Benefits to You

Did You Know? About Stress... -- Approximately 70-80% of ALL medical conditions are stress-related. -- Every week millions of people take prescription and over-the-counter medications for stress-related complaints. -- Stress affects the nervous system and EVERY other bodily system. -- Chronic stress contributes to a weaker immune system -- which means you get sick more often. -- Research tells us that negative emotions like anxiety, depression, fear, grief, doubt and worry affect your nervous system and actually cause chemical changes in the body that are detrimental to your health. -- Deep negative emotions (conscious or unconscious) and very high stress are often present in persons with cancer. -- Stress is a major factor in high blood pressure and heart disease. -- Stress can aggravate many conditions and illnesses, including headaches, migraines, heartburn, ulcers, irritable bowel, PMS, muscle pain & tension, sinus, asthma, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, nervousness, anxiety and panic attacks. -- Stress causes muscle tension which reduces blood supply to the muscles. -- Reduced blood supply to the muscles can cause frequent and painful muscle cramps, especially in the legs and feet. -- Tight and tense muscles can cause sciatica in the hips and legs. -- Tight and tense muscles reduces flexibility, movement and range of motion. -- Chronic muscle tension can cause or aggravate muscle cramps, PMS, tension headaches, neck and back pain, and a wide variety of digestive problems, including indigestion, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, constipation. -- Reflexology, massage, Reiki and other body therapies are holistic ways to promote wellness, relax, and de-stress. -- Deep relaxation benefits your immune system. From the News Chronic Stress: Feels Bad, Is Bad "Plenty of studies have suggested that stress can make you sick. Now scientists may have identified one reason why: interluken-6 (IL-6) a chemical associated with such illnesses as heart disease and some cancers. Recently Ohio State University researchers compared 119 men and women caring for spouses with dementia to others who weren't carrying the same burden. Over six years, levels of IL-6 increased four times as much in caregivers as in the other participants. Chronic stress, the study authors say, seems to age the immune system prematurely." -- "Health", October 2003, "The Power of Living Well", p. 126.	The Benefits of Massage & Reflexology... Relaxation & Stress Release Medical science now understands that most diseases are caused or aggravated by stress. When you hold stress in your body, it increases muscle tension and decreases circulation. Reflexology & Massage relieves tension and stress and helps you to relax. Help for insomnia - relaxation and stress release help promote better sleep. Helps relieve tension & sinus headaches -- may help migraine headaches Immune System Stress can lower your resistance to colds & other illnesses Stress is a major factor in auto-immune diseases like lupus & rheumatoid arthritis Reflexology & Massage relieves tension and stress and helps you to relax. Reflexology & massage will generally stimulate the liver and kidneys and other glands. Reflexology & massage help rid the body of toxins Your whole system runs more efficiently, and you feel energized! Reflex points on the feet (or hands) correspond to glands, organs and tissues in the entire body. So a Reflexology Session is like getting a whole-body massage! Helps move lymph fluid which helps to cleanse the body. A massage technique for lymph drainage can help reduce swelling in tissues and helps reduce that painful condition. Nervous System Reflexology & Massage balances the nervous system and the release of endorphins which results in a feeling of well-being. Relaxation reduces heart rate and blood pressure Increases levels of serotonin and brain chemicals to lift depression Muscles & Circulation Massage relaxes tight & sore muscles & helps keep muscles flexible. Flexible muscles can help prevent injury. Massage improves circulation & Increases blood supply to all areas of the body Enables more oxygen and nutrition to get to all cells of the body Better circulation means increased mental activity, better brain function and alertness, and better skin tone. Cold hands and feet can benefit from the increased circulation from regular massage. Massage can reduce lactic acid - which causes sore muscles after exercise. Therapeutic massage releases "muscle knots" - the toxins and cellular waste. Massage can relieve leg cramps, often caused by chronically tight muscles with knots that often spasm, especially at night. By relieving soreness, tightness and tension, therapeutic massage can reduce the need for pain medications. Therapeutic massage can reduce or prevent painful sciatica in the back, hips and legs. Digestion Chronic stress can affect your stomach, causing upset stomach, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea & constipation. Medical science recognizes that stress aggravates irritable bowel syndrome and colitis Years ago, medical science recognized that stress was a major factor for stomach ulcers. Getting regular Therapeutic Massage can relieve stress, decrease the stress hormones in the blood and increase endorphins (the "feel good" hormones). Regular massage can reduce the need for things like alka-seltzer, antacids and other over-the-counter remedies. Relief From Sore Muscles (Are you a Weekend Warrior?) Here in Colorado we participate in lots of outdoor activities — biking, running, hiking, climbing, soccer, baseball, tennis, kayaking, gardening and more. The downside from over-exertion is usually sore muscles, achy back, sore arms, legs and feet. Sore muscles are caused by excess lactic acid which is produced when we work or exercise hard. When the body cannot release it the muscle becomes sore. The heat from Hot Stone Massage is an excellent way to release lactic acid, relieve sore muscles and feel better fast! Let my warm oiled stones gently penetrate into your achy, tired muscles and make them feel wonderful! Hot Stone Massage will relax and de-stress you and your tight sore muscles will feel like melted butter. And Reflexology feels fantastic on tired, sore or achy feet. Experience the great benefits of Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology! Relief is just a phone call away! Call 970-204-1794 today for your appointment.