How stressed do you feel right now on a scale of 1 – 10 (1 being the lowest)?
Be honest.
If we work or live in a fast-paced environment it is likely we are experiencing some level of stress. If we feel we are resilient, have no other choice or have never known anything different, we will often find ways to get things done, keep taking on more, never say ‘No’ and may even feel there is no stress, as we have forgotten when we even felt truly relaxed (very common) – stress becomes the norm.
Stress is a natural part of our lives and can be very helpful in supporting us to meet short term goals such as push us to complete deadlines or jump out of the way of an oncoming car. Stress is the mind and body’s way (using the nervous system) to avoid anything we perceive could harm us and is often referred to as ‘fight or flight’ but includes ‘freeze’ and ‘fawn’ as alternative reactions. More on this at https://www.simplypsychology.org/fight-flight-freeze-fawn.html
But does it need to?
When constantly living from a place of stress we endure, rather than enjoy, higher levels of stress and either, do not know how to reduce this or do not give ourselves the time and space to relax and switch to ‘rest’ mode. This means we may feel the effects or symptoms over time, such as: aches and pains, illness with low immunity, lack of focus, lack of energy, inability to sleep, thoughts that race around, wanting to get off the roundabout as life is too fast, digestive issues, increased anxiety, shallow breathing and much more. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/signs-of-stress/
Why is this?
For example, being constantly on red alert, all blood is sent to support vital organs such as the heart and areas of the body that are required to move quickly: body tenses up – affecting muscles, digestion halts – as it isn’t essential, heart and breathing rates increase – pushing blood pressure higher.
Unsurprisingly, people with digestive issues such as IBS may also have high stress levels as digestion occurs when we are at rest (not stressed) and whilst sleeping. Our immune system becomes compromised due to higher levels of the stress hormone, Cortisol, which affects how many ‘fighting’ cells we produce in order to clear invading cells such as viruses. Our inflammatory response is not kept in check either. Further details on how we are affected is at https://www.stress.org.uk/how-it-affects-us/
What can help?
Working to reduce stress is a priority – when we are relaxed our natural healing systems work effectively such as our immunity. Reflexology and Reiki support relaxation by balancing us, bringing our whole selves into harmony or back to ‘homeostasis’.
Reflexology is used to re-balance all body systems, including the nervous system and, specifically, the vagus nerve for stress relief (https://www.verywellhealth.com/vagus-nerve-anatomy-1746123) – an important nerve that runs from our brain through our heart, lungs, digestive system and into our womb or lower abdomen. When stimulated, this will induce relaxation as we are sending a signal to the brain to check whether it is in balance and if not, to balance it. There is a specific area or ‘reflex’ on the toes and sole of the feet for the vagus nerve to be stimulated.
When combining this by working the diaphragm on the soles, this enables deeper breathing which induces ‘rest’ mode. Powerful and effective. As our body systems are so interconnected, all are worked including the immune system, so balancing occurs and enables healing. The spine is integral in stress relief and any resultant pain, and can be found on the inside of the foot.
Reiki clears imbalances in the body, supporting our own healing ability for illness or discomfort, such as a painful shoulder. It works to release stagnant or stuck energy from cells, e.g. organs and bones within the body and from energy layers in our auric field, clearing mental and emotional blocks as well as our chakras or energy centres (although not traditionally part of Reiki) whilst bringing in Universal Energy or Life Force so we can replenish our lost energy and continue to use this for self-healing beyond the session.
Reiki supports stress by clearing patterns that may be creating a stress response as well as bringing in life force for areas that are not working optimally due to the effects of stress. Reiki allows us to relax deeply whilst the energy that surrounds us is often described as being like a warm hug.
Both treatments support us in relaxation and relieving stress with only one question remaining:
When do you want to book in and reduce your stress number?