hat is massage therapy?
Massage therapy means many things to many people.
To some, it might mean the kick off to a great vacation. To others it might mean helping the body heal after an injury.
To the therapist, it means facilitating a person through a stress. Be it emotional stress, or physical stress.
Tight muscles, past injuries, compromised ligaments, scar tissue, sleep disruption, promotion at work and a new baby are only a handful of ways stress creeps into our everyday lives.
We all have it. But what can we do about it?
At work and at home, stress is at an all-time high. Job instability, long hours, increasing responsibility and unrealistic deadlines can cause serious problems for workers.
On the home front, going through a divorce, caring for children, aging parents or dealing with a life-threatening illness are common situations that put people under intense stress.
Research has increasingly confirmed the crucial role stress can play in causing and aggravating different disorders.
Hives- an immune response to an emotional stress or physical allergen.
Fibromyalgia- widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
Irritable bowel syndrome- IBS often occurs hand in hand with anxiety and stress. Most people with IBS find that their signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during periods of increased stress, such as finals week or the first weeks on a new job.
Scoliosis- A deviation in the spine where the person is viewed from the back and his/ her spine appears to have an “S” shape to it. One cause of scoliosis can be the over contracture of certain postural muscles caused by overuse or stress.
TMJ syndrome- there are many, many reasons for TMJ issues. One possible reason is tight jaw muscles which produce trigger points throughout the jaw.
Hypertension/ high blood pressure- for mild cases of hypertension, massage can help control the stress and increase general relaxation of the body.
Stress is not always synonymous with distress. Your body has a much broader definition of stress. Winning a race or election can be just stressful as losing.
To your body, stress is synonymous with change. Anything that causes a change in your life causes stress. It doesn't matter if it is a "good" change, or a "bad" change, they are both stress. When you decide to get a new puppy; that is stress. If you break your leg; that is stress. Good or bad, if it is a CHANGE in your life, it is stress as far as your body is concerned.
Even IMAGINED CHANGE is stress. If you worry that you will not have enough money to pay your bills; that is stress. If you worry that you may get fired, that is stress. If you think that you may receive a promotion at work; that is also stress.
Massage is a wonderful way to relieve some of that stress. Massage relaxes the body, calms the nerves, loosens tight muscles, and speeds recovery from injuries. It strengthens the immune system, promotes deeper sleep, and helps to clear the mind. Massage can also reduce anxiety and improve self-image.
Bottom line,
giving yourself the gift of a massage
helps you give more to your family
and your career.
