04/19/2024
Since starting the Massage Program a couple years ago and through my limited experience at the school's practicum clinic, in-class practice, and through various outreach locations, I have noticed a connection between mental stress and how it affects the physical body and vice versa.
Sometimes living in a prolonged state of stress/burnout/depression etc. can manifest in the body as physical symptoms. Even more so for those who do not have a solid or consistent support network and lack the resources to cope. No human is meant to live in a prolonged state of overwhelm and isolation.
When our nervous system is in a constant, prolonged state of "fight" (aka heightened sympathetic nervous system firing) it can show up in the body as pain & discomfort. Other ways our body presents distress: Mood swings (interpersonal relationships, family, coping); Digestions & appetite issues (not receiving sufficient nutrients); Poor sleep (excessive sleep or deprivation, poor sleep quality, recovery); Body waste elimination issues (urination, cramping, diarrhea, constipation); hormone regulation (menstrual cycles, libido, metabolism); cognitive function (focus, comprehension, memory, info processing), and it can have an impact on our immune system (recovery, healing, fighting infection, etc.). The list goes on and on...
Inadequate rest and recovery impacts our body's ability to maintain it's overall wellness and homeostasis. There are a number of case studies suggesting regular massage treatments as an effective way to help decrease the body's state of "fight or flight" - by activating the body's state of "rest & digest" (aka increasing parasympathetic nervous system firing). Personally, the moment I feel heard, supported, and nurtured through therapeutic touch, my ability to process my own depression and anxiety, would greatly improve, and my once "unbearable" body pain would almost disappear.
Of course... as much as I would love for you to book with me, I hope that whoever this resonates with, will practice more grace with themselves and take the next steps in finding relief for yourself. Because you deserve it. 🙏🏽