It’s no secret that we, as humans, are overloaded on a daily basis; whether we're trying to people please, bombarded with the news, mile long to do lists, unending tasks, errands, bills, worry, etc…
Our body reacts to stress by creating a “flight or fight” response in our bodies through the hormones Adrenaline, Norepinephrine and Cortisol, but when these hormones are overused and we live in a constant “stress” state, then this causes an imbalance in the natural homeostasis of our beings, it can even lead to sickness and disease. We have come a long way from the natural order of things and our natural state; we are connected 24/7 to electronic devices that are in our ears and on our wrists, and in front of our eyes. The chimes and bells and whistlers never seem to cease, and even now we cannot go home and forget about work and just sit with ourselves for awhile, because work follows us home.
The very nature of our society throws us into overdrive, so that it actually feels weird when we have peace and quiet in our lives; often times we feel guilty when we have free time, when we sit and think about how we feel in our body and our mind.
That’s why I cringe when people say they ‘just want a relaxation massage.’ I even find myself saying it sometimes, as though Relaxation is ineffective, fluffy or a luxury that we should be ashamed to want. As far as I’m concerned, every massage should start with relaxation, and checking in with ourselves by deep breathing exercises, refocusing, and letting our mind clear itself from distraction.
Our body responds to stress by storing tension in our muscles. Aside from the physical benefits that Massage and Cupping has on the body, such as increased circulation, cell repair, removal of toxins, and reduced muscle tension, they also help tremendously with stress and anxiety by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. Relaxation techniques help our mind and body to reconnect and learn to work together again. When we relax during a massage our heart rate slows down and assists with digestion, lymphatic and blood flow, as well as increased intestinal and gland activity. I always like to start a massage on the softer side of things and once the muscles are relaxed and the client can let go and stop guarding, I can work deeper into the muscles.
I’ve found that a lot of people feel that the more force you use the better, but this can actually defeat the purpose of a massage, because its using force without allowing the muscles time to respond appropriately. When we use slow gliding techniques, static compression and deep breathing, it allows the brain time to respond to the touch and accept it. We are taught in society that ‘bigger is better’ that something is working when it is felt with force, but we throw away the benefits of being kind to ourselves, reconnecting and grounding ourselves. Sometimes the greatest healing comes when we let our guard down and are able to fully relax.
What do you do to de-stress and ground yourself in the midst of chaos?
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