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With all of the responsibilities you’re balancing in your schedule, life can be extremely stressful. This stress often leads to anxiety, which is detrimental to your physical and mental health. Fortunately, regularly scheduling a professional massage can relieve that anxiety to improve your quality of life.

What Is the Science Behind Anxiety?

anxietyWhen the brain is confronted with a stressful situation, it reacts with the “fight or flight” instinct by increasing the levels of cortisol that the body creates. Cortisol is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. The purpose of cortisol is to suppress the immune system and keep the muscles ready to react to danger. This tightens the muscles, which eventually leads to tension, headaches, or insomnia. Those symptoms stress the body out further, releasing more cortisol.

How Can a Regular Massage Help?

Massage targets those tight muscles. Stimulating the muscles increases the levels of serotonin and oxytocin, which relax the body and reduce stress. Serotonin also serves as a natural pain reliever. Once the body relaxes, the heart rate slows down and blood pressure lowers. This turns off the “fight or flight” reflex and reduces cortisol levels. According to an article released by the Mayo Clinic, an hour-long massage can reduce cortisol levels by up to 30%.

 

If you find that your stress and anxiety are impacting the quality of your life, it’s time to do something about it. Zoe Zimmerman at Zoe’s Zen Time in Shawano, WI, worked as a registered nurse in an emergency room for 16 years and uses her understanding of the human body in her massage techniques to give the best possible results. You’ll enjoy better sleep, higher energy levels, and stress relief. Call her today at (715) 304-6137 to schedule an appointment, or visit her online to learn more about her services.

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