Everything You Need To Know About Stress Reduction Massage
Massage has been a part of humanity for thousands of years. It is believed that massage therapy was used in Ancient China in 2700 BC, it has been evolving and diversifying ever since.
Of course, part of this progression has been linked with a better understanding of the human body and how massage techniques can help. That’s why, if you visit the best massage clinics, such as this Darlinghurst massage specialist, you’ll find an array of options available.
One of these which should interest you and is worth trying is the stress reduction massage.
Understanding Stress
Stress is actually a natural response to any difficult or unknown situation. When you are not sure of what is about to happen or fear there may be a confrontation, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol.
It prepares you to either fight or run away. Originally it was an important survival tactic.
Unfortunately, the demands of modern society mean that your body is often stressed. It can be caused by a number of issues, including a meeting with the boss, a traffic accident, or even undertaking a new activity.
The real issue is when you are under stress most of the time, this is referred to as chronic stress and has been shown to be a major cause of age-related diseases and cancer. In short, being stressed all the time is likely to lower your quality of life and potentially cause you an earlier demise.
Types Of Stress Reduction Massage
There are several types of massage that can be considered to help with stress. The most popular options are:
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Swedish
Swedish massage focuses on the superficial layers of the body, it simply involves a trained masseuse manipulating your muscles and joints with the aim of relaxing tense muscles and loosening joints.
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Deep Tissue
As the name suggests, deep tissue massage tends to focus on the muscles lying deeper in your body. It is usually used to target muscles causing specific issues, such as sciatica pain. The aim is to reduce deep tension and improve posture as well as muscle movement.
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Therapeutic
Therapeutic massage concentrates on soft tissues and the manipulation of these tissues to reduce pain in the body and eliminate stress.
How Stress Reduction Massage Works
All of the above types of massage can be used independently or together to help reduce your stress levels.
However, it is important to use a qualified professional to ensure you are getting the genuine experience and no further damage is being done to your body.
The theory is that stress becomes locked into your body, causing your muscles to tighten. The greater the amount of stress the more your muscles tighten and the deeper the issue.
By manipulating the muscles, tissues, and deep tissues the knots and pockets of stress can be needled out, reducing your overall stress level. Targeting specific muscles will help with the overall go as you are likely to store stress in specific areas of your body.
In reality, a well-performed stress reduction massage will help in the following ways:
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Relax Your Body
The first thing any massage will do is relax you. This helps the stress to melt away. More importantly, the opportunity to relax will allow you to feel better mentally and more able to cope with what the day has to throw at you.
Many people overlook the importance of mental health when dealing with stress, a stress reduction massage alleviates the physical and mental issues, helping you to feel more positive and make the most of any opportunity.
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Make You Feel Good
There is no doubt that a stress reduction massage will help you to feel good. This encourages your body to release endorphins and lowers cortisol levels. That’s good in two ways as your stress level will lower while you feel great.
It’s much easier to make good decisions when you feel great.
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Escapism
Finally, your massage time will allow you to escape from the chores that you face every day. This gives you the opportunity to re-evaluate what you are trying to achieve and what is really important. A good stress reduction massage will ensure you change your approach to life and focus on what really counts.
Final Thoughts
The simple fact is that everyone faces stress every day. Although some people seem to handle it better than others, if you experience stress you will benefit from a stress reduction massage.
All you have to do is try it and you’ll feel the benefits.