Up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, as well as physical and emotional exhaustion. Massage therapy has an amazing effect on your body’s nervous system. When massage therapy activates your body’s parasympathetic nervous system, it counteracts your body’s negative response to stress, relaxing muscle tension and allowing your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to return to normal. Massage therapy also helps you become more aware of your body and your unconsciously held tension. As you become more aware of your body, you will begin to recognize tension as it builds during the day so that you can consciously release it before it can have a negative effect on your body.
Contracted muscles can press on or pinch your nerves causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Massage therapy relaxes these contracted muscles to relieve the compression on your nerves. Sensory receptors in the skin and muscles “wake up” bringing new awareness to areas that have felt “cut off” by chronic tension patterns.
Tension caused by everyday stress can emotionally drain you, robbing you of the patience and stamina you need just to cope with day-to-day life as well as disrupting your sleep leaving you tired and irritable. Massage therapy relaxes your tense muscles and calms your nervous system, causing your body’s rhythm to slow down. As your body slows down, your blood pressure lowers, your heart rate settles, and your breath becomes deeper and more rhythmic, priming you for a perfect night’s sleep.