A massage therapist's trained and caring touch can have profound effects on your physical, mental, and emotional states:

• Physically Relaxes the Body
• Calms the Nervous System
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Reduces Heart Rate
• Slows Respiration
• Loosens Tight Muscles
• Stretches Connective Tissues
• Reduces Chronic Pain
• Improves Skin Tone
• Increases Blood and Lymph Circulation
• Speeds the Removal of Metabolic Waste
• Increases Red Blood Cell Counts
• Relieves Tired and Aching Muscles
• Stimulates the Release of Endorphins
• Improves Muscle Tone
• Relieves Cramps and Muscle Spasms
• Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion
• Promotes Deeper More Effective Breathing
• Speeds Recovery from Illness and Injuries
• Strengthens the Immune System
• Reduces Swelling
• Reduces Scarring
• Improves Posture
• Reduces Tension Headaches
• Increases Tissue Metabolism
• Decreases Muscular Deterioration

• Reduces Mental Stress
• Promotes Better Sleep
• Calms a Bad Temper
• Induces Mental Relaxation
• Improves Concentration

• Reduces Anxiety
• Enhances Self-Image
• Provides a Feeling of Well-Being
• Promotes Greater Creative Expression

• Is the body's non-specific response to any demand placed upon it
• Is not caused only by negative or adverse influences
• Increases the rate of wear and tear the body experiences

Stress is a necessary part of life. However, when we do not successfully recognize, divert, or process the stressors that affect us, our body's reaction becomes negative and goes into a phase called the "Fight or Flight Syndrome". During this phase of distress, certain physiological changes begin to take place.

• The heart beats faster from increased adrenaline production.
• More blood flows into the larger muscles.
• The functions of the immune and digestive systems are inhibited.

If the source of the stress is not counteracted, after a period of time the person experiences the disease phase, which is sometimes related to frustration. Therefore the body is out of balance, due to a suppressed immune and digestive system. We sometimes say, "I am run-down and have caught a bug". In essence we are describing ourselves as a person who has been in the disease phase of stress for too long.

Testing was done by Hans Selye, a Montreal physician, to discover the long-term effects of stress. Dr. Selye's research showed that a person experiencing a prolonged period of disease had a higher probability of entering the disease phase of a stress syndrome than a person who was taking some precautions or actions to address the stress in their lives.

The adverse effects of stress can manifest itself as ulcers, changes in blood sugar, hypertension, headaches, migraines, sleep disturbance, low energy, joint, and chronic muscle pain.