Don't Be Knotty!

• Massage reduces the effects of stress. Up to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related complaints such as headaches, backaches, neck pain, eyestrain, poor concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, as well as, physical and emotional exhaustion. Massage therapy has an amazing effect on your body's nervous system. When massage therapy activates your body's parasympathetic nervous system, it counteracts your body's negative response to stress, relaxing muscle tension and allowing your heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to return to normal.

• Massage therapy also helps you become more aware of your body and your unconsciously held tension. As you become more aware of your body, you will begin to recognize tension as it builds during the day so that you can consciously release it before it can have a negative effect on your body.

• Massage can improve nerve function. Contracted muscles can press on or pinch your nerves causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Massage therapy relaxes these contracted muscles to relieve the compression on you nerves. Sensory receptors in the skin and muscles wake up bringing new awareness to areas that have felt cut off by chronic tension patterns.
• Massage helps you sleep better. Tension from everyday stress can disrupt your sleep leaving you tired, irritable and emotionally drained. This can rob you of the patience and stamina needed just to face day-to-day life. Massage therapy relaxes tense muscles and calms the nervous system, causing your body's rhythm to slow down. When this happens, your blood pressure lowers, your heart rate settles, and your breath becomes deeper and more rhythmic, priming you for a perfect night's sleep.  
• Massage helps during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time of major structural, physiological, spiritual and social changes. Some of these changes produce discomforts, which can be addressed with appropriate massage therapy. Some of the possible benefits are:
• Reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Relieves muscle spasms, cramps, and myofascial pain, especially in the back and neck.
• Increases blood and lymph circulation and supports the physiological process of gestation, by supporting the work of the heart, increasing cellular respiration, reducing edema and contributing to sympathetic nervous system sedation.
• Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints and musculo-fasicial structures.
• Provides emotional support and physical nurturance.
• Develops the sensory awareness necessary to relax during 1st stage labor and to recruit appropriate muscles during the pushing phase.
• Provides a pregnant woman with the experience of loving, nurturing touch so that she may touch her own baby lovingly.
  

Remember that this is the only body you're going to get. Take great care of it!