Everyone reacts differently to stress but when faced with a situation that makes you stressed, your body releases chemicals, including cortisol, adrenaline and nor-adrenaline.  These trigger that ‘fight or flight’ feeling that helps you deal with that situation.  If, for whatever reason, your body doesn’t use those chemicals then a build up is felt – things like increased blood pressure or heart rate and sweating.  A build up of cortisol prevents the immune system functioning properly, as well as releasing fat and sugar into the blood stream.
That is why it is so important, during stressful periods, to build in some time for rest and relaxation.
Massage is a great way of not only resting and relaxing but also dealing with a build up of toxins in the system. A hands-on manual technique can manipulate blood flow, increase muscle tone, detoxify the tissues and muscles and relax the nerves.  There are lots of different types of massage available and anything from a half hour back neck and shoulder massage to an hour full body massage – using plain or aromatherapy blended oils or even a massage using hot basalt stones – will not only help de-stress your body but relax your mind too!