12/02/2023
Well said Kate! I love reading your posts!
Embarrassed when your belly makes loud gurgling noises during a massage? Don't be: it's a good sign... 🤯
Clients are always apologising to me for the noises that start emanating from their tummies during a treatment but, for me, it's music to my ears 🎵
The reasons are complex but I'll try to keep it simple...🥸
Digestion is governed by your autonomic nervous system, a network of nerves that automatically regulate the essential body functions required to keep you alive.
Other autonomic functions include:
👉 heart rate
👉 breathing
👉 body temperature
👉 blood pressure, and
👉 the function of your internal organs.
With your survival in mind, the autonomic nervous system operates in one of two states:
1️⃣ 'Fight or flight' - a state of high alert that primes your body's systems for emergency action in the face of danger. In this state, your sympathetic nervous system is activated, flooding your body with stress hormones, insulin, cortisol and adrenalin. Your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure increase. Digestion slows down to divert energy to other parts of your body.
2️⃣ 'Rest and digest' - a state of relaxation in which your parasympathetic nervous system is activated. This increases production of feel-good endorphins, seratonin and dopamine, which have the effect of lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, reducing stress, relaxing your muscles and allowing digestion of your food.
In theory, these two states should work in harmony to create 'homeostasis', a healthy balance that keeps us safe. However, in practice, modern life stresses mean many of us exist in a state of 'fight or flight' high alert for sustained periods, subjecting our bodies to unhealthily high levels of stress hormones. This can lead to a wide range of physiological issues and persistent pain 😕
And that's where massage can play a helpful role 🙌
Whilst long-held views that massage increases blood circulation, drains lymph and gets rid of 'knots' have been discredited due to lack of supporting evidence, massage can most definitely reduce feelings of stress.
During a massage, nerve receptors in the skin and tissues respond to carefully applied touch and pressure, sending messages to your brain to notify it that all is well in the world. This activates the 'rest and digest' parasympathetic nervous system, allowing for deep relaxation - and tummy-gurgling digestion 😉.
What's more, the resulting boost of endorphins can significantly reduce pain sensation. And with less pain, you feel better and can move more freely 😊
So when your tummy starts gurgling during a treatment, please don't apologise. I take that as a likely sign that your parasympathetic nervous system is activated which, for me, is just one indication that I'm doing my job well 👌
If you're feeling stressed or suffering with persistent pain, why not give soft tissue therapy a try? Contact me at:
kate@phyzz.co.uk
