Ahhh, Massage

Oh that good old relaxation massage.  Doesn't it kind of seem like a thing of luxury only to be explored during the holidays or birthdays or when you feel like it is appropriate for you to be pampered? It evokes images of a woman laying on a bamboo mat, flowers in their hair, and their necks uncomfortably cocked to one side.

Guess what? It isn't always the picture of absolute "spa perfection." It isn't always hot stones and warm oils poured over the body. Relaxation massage is more than just a luxury.

Let's delve into this a little deeper. 

There are many forms of relaxation and they are all essentially designed to meet the same goals. The goal is to downregulate the nervous system.  What does this mean, exactly? Well, When we are in a state of constant heightened alert/anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system jumps into action producing a fight or flight response.  This response is our primal instinct to run or stay when we are in danger. In our modern society those dangers aren't as prevalent, but our nervous system can't decipher the difference between a bear trying to attack us and a social media stand off.

When we contstantly test our fight or flight response, we end up stuck in some heightened level of this state, our bodies unable to get back to normal resting mode. When that happens and we are in a restful position (getting ready to sleep, relaxing on the couch, etc.), our bodies never really recover. We either crash but don't feel rested or can't rest our minds.

Enter Relaxation massage. Relaxation massage with it's long, flowing strokes, and quiet tempo help to restore that resting phase. We may not get completely back to normal resting state after one massage, but our bodies do get closer. When your body gets closer to that resting phase then that becomes it's new normal. You can fall asleep easier, feel more rested, and even handle the stresses of daily life with a little less anxiety.

Is relaxation massage the only way to downregulate the nervouse system? As I mentioned before, No. There are plenty of stragtegies to downregulate the nervous system including but not limited to yoga, meditation, exercise, reflexology, talk therapy, tapping, emotional freedom technique, and on and on. Find the ones that are right for you.

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