Stress Reduction = A More Attractive YOU

Executive Director of PhillyGayCalendar

Hello family. I want to stay looking young. I want to feel good. How about you? My partner is 7 years younger than me and I need to keep up. Here is one way I do- I get massages regularly and have been for over 15 years.

The concept that massage is not an important tool in staying healthy and that it is simply a”spa experience” is incorrect. When we are stressed we frown, we create wrinkles, tight muscles, and do not look very inviting. When we experience excessive stress—whether from internal worry or external circumstance—a bodily reaction is triggered, called the “fight or flight” response. The body is designed to protect us from bodily harm. This response actually corresponds to an area of our brain called the hypothalamus, which—when stimulated—initiates a sequence of nerve cell firing and chemical release that prepares our body for running or fighting. This means you are “ready for battle”. While this is happening your internal organs are not getting a healthy supply of blood and oxygen. Your senses are running on overload and it is exhausting to the entire body. It’s becoming more evident that long periods of stress cause disease, inflammation, and the body to not work at its’ full potential. Stress wears down the body. None of the gays or lesbians I know wants to look worn out. We are beautiful and need to rejuvenate.

Massage is one of the oldest remedies for stress. The idea that it is merely a “feel good”modality is partially true. It does feel good. The missing piece of this perspective is that is also good for you. It is not often in life we find things that feel good and are good for you. Even if we dismiss all the other benefits and say a professional massage is relaxing, it is still one of the top things you can do as a means of prevention and to stay looking lovely. Calming the body from stress is a huge benefit. Massage flushes the body. Your therapist hands are not only relaxing, but aiding in the circulation by assisting in the blood flow to the heart, and in the elimination of waste. The therapist also helps to lower blood pressure and increase the percentage of oxygen in your tissues. Massage helps to stimulate the lymphatic system. This helps to cleanse, detoxify the body, and helps to increase the power of the immune system. Most importantly, massage gives you peace of mind from stress. Stress ages us all! Professional massage is an easy solution.

I ask you to ask yourself- Can I really feel lovely and do great things – if my body feels horrible and I am stressed? When the human body is uncomfortable it takes away from our ability to be fully present and able to offer our loved ones and community our best. Massage will override stress and help attain a more conscious state of being. Not to mention, it keeps you looking younger, more vibrant, and helps you to be more enjoyable to be around.

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