Relaxation
Relaxation is a process that decreases the wear and tear of life’s challenges on your mind and body. Herbert Benson, MD from Harvard Medical School has studied the effects of stress over decades. He has concluded that at least 10-15 minutes of meditation a day has a beneficial effect on the body as 8 hours of restful sleep. The human body needs relaxation to rejuvenate and restore the body to optimum function and health. Blood pressure decreases, anxiety improves, depression lessens as the relaxation response is employed daily. As an alternative to harmful medications, relaxation is freely available to the client. Modalities such as massage, Healing Touch and craniosacral therapy also enhance the relaxation response and may be incorporated into a wellness schedule.
Stress reduction refers to those techniques and modalities that assist the body and mind to relax and remove muscle tension and worry associated with everyday living. Unrelieved stress can contribute to physical disease as well as anxiety and depression. Many individuals attempt to cope with stress by eating too much, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or by other means in response to stress. Stress not only manifests in our mental coping abilities and makes us feel uncomfortable, confused and anxious; stress also can cause physical problems such as adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, and other more chronic conditions.
The importance of managing stress and alleviating the effects on our physical and emotional health are necessary if we desire to stay in good health. Therapeutic massages, Healing Touch, Craniosacral therapy are all modalities designed to assist the body/mind in stress relief.
