When you experience anxiety, your body produces a lot of the stress hormone “cortisol“. Science has proven massage LOWERS cortisol levels. It also gets rid of the muscle tension caused by anxiety disorders.

In 1996 the Touch Research Institute did a study with 26 adults. For the study half the adults were given chair massages 2 x week for 15 minutes and the control group sat in a massage chair but didn’t receive a massage 2 x week for 15 minutes. (You have to feel sorry for the poor control group!)

Before and after the 5 week period their anxiety and depression levels were measured. They were also given saliva tests for cortisol and they were given math problems to solve. At the end of the study the people who received massage had lower anxiety and depression levels and their cortisol levels were lower. To boot, they also had increased speed and accuracy on the math problems!!

Relaxing treatments like Swedish massage, Thermal Palms, Hot Stone, Reiki, Craniosacral Therapy, & Reflexology are all good for treating anxiety.

The study, published in the September 2010 issue of theJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, evaluated 53 medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, aged 18-45 years old. These participants were given 45 minutes of Swedish massage therapy versus a light touch control treatment. After just one session of Swedish massage therapy, adults experienced an increase in circulation of lymphocytes (improving the immune system) and a decrease in cortisol (aka the stress hormone), arginine-vasopressin (a hormone stimulating cortisol levels), and mitogen-stimulated levels of interleukin, which also improves the immune system as well as the nervous system and endocrine system (or neuroendocrine function).

Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, concluded that while this was a preliminary study, if more research confirms similar findings, massage therapy might be used toward managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

The article titled “A Preliminary Study of the Effects of a Single Session of Swedish Massage on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Immune Function in Normal Individuals” can be found here. The study was sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

By Christie Bondurant

from “Massage Today” Dec, 2010, Vol. 10, Issue 12

Get a handle on your stress! – Get a Massage!

Here are just a few effects of Massage Therapy that positively impact your stress levels include:

• helps you get to sleep – reduces insomnia
• reduces chronic pain allowing body to reach deeper levels of sleep REM sleep is necessary for a multitude of normal body functions and rehabilitates the body
• elevates mood through the release of endorphins

• diminishes depression
• elevates alertness

• reduces headaches
• improves problem solving and mathematical computations

All of the RMTS’s at Basic Kneads recognize the inherent value of the services we provide, we couldn’t do what we do if we didn’t believe that it was extraordinarily beneficial. Many of our clients come to us for one reason or another, but quickly learn that the side-benefits to our treatments offer significant insight into much much more than the obvious sore neck or back.

We’re happy to share our knowledge with you!

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2. Sitting behind a computer is causing you a LOT of pain

3. Arthritis is making your body stiff and sore

4. Your sport of choice is PUNISHING!

5. Your boss is nagging you.

6. Your brain needs a break

7. You’re pregnant! (congrats!)

8. You just threw out your back!

9. You are STRESSED!

10. Because MASSAGE FEELS INCREDIBLE, is PROACTIVE and HEALTHY!

With today’s hectic paced lifestyle, you are bound to experience a headache, a backache, a sore shoulder or any of a myriad of common complaints that throw off your stride! Getting a massage is a sure fire way to start to feel BETTER!

TAKE THE TIME!

You only have one body for life, and it’s a good idea to listen to it when it’s not running optimally. Your therapist will address your needs, explain the causes and work out the kinks, knots and fatigue associated with simply pushing yourself too hard or when challenged by injury.

“Touch is incredibly healing, a wonderfully natural way to fight pain, stress, illness and disease.”

Working primarily with other health professionals for the first 5 years of her career, Leanne marveled at the body’s incredible ability to recover from stress and injury without the use of drugs or surgery. As with any profession, experience leads to an accumulation of knowledge, and the ability to recognize patterns. Leanne uses both this experience and her natural instinct when working with each client to formulate individual solutions and meet each person’s unique needs.

“Often the solution to healing the body is so simple that we overlook the obvious”

It was during her 5th year as a sub-contractor in a Chiropractic clinic, that Leanne realized she wanted more. More focus and emphasis on massage therapy and other related hands-on practice, and more responsibility. Basic Kneads was born after 6 months of preparation and investigation. She hasn’t once looked back, and hopes to expand on her dreams in the future by filling out the “Wellness Centre” aspect of the clinic. Leanne is also interested in pursuing Craniosacral Therapy and further developing her spiritual link to the energy aspect inherently found within her chosen profession.

”I am so fortunate to have found a path in life to which I am so passionately committed”