The Effects of Stress On Your Body
Let’s face it! Life can be stressful which can take a toll on your body and with the holidays right around the corner, the stress in our lives can become overwhelming!
How exactly does stress affect your body, you ask? Below is a graphic that I found on Pinterest, which highlights different parts of your body and how stress affects it!
There are so many ways that stress can affect your body and this graphic probably highlights some of the lesser known effects of stress.
What can you do to counteract the stress on your body? Well, because massage is my passion, I bet you know where this newsletter is headed.
Massage has so many wonderful benefits–there are too many to mention. However, let’s focus on the previous graphic and how massage helps some of those lesser known issues.
BRAIN
Although I don’t work directly on the brain, receiving massage has many benefits for your brain. Massage promotes the release of serotonin, which regulates your mood, hunger, sleep, as well as promoting a sense of well-being. Dopamine is also elevated during massage. When dopamine is released, it can have the same effect as a glass of wine or a similar “reward”.
HEART
Again, I don’t work directly on the heart, per se. However, through massage, blood can circulate more efficiently which helps your blood pressure drop and slows your heart rate. It also helps release contracted muscles which then in turn, helps with the venous blood flow towards the heart and releases the strain on the heart. It also helps improve circulation that facilitates the flow of oxygen and essential nutrients to your body. So massage can offer a non-invasive approach to allowing the body to naturally heal itself.
LUNGS
Anytime muscles around the chest are constricted and tight, it can restrict normal breathing patterns. Working the muscles around the rib cage can lead to the opening of the chest area and help with lung function.
DIGESTIVE TRACT
Massage can help increase the excretion of fluids through your kidneys and also facilitates elimination through your bowels. Massage can also reduce cramping and spasms in the digestive tract. Fun fact: Massage can also help reduce nausea.
SKIN
The skin is the largest sensory organ of the body. It comes in contact with so many things in our world. Massage can help soften dry skin, helps improve skin color and tone and also helps foster resistance to infection.
MUSCLES
Obviously, massage helps your muscles. I won’t go into too much detail because the benefits to your muscles are obvious, but here are a few.
- Decreases tension
- Increases blood flow
- Increases range of motion
- Decreases pain and so much more.
By having a massage regularly (READ: more often than every 6 months or only when you are in pain), you can help counteract the effects of stress and the toll it can take on your body.
As the holidays approach, what a wonderful gift you can give yourself or someone you love–the amazing benefits of massage while also counteracting the effects of stress.
Don’t forget that you can purchase gift certificates for massage through my website, which will be sent to you or your intended recipient within the next business day. To purchase gift certificates on my website click here. Or you can call me at (317) 372-1988 to purchase them by phone.
Now that’s a perfect way to alleviate your stress by purchasing gift certificates!