Stress! Whether we’re moving to a new home or switching jobs, we’ve all felt it. The problem isn’t the occasional stressful day; it’s daily stressors. For Stress Awareness Month, we’ve taken a look at the effects of stress and ways for you to unwind.
Our smartphones are great, but they’ve lead to overwork and constant contact with outside stressors, like Facebook and other social media. While we don’t think of stress as overly harmful, its effects can wreak havoc on our bodies and minds. The Mayo Clinic noted that stress could cause:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Sleep Problems
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Inability to focus
- Depression
- And restlessness
Massage therapy is a proven way for stress sufferers to seek relief. The effects are so well known that the number of Americans receiving massages has spiked. In 2006, 1 in 6 Americans visited massage therapists according to a study by the American Massage Therapy Association. That number has definitely increased as more Americans seek stress relief.
But how does massage therapy actually relieve stress?
Massage therapy relieves stress through a number of ways, aside from the massage itself. Our stress relief comes from:
- The relaxing environment
- Aromatherapy
- And the healing hands of passionate practitioners
Generally, massage therapy environments are made to encourage relaxation. Low lighting paired with comforting quiet and soft music allows you to disconnect from the outside world, and your electronics, so you can unwind and truly focus on the present.
In addition to our soothing environment, Massage Heights offers Aromatherapy as an additional feature to help you relax and focus on healing.
Aromatherapy is so effective that we’ve created our own all-natural proprietary “Relax” blend, specifically designed for relaxation and stress relief. Utilizing a blend of sweet orange, lavender, and ylang ylang as active ingredients, Massage Heights’ Aromatherapy blend:
- Calms
- Relaxes over-active minds
- Provides euphoric effects
- Has anti-depressive benefits
- And anti-inflammatory effects, among others.
Then there’s the massage itself. Massage therapy has been shown to:
- Reduce your stress hormone levels by 30 percent
- And increase serotonin and dopamine levels by 28 and 21 percent
Along with rebalancing your hormones, massage therapy releases muscle tension. When you’re stressed, your muscles tighten in response, and when the stress ends, your muscles generally relax. But if you’re constantly stressed, it’s likely your muscles can stay slightly, permanently tensed. If it continues, you may experience joint aches and pains, headaches and neck pains, unless it’s resolved.
Through our massage therapists’ skilled hands, tight and painful muscle groups, like the shoulders, are loosened and relaxed. Whether your massage therapist rubs, strokes, stretches or applies pressure, our goal is to relax your muscle groups!
We all lead busy lives in an increasingly busy and stressful world. But it shouldn’t affect your physical or mental health. You’re too blessed to be stressed, stop suffering and start seeking relaxing solutions. Visit Massage Heights, schedule your next soothing massage and let us melt your stress away.
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