It’s not just a frivolous, unnecessary thing.
I know that there are people who do not like being touched, which is unfortunate because there is more and more research presenting health improvements even after one session of Swedish massage. Just one. We’re not talking about disease reversal after
one session, in fact, we’re not talking about any sort of disease reversal as we know it. What this is about is lowering stress.
Why do we want/need to lower stress? Our stress hormones were there to get us out of perceived danger, to help us survive the wild animals trying to kill us, etc. Once the danger was over, the hypothalmus would send out an “all clear” which would shut all of that down and the parasympathetic system would take over and calm everything down. Now, some of us get stressed at the thought of getting stressed and that cycle just continues with barely any breaks.
What does this do to us physically? Headaches, overeating, undereating, high blood pressure, stress on our hearts, stress on our lungs, heartburn (because our stomach produces more acid when we are on alert), insommnia, high blood sugar, and increased depression are the most significant.
Now that we understand these are things that are commonly associated with high stress, know that spending a day at the spa helps reset that stress response. It forces the parasympathetic system to kick in and do its job. I know it works. I used to be a massage therapist and I witnessed these effects constantly. The initiation of touch seems to be a good interrupter of the stress signals and induces relaxation for most people (and a lot of animals, too). Sometimes, just a hand or foot massage can do it. Which brings up the next part.
You don’t really need to go to the spa to get the benefits. There are reputable massage therapists that will come to your home. Don’t really relax during a massage? How about a facial? Or a pedicure/manicure? Scalp massage? How about a nice, long hug from
someone you love? These can also be very beneficial. Still can’t get yourself to do any of these things?
Take a walk. Sit in a sauna or hot tub. Listen to Mozart. Watch a relaxing video or your favorite stand-up comedian. Meditate. Any of these things will help interrupt those stress chemicals. And do it often. Your health depends on it.
Hart Health 