13/01/2024
As awareness for mental health increases, the stigma has fallen away about seeking help, and awareness is also increasing about the benefits of exercise, nutrition, mindfulness and self-care.
But what a lot of people don’t realise is how much Stretch Therapy and a General Massage can do to help their mental health.
How can stretch therapy and general massage help alleviate depression and anxiety?
A study in a Psychological Bulletin showed significant findings and below are some of the ways that assisted stretching and general massage can help.
1. CALM DOWN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM Massage has been proven to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body and regulate your body’s “fight or flight” response. This leads to a calming of the nervous system and can relieve feelings of anxiety or being on edge. Massage also regulates your body, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate and reducing feelings of stress.
2. RELEASE TENSION IN YOUR BODY Emotions and stress are stored in the body as tightness, tension and restriction. When we have unexpressed emotions such as anger, frustration or sadness, they can hold in the body. Notice how your shoulders and neck get tight after a stressful day at work, or how anger can make your jaw clench and give you a headache. Assisted Stretching Therapy and a General Massage can help you to release these pent-up emotions by easing the tension in your muscles and body. This allows your body to move more freely and your mind to feel more at ease.
3. IMPROVE YOUR MOOD Massage, coupled with an assisted muscle stretching session, increases levels of the “feel-good” hormones dopamine and serotonin and also releases endorphins, resulting in a feeling of calm and increased positive thoughts and feelings. According to research, massage therapy is able to reduce negative mind states like anxiety, depression and anger as well as the stress hormones associated with them. The nurturing experience of stretching and massage elevates your positive mind state and provides a sense of comfort and wellbeing.
4. INCREASE MINDFULNESS Assisted Stretching Therapy and General Massage allows you to slow down and bring yourself back to the present moment. It helps to calm your thoughts and move your awareness back into the sensations of your body. Being mindful and focused on your body and the present moment allows worries and concerns to lessen or dissolve. An Assisted Stretching and General Massage session encourages a stronger mind-body connection which allows you to be more in tune with your body and to more easily notice its signals for rest, sleep, food and nourishment.
5. IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP Massage promotes better sleep by releasing tension and stress from your body and helping to regulate your hormones. Having a more restful sleep at night allows your body and mind to recharge and rejuvenate. As you sleep, your body is able to repair itself and to ensure healthy brain function and physical health. It also allows your mind to process and integrate any challenging experiences you have had during the day. If you need further help with your sleep we can assist you through a Sleep & Recovery Coach.
6. PRIORITISE YOU An Assisted Stretching and General Massage session is a way of prioritising YOUR needs as important and letting yourself have the self-care that you need. Many of us spend a lot of our time attending to the needs of others or focused on our obligations. Even a 1/2hr Assisted Stretching and General Massage session a week to focus on you and your own wellbeing can have powerful positive effects.
7. BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM Regular massages and stretching are one of many healthy lifestyle choices you can make. It has been proven that these therapies increases the number of white blood cells in the body, which are the agents of the immune system. Massage also decreases cortisol, the stress hormone, which has the power to weaken the immune system. This means that a general massage is able to both boost the capability of the immune system to fight disease and heal the body, while also reducing the hormones that can potentially weaken it.
ASSISTED STRETCHING AND MASSAGE THERAPY CAN HELP YOU FEEL GREAT AND LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Incorporating assisted stretching and general massage therapy into your daily and weekly routine is an effective and valuable tool for improving your mental health and the quality of your life.
You may not notice some benefits as quickly as others, and that’s okay, but what we’re sure about is that you’ll start feeling great sooner than you think.
If you’d like to bring assisted stretching and general massage therapy into your own life, contact us to make an appointment. We also do home sessions so you feel more comfortable, relaxed and is more convenient to you.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, further information and help can be found at beyondblue.org.au
Please Note: Male Therapist Available Only
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Ashik Naidoo - Mindset Coach
