The Benefits of Massage Therapy for Stress Relief – Our Expert  Guide

Stress. At its core, this is your body’s natural psychological and physiological response to events or situations perceived as threats – from work pressures and financial constraints to relationship issues and health challenges. We will all be under its thumb at some point in our lives, but how we manage and respond to that stress matters. For more than 30 years, Resplendent Day Spa has provided a refuge from life’s day-to-day stressors for our neighbors across the Long Beach, California area. Here are four ways services like massage therapy provide much-needed and often life-changing stress relief.

1 – Lowers stress hormones

In response to stressful events and situations, your body releases specific hormones and neurotransmitters. Cortisol, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline), and vasopressin are the primary stress hormones. They help to ready your body to fight the stressful episode or circumstance, which is commonly known as the “fight or flight” response. By physically manipulating the soft tissues, massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This process counteracts the fight-or-flight response, which leads to a decline in cortisol and noradrenaline levels. 

2 – Boosts “feel-good” chemicals 

The Mayo Clinic reports that a single hour-long massage treatment can lower cortisol levels in the body while also releasing feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. The most well-known of these chemicals, serotonin, is sometimes referred to as a “happy chemical” due to the feelings of well-being that it supports. It carries signals between your body and nerves to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. In doing so, massage therapy helps to counteract some of the most common symptoms of persistent and poorly-managed stress, which include feelings of sadness, anxiety, worry, irritability, and hopelessness.

3 – Lifts tension in the muscles 

Poorly managed or negative stress, also known as “distress,” manifests as physical knots, stiffness, and tension in the muscles. We tend to “hold” that tension in specific areas, such as the shoulders, jaw, neck, and back. Our therapists use special techniques to release muscle tension. The less tense you are, the more resilient you can be both physically and mentally in the face of life’s stressors. By lifting muscle tension, we also help to improve your flexibility (so you are less prone to injuries and are more mobile) and reduce chronic pain associated with muscle stiffness. 

4 – Promotes stress-busting mindfulness

Massage therapy encourages you to be present in the moment. You focus on the present, not on what happened in the past or what you need to do in the future, or what you should have done already. By shifting your attention from of-the-moment worries to bodily sensations, your mind is pulled away from stressful and intrusive thoughts. You also gain a deeper understanding of your body’s physical stress signals and can disengage from the onslaught of commitments and everyday rigors. You then carry this mental clarity and calmness with you, which makes you better equipped to manage your schedule and stressors in a healthy manner. 

To discover what so many of our happy massage clients have  have experienced – freedom from the stressors that can overtake your life – call Resplendent Day Spa at (562) 685-8050 today. Our professionals have served the Long Beach, CA area since 1994. Our massage therapists are licensed and have completed over 1,000 hours of specialized training in areas such as sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, Swedish/deep tissue massage, and the ATMAT^® (Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®). You know you are in good hands at our wellness center. 

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