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Stress Management and Wellness at CranioSacral Therapy and Massage
Kelowna. BC
At "CranioSacral Therapy and Massage" in Kelowna, it is recognized that stress is an inevitable and necessary part of life that can have both positive and negative outcomes. When handled well it stimulates learning, promotes growth, expands energy and increases vitality. When left unchecked, or unmanaged, stress can lead to a whole host of physical symptoms and illnesses as well as mental and emotional exhaustion and burnout. The key is not necessarily avoiding stress, but to learn how to respond and cope with it in a healthy and effective manner.
"CranioSacral Therapy and Massage" in Kelowna, offers therapies that are effective in providing stress relief and stress management. Receiving regular sessions can be a support during a crisis or during a period of high stress; it can be used to reverse the residual effects of long term stress, or can be built in to your routine as part of a proactive stress management plan.
The Nature of Stress
In today’s fast-paced world, we are faced with daily stresses such as traffic jams, deadline pressures, conflicts at work and home. We are also faced with ongoing challenges in our personal lives, our jobs, our finances, and world affairs; not to mention the unexpected emergencies and crises that arise in life.
Regardless of the type of stress we face, our body is designed to respond primarily in one way and that is with a "fight or flight” response. Our nervous system recognizes a threat, and alerts all other systems in our body of impending danger – a whole set of reactions occur to prepare us to "fight" or "flee". The heart rate and blood pressure go up, muscles tense for action, breathing becomes rapid and shallow; digestion and other functions are put on hold plus a whole host of other changes.
When we lived in the day when lions and saber tooth tigers were part of our daily stressors, the stress response was great, it increased our odds for survival. But in today’s world, our stressors rarely threaten our immediate survival but they nevertheless activate the “fight or flight” response in our body. To disperse the increased energy in our body requires an active response, but because running away or fighting are rarely effective solutions to the types of stresses we face we don’t get the opportunity to discharge this energy.
As stressful situations continue to occur in our lives, the fight or flight response is activated over and over again, with the result being an over stimulated nervous system that has more energy coming in than being dissipated. In order to counteract the increased energy and activation in the nervous system, all of the other processes in the body need to work harder. Eventually, a point is reached when the body can no longer cope nor counteract the accumulated energy in the system. At this point, health issues tend to surface, high blood pressure, ulcers, colitis, depression, fatigue, burnout and a whole host of other stress-related illnesses.
The Role of CranioSacral Therapy and Massage
CranioSacral therapy and massage are both effective tools to combat the negative effects of stress in our body, and to restore, renew, and recharge our natural resources. These services are offered at the office of "CranioSacral Therapy and Massage" located in Kelowna.
Massage is a holistic therapy that can improve your mental, emotional and physical health. When you are under stress, massage can calm your nervous system, which activates the relaxation response, which in turn triggers a series of physiological processes in the body to restore health and balance. Massage relieves muscle tension which can be the cause of low energy, increases circulation (clearing out waste products that contribute to fatigue and general malaise), improves and regulates sleep patterns; and promotes an overall sense of well being.
CranioSacral therapy is renowned for its powerful influence on the central nervous system – which in turn has the biggest influence over your health, well-being and how we respond to stress. One of the therapeutic effects of CST is improving the nervous system’s functioning, and thus improving its’ ability to respond effectively to stress and challenge. In fact, CST has been added to the treatment plan of soldiers returning from war that have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. It was found, that counselling alone wasn’t sufficient for their recovery because there was so much stress and energy accumulated and stored in their body and nervous system. Research has shown that CST is an effective tool to rid the body of the residual effects of stress and trauma.
Other Strategies and Supports
CranioSacral therapy and massage may be a complement to other stress-management strategies that may be required to support you through a particular experience or situation. Other strategies that "CranioSacral Therapy and Massage" in Kelowna would complement include: counselling, coaching, yoga, meditation, exercise, and nutritional support. No matter what situation you find yourself in, there is always something you can do to promote change and healing.
Stress Management Planning
When you are feeling stressed and running on empty, just booking an appointment in itself is a therapeutic act. It reminds you that there are things you can do to take care of yourself and that you are not at the mercy of external events – it empowers you!
When, and how often, to book a session varies depending on the individual and the circumstance. A single session can be helpful before or after a stress-producing event; whereas, a series of sessions may be helpful if the intent is to reverse the effect of long-term stress or if you are in the midst of a crisis. By choosing massage as a regular part of your self-care, you can reduce the negative effects of stress, and increase your energy, vitality and inner resources!
For more information or to book an appointment call 250-859-7554 or email tia@craniosacralplus.ca
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