Two years ago I was driving along the shore of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy and came upon a town named ‘Stresa’. Stresa could not have been more picturesque: dramatic green mountains riddled with castles encircling the lake, classic Art Nouveau buildings lined the streets with ornamental gardens and glowing lights. And in all this rapturous beauty my mind went to one word-STRESA. Being an American, my affiliation with this word is STRESS. This seemingly innocuous connection has now become a regular reminder statement in my immediate family– “LESSA STRESSA” (which we say with an Italian accent of course). Because isn’t that what most of us are seeking? LESS STRESS.
For most of us, stress conjures up negative connotations. It means tension. It means worry. It means anxiety. The conditions surrounding stress may be acute or chronic. Unfortunately, our brains can also be very proficient at manifesting stress, leaving our bodies to absorb the effects.
Stress is ever-present in our lives, but it’s how we actively learn to manage it that determines the long-term positive or negative effects that it will have on our bodies and minds. When we experience short-term stress events, our bodies kick-up the cortisol and epinephrine hormone response (AKA the stress hormones). This is an essential component to our productivity and survival as humans (think work deadlines, having a baby, leaving on a trip). Our bodies are designed to weather these temporary physiological changes. However, what they are NOT equipped to handle is constant, chronic, long-term stress. If this is the normal state-of-being for our bodies, a whole host of illnesses can materialize. It might start with a tension headache or trouble sleeping, but if left unchecked it can develop into serious, life-long debilitating diseases including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. So yes, LESSA STRESSA is integral and very necessary to sustaining good health.
Fortunately, there are so many healthy and diverse experiences that can reduce and help manage chronic stress. It’s finding the ones that work for you as an individual that’s key. And while I have a slew of my own personal favorites, the one I have built a significant part of my life around is bodywork–because it works. How many times have you heard or maybe said the following statement? “I’m so stressed out–I really need to get a massage.” This is the immediate go to for many people feeling beleaguered by stress. It’s great for an immediate solution to an acute problem. But what if integrating regular bodywork into our lives (much like regular exercise) helped us manage the effects of chronic stress? Science says it can. First and foremost during bodywork the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes the release of anti-stress and feel-good hormones oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. So the more consistently we’re triggering these hormones the more your brain is generating positive neural connections. Bodywork has also been shown to stimulate the Vagus nerve, which decreases cortisol levels in our body. And while blood flow increases during bodywork, blood pressure and heart rate have been shown to drop which allows for a true resting state for your body. During bodywork your muscle tension is also reducing, which is symbiotically diminishing mental tension as well. All of these things are akin to LESSA STRESSA in your body and mind.
Having seen first-hand much too frequently the negative ramifications that prolonged stress can inflict on our bodies, I cannot speak enough to the extensive mental and physical benefits that proactively managing stress through bodywork provides. As we enter a season that brings with it an abundance of joy, it can also bring with it a plethora of stress–remember to take time to cultivate LESSA STRESSA.
