Holistic Massage

Holistic therapies have a positive effect on mental health and wellbeing, treating the mind, body and spirit to create a sense of calm, helping people cope with pressure in a more relaxed way.

Stress is the body’s response to pressure. The body’s reaction to stress is called the ‘flight or fight response’ in which certain stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released into the blood stream. This causes the heart rate to increase, blood pressure to rise and muscles to tighten. Chronic stress can put your health at risk and induce long-term effects such as anxiety, depression, headaches and sleep problems. Many illnesses and diseases are caused by stress.

Holistic massage treatments can be very effective in managing stress by helping to balance and regulate the nervous system and relax the muscles. Massage increases the release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers) such as:

• Serotonin – regulates mood.
• Dopamine – promotes feelings of motivation, focus and happiness.

Low levels of serotonin and dopamine are linked to anxiety and depression. Holistic massage increases the release of these “feel good” hormones, helping to alleviate symptoms. In addition to boosting the immune system, other benefits include improved sleep, increased energy levels and improved digestion.