Massage For Womens Health
Barbara Weinstock NCTM
908-334-7200
Stress Management
Everyone experiences stress. The stress reaction is a primitive response to any dangerous or threatening situation (like running from the proverbial saber-toothed tiger). This reaction has been essential in preserving the human species and ensuring our continued survival. The stress reaction is commonly known as the "fight-or-flight" reaction. When we are confronted by a threatening situation our thoughts trigger two branches of the central nervous system - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system initiates involuntary responses to activate the major systems of the body in preparation for "fight-or-flight". The parasympathetic nervous system is designed to relax the body after a stressful encounter.
In modern society, we experience the stress reaction on a continual basis, but physical release is usually unacceptable (we cannot run down the street every time we feel stressed out). If the body is subject to continuous stress it becomes more difficult to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. As stress responses are continuous and physical release is suppressed, the build-up of stress hormones can cause the body systems to be out of balance, and mental as well as physical exhaustion occurs. It is believed that 80% of modern diseases have stress-related causes. We may not be able to prevent stress from happening, but we can change the ways in which we cope with stress through natural healing techniques, relaxation, diet, exercise and meditation.
We begin to relax as soon as we enter the treatment room of a massage therapist that we know and trust. The mere mention of massage therapy can cause a physiological reaction in some people. Imagine being in a serene, safe environment where the only thing you are expected to do is close your eyes, breathe and receive therapeutic touch for sixty minutes. Add the comfort of a specially designed, heated massage table to an atmosphere which includes scented oils, relaxing music and soft light that is the setting for your massage therapy experience. During a treatment the nervous system is given signals that "all is well." Neurotransmitters are released to provide pleasurable sensations and to aid in the body's natural pain-killing abilities. Increased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been reputed to elevate mood and improve sleep. Stress is abated, and the body is given a chance to rest and restore itself.
Massage therapy has been used for centuries as a therapeutic means to achieve full relaxation and promote natural healing and overall wellness. My clients find it to be a very important part of their lives not just because of the “feel-good” factor.