By Mark Blackburne
Modern life is faster than ever, and in many ways, we are all running to catch up. A side effect of our fast-paced lifestyles is the increased levels of stress we now experience.
This stress can come from a variety of sources, such as a pressured work environment or the demands of a busy home life, but most often results from a struggle to balance both these areas – the much talked about ‘work/life balance’.
Regardless of where our stress comes from, it will inevitably manifest itself somewhere in our bodies. As a species, we most often carry our stress in the neck and shoulder area. When faced with a difficult or stressful situation, the body’s first response is to go into ‘fight or flight’ mode.
Adrenaline is released, our heartbeat and respiration rate increase, and our muscles tense up in preparation to defend ourselves or run. In this state, we tend to tense our neck muscles and draw our shoulders up towards our ears, and there they stay until the danger has subsided.
However, even low levels of stress can activate this response, and repeated exposure to stressful situations can have a cumulative effect on our muscle tone, leaving them in a near-permanent state of tension. This can lead to pain and discomfort in the upper back and shoulder area, headaches, disrupted sleep, and ultimately low mood. That’s where a massage therapist can help.
After a certain point, this muscular tension can’t dissipate on its own and needs a little help in the form of manual therapy. Using a variety of techniques, the massage therapist will work on the affected areas to release the tension within the muscles, effectively softening them and returning them to a relaxed state.
Not only does this provide physical relief by helping eliminate any pain, stiffness and discomfort, it also triggers the release of Endorphins, the body’s happy hormone, adding to an overall feeling of relaxation and well-being.
So if your busy life has left you struggling with persistent tension, pain or discomfort in your upper back, neck and shoulders, and you’re finding this is now negatively impacting your day-to-day life, then why not book in for a stress-busting deep tissue massage with one of the therapists at Natural Balance, and in doing so help restore a little natural balance of your own.
By Mark Blackburne
Mark offers a range of remedial and relaxing treatments, including Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish and Foot Massage. He’s available at Natural Balance Therapies on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. To check his availability, click here.