How Massage Can Reduce Stress

Stress is something that we all deal with throughout our lives. And while it is common, it can have negative effects on our bodies and minds. For this reason, it is important that you try to reduce your stress as much as possible. Luckily, there are many ways to reduce stress and help you feel your best.

At The Skin & Body Spa in Nashua, we offer a variety of massages and spa treatments that can help to reduce stress throughout your body. Treating yourself to one of our massages or spa treatments allows you to relax, clear your mind, and let go of some stress.

It has been shown that massage therapy is a proven way to relieve stress. In this blog, we are going to talk about how massage can reduce stress. Read on to learn more and schedule your massage today.

How Massage Relieves Stress

Massage therapy can be extremely beneficial for a number of reasons, but reducing stress is the most important benefit for many people. There are several ways that massage can reduce stress.

The Environment

A massage is about the entire experience and the environment is important in creating the best experience for you. While you enjoy your massage, you will be surrounded by a calming and soothing environment. Most massage environments are set up to increase and encourage relaxation, which can help to reduce stress. Low lights, soft music, and no electronic devices can help to create an environment that allows you to fully relax.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is also used to help make the environment more relaxing and help to reduce stress. Essential oils can be used to create different scents that encourage you to relax and calm your mind. The sense of smell has a strong connection to the brain, which is why we utilize aromatherapy during your massage. Different oils are known to promote relaxation and can help to relieve stress.

Physiological Effects

An article from Physio mentions that massage offers a few physiological effects that can provide stress relief. During a massage, endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine levels are increased. These are neurotransmitters that offer different benefits. Endorphins can help relieve anxiety. Serotonin can help prevent depression and boosts your sense of well-being. Dopamine can increase motivation and self-worth. A lack of these neurotransmitters can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

Massage can also help to reduce levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that causes stress, which means that when the levels of cortisol are decreased, stress is also decreased. During a massage, cortisol is replaced with positive hormones, which helps to reduce stress and boost relaxation.

The Massage

The actual massage itself can also help to reduce stress. Massage therapy targets areas of the body that hold stress and can cause pain. The actual act of massage can reduce stress hormone levels by about 30 percent. Plus, massage can also help to reduce pain. Pain can both cause stress and be caused by stress, so when it is reduced, you can experience stress relief as well. Many people notice their stress when their muscles are tense or tight. Massage helps to release those tight muscles, allowing for stress to be released.

While massages may seem like a luxury treatment that are simply used to pamper yourself, there are so many benefits to massage. One of the biggest benefits is the fact that it can help relieve stress. Stress can have an extremely negative effect on your body and mind, which makes stress relief important. If you are looking for new ways or additional ways to help you reduce stress, give massage a try! Schedule a massage at The Skin & Body Spa in Nashua and enjoy living with less stress.

 

Infographic How stress affects the body