work stress

How Massage Can Help Curb Chronic Stress

August 3, 2017

Many people seek out massage therapy for the sense of relaxation it brings them. They feel a sense of calm and peace of mind from both the tranquil atmosphere and the treatment itself. However, if someone is looking for “just a relaxation massage” it doesn’t mean their treatment is any less clinically indicated or beneficial to their overall health. Massage has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, which contribute to overall physical well-being.

 

In a recently published article entitled, “As if You Didn't Know, Your Massage Clients are Chronically Stressed,” author and expert, Eric Moya, writes:

 

“Sometimes clients can seem so complex, so hyper-sensitive, so … depleted. Thinking over the past 18 years of practice, I find these complex clients seem to be more numerous now than they used to, both in my practice and in conversations with other practitioners,” adding that earlier this year, he had a new client, Jamie, referred to him by a local psychotherapist.

 

“They were doing some wonderful therapeutic work together for a variety of physical and psychotherapeutic concerns.The psychotherapist referred the client because she had heard that CranioSacral Therapy might be able to help with some of the physical symptoms related to severe exhaustion, muscle fatigue, eye sensitivity and emotional depression,” he writes.

 

Everyone experiences some stress in their lives, whether it’s from work or personal circumstances. One study explores the effects of massage therapy on the occupational stress of those working in intensive care. This study recommends that massage therapy be used for nurses in intensive care units to reduce their stress, promote mental health and prevent the decrease in the quality of their working lives.

 

Moya writes that sometimes clients come in seeking relaxation or general well-being, but more often than not, clients seem to present with a myriad of complex problems that seem unrelated to each other, having traversed a medical system that works to treat the various symptoms individually.

 

“[...]Clients with these hosts of problems can sometimes have adverse treatment reactions. It’s as if their systems are hyper-sensitive and over-reactive, and that what would normally be considered a very gentle treatment might result in several days of discomfort,” he writes.

 

He suggests that massage and bodywork such as CranioSacral Therapy offers people a respite from the stress and demands of the modern world, and could help shape a more peaceful and connected future.