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MANAGING STRESS: THE SECRET TO WELLNESS

Writer's picture: Anne AndrewsAnne Andrews

Is your stress managing you or are you managing your stress?



As a certified Ortho-Bionomy® practitioner and from my own personal experience, I have seen

and felt how stress affects my own body and mind as well as that of my clients. Stress is

universal, and it's not always bad. Whenever you jump to catch a badly thrown ball, feel

especially energetic before an important meeting, or hit the brakes in time to avoid a car

accident, stress is doing its job. The adrenaline boosting your heart rate and the cortisol

boosting your blood sugar, while diverting energy away from the less essential digestive system and immune responses, are exactly what prehistoric humans needed to fight or flee attackers.

person receiving Ortho-Bionomy® treatment
Ortho-Bionomy® session

These days, you're not likely to face the threat of being eaten. But you probably do confront

multiple challenges every day, such as meeting deadlines, paying bills and juggling childcare

that make your body react the same way. As a result, your body's natural alarm system — the

“fight or flight” response — may be stuck in the on position. And that can have serious

consequences for your health over time. Your body does not know the difference between

being confronted with a tiger or being stuck in traffic. It produces a similar stress response in

your body.


The thing is, when there's never any relief from daily stress, the sustained fight-or-flight

response can cause long term problems. In fact, WebMD warns that constant stress actually

becomes "distress -- a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms

including fatigue, headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, problems

sleeping, and I would add muscle tension to that list. Research suggests that stress also can

bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases."


There are many ways to relieve stress: meditation, walking, being in nature, spending some

quiet time reading a book, massage, or even having a glass of wine. Massage can be a key

component for anyone trying to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Research has also shown that

massage can lower your heart rate, cortisol levels, blood pressure, and relax your muscles. It

also increases the production of endorphins, your body's natural "feel good" chemical.

Serotonin and dopamine are also released and the result is a feeling of calm relaxation that

makes chronic or habitual as well as acute or short-term stress much easier to overcome.


Another way to relieve stress and tension is through a powerful and effective form of

therapeutic bodywork called Ortho-Bionomy.® This gentle form of bodywork supports the

body’s own natural ability to come back into balance helping your body to move away from

pain and tension towards greater ease and relaxation. This kind of gentle bodywork is easier on the body and can be tolerated by people whose muscle pain worsens with deep pressure from some forms of massage.


Taking care of your body should be at the top of your priorities. By adding therapeutic

bodywork to your routine now, you'll feel, look and simply be healthier far into the future,

improving your vitality and state of mind. So what better way to prep for a long, happy life than

a relaxing, therapeutic massage or Ortho-Bionomy ® session?

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