Massage Therapy Engages the Senses for Stress Relief in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511

“Many holistic health practitioners agree that not just what we smell, but also what we taste, touch, hear and see can influence how we feel—and maybe even bring us serenity.” This is according to June D. Bell in her article for the online Massage Envy Magazine. Massage therapy likewise engages the senses to relieve stress in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511.

Bell says the engagement of the senses is such a powerful method of controlling stress that it is used to relive the chronic pain of patients with serious medical conditions. In fact, she cites how Jnani Chapman, a clinical specialist of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, has been teaching patients how to use their senses to achieve moments of serenity.

Bell refers to Chapman’s statement that scents and sounds are particularly effective to soothe patients. This seems to be the basis for the effectiveness of spoken chants or prayers. Chapman says, “The traditional yoga sound is ‘ohm’ or a chant but you can also use a phrase from a prayer or a poem that has meaning for you.” Chapman further points out that engaging the sense of smell results in an even deeper effect, adding, “The olfactory sense is connected into the oldest part of our brains, the limbic system, and it’s the only sense connected directly to the brain without synapses, along the nerves.”

Bell’s interview with Theresa Rose supports Chapman’s assertions. Rose is a licensed massage therapist, Reiki master, author, motivational speaker and a mother. Bell tells of Rose using rose oil sprayed into the air in her car to soothe her aggravation when stuck in very heavy traffic. “It’s as if it evaporates all my angst. That little thing brings me back to being more human,” Rose says.

Another therapist that Bell talked to was Michael Ellner, who is teaching hypnosis to doctors and dentists, presumably to help them help their patients cope with anxiety and stress. Ellner says, “Anything that takes us back to nature is naturally soothing and relaxing. We often forget we’re a part of that.”

If you cannot literally go outdoors to immerse yourself in nature, Bell suggests that you take some quiet time to create the experience of nature in your mind. Use all your senses to imagine a peaceful and refreshing scene. Bring to mind the scents of nature in that scene. Feel the warmth of the sun, the breeze or the coolness of water. Hear the rustling of the leaves and other sounds. You may even remember the taste of juicy fruits you can enjoy in such a place. Allow all these to bring you to a state of relaxation.

Bell reminds us, though, that we first need to be aware of stress and its causes, as well as have the desire to be free of it before we can successfully eliminate it. Rose says, “It’s all about intention. It’s acknowledging to the universe and to myself that I need help. I’m stressed. It brings my awareness to say, ‘Calm down.’ ”

Once you have acknowledged that you want to do away with stress, massage is one of the tools you can easily have access to. Massage therapy engages the sense of touch, which is why it is also called touch therapy. Massage therapy becomes even more effective when all the other senses are involved, as well. This is why aromatherapy oils are often used in massage. Aromatherapy candles are also often lit in the massage room to add therapeutic scents and provide a relaxing candle glow. Soft soothing music further adds to the effects.

The senses are engaged no matter what type of massage therapy you ask for, be it Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy or pregnancy massage therapy. They may all be availed of in professional massage clinics in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511.