It also increases the production of
The adrenaline boosting your heart rate and the cortisol boosting
endorphins, your body's natural "feel good" chemical. Serotonin
your blood sugar, while diverting energy away from the less
and dopamine are also released and the result is a feeling of calm
essential digestive system and immune responses, are exactly
relaxation that makes chronic or habitual as well as acute or
what prehistoric humans needed to fight or flee attackers.
short-term stress much easier to overcome.
These days, you're not likely to face the threat of being eaten.
Another way to relieve stress and tension is through a powerful
But you probably do confront multiple challenges every day, such
and effective form of therapeutic bodywork called
as meeting deadlines, paying bills and juggling childcare that make
Ortho-Bionomy.® This gentle form of bodywork supports the
your body react the same way. As a result, your body's natural
body’s own natural ability to come back into balance helping your
alarm system - the “fight or flight”- response may be stuck in the
body to move away from pain and tension towards greater ease and
on position, and that can have serious consequences for your
relaxation. This kind of gentle bodywork is easier on the body and
health. Your body does not know the difference between being
can be tolerated by people who prefer gentle pressure vs deep
confronted with a tiger or being stuck in traffic. It produces a
pressure.
similar stress response in your body. Taking care of your body should be at the top of your priorities. By When there's never any relief from daily stress, the sustained
adding therapeutic bodywork to your routine now, you'll feel, look
fight-or-flight response can cause long term problems. In fact,
and simply be healthier far into the future, improving your vitality
WebMD warns that constant stress actually becomes "distress - a
and state of mind. So what better way to prep for a long, happy life
negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms
than a relaxing therapeutic massage or Ortho-Bionomy® session?
including fatigue, headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood
Anne Andrews is a licensed massage therapist MA38362, certified Ortho-Bionomy® Practitioner and a Bones for Life® Trainer. She is ia graduate from the Florida School of Massage and has been practicing since 2003. Check out her website at www.wellnesswithanne.com
pressure, chest pain, problems sleeping, and I would add muscle tension to that list. Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases."
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