Massage Away Post-Irene Stress

The other day I spoke with community member Irene Doherty, LMT APP RYT of Shanti Rising about the stress I've been feeling thanks to Hurricane Irene, back to school, the anniversary of September 11 and life in general, and she made a very valid point.

"Rising age and rising stress levels can have unhealthy effects on your body. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is designed to support your body during challenging times. The concern is when cortisol production is not shut off by relaxation and rest. Prolonged stress causes wear and tear on a woman's body causing a number of issues such as a weakened immune system, impaired digestion and a slowing down in metabolism causing an excess of belly fat. This "toxic fat" is strongly correlated to heart disease, the number one cause of death in women. Adding stress with an aging body you can see there is no better time than now to have an intention to seek out relaxation. Massage therapy is one way to reduce cortisol levels and improve the function of all your bodies systems."

I for one am thrilled to know that it's not the coconut martinis that are the issue, but rather the cortisol. Off I go for a massage!!