Cortisol is a stress hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex. Increases in cortisol levels are not always bad but too much can have negative effects on your body. Cortisol works to raise blood sugar levels, breaking down proteins and fats into glucose so the body can function properly. The key point here is that cortisol should only be elevated for short periods, but with our fast-paced lifestyle, many of us are living under chronic stress situations, leading to excess production of cortisol. According to Jessica D. Payne and Lynn Nadel, we can suffer from sleepless nights, weight gain, poor memory, low sex drive, and even heart disease if our bodies give in to the relentless increase in cortisol levels.

Restorative massage can help in lowering cortisol levels by as much as 62% and it is widely known to be very relaxing. This type of massage uses a meditative approach and involves long strokes to release muscles from tension and pain. Exposure to soothing music is also included in the session and can further improve your muscle tone and relaxation level since music has been shown to reduce cortisol levels.

5 Ways Restorative Massages Reduce Cortisol in The Body

#1 Restorative Massages Can Provide a Calming Effect on The Body

Massage aids the body shift from an agitated state to a more relaxed state by helping the body to “slow down”. The simple act of touching and methodical kneading invites the body to relax and ease up. This emotional response is triggered by serotonin, the body’s natural hormone for contentment and rest. Serotonin aids with essential body processes including eating, digestion, and sleep while also regulating our mood.

#2 Restorative Massage Helps with Muscular Tension

When you’re anxious, your body involuntary tightens up, which tenses the muscles. Massage therapy can help muscles relax; hence, reduce chronic pain. Muscles can shorten as a result of high body tension, which hurts and limits motion. By boosting tissue flexibility and activating the parasympathetic nervous system, massage reduces tension. The muscle fibers get warm and loose by methods including trigger point stimulation, massaging, stretching, and stroking. Patients may need more than one massage to relieve their muscular tension, but even after only one session, they will see a significant improvement.

#3 Restorative Massage Reduces Blood Pressure

Blood circulation is improved by massage, and this helps to reduce blood pressure. The sympathetic nervous system, which is in charge of rising blood pressure in response to stress, can be calmed with the aid of massage therapy. Kalsina’s article demonstrates that pure relaxation-focused massage techniques such as relaxation massage and aromatherapy massage significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate compared to deep tissue or sports massage. This is probably because calming, gentle touch causes the production of the serotonin hormone, which encourages our bodies to self-regulate and return to a healthy function.

#4 Restorative Massages Can Help Improve Your Sleep Quality and Quantity

Due to massage’s direct effect on the body’s serotonin production, massage can help in the release of the melatonin sleep hormone. When specific muscles, such as those in the neck, shoulders, back, and even the legs and feet, are subjected to direct pressure or manipulation, melatonin is released. Massage reduces cortisol, a stress hormone that can interfere with sleep. Dopamine takes its place by stabilizing your mood and assisting in the development of the peaceful state of mind required for restful sleep.

#5 Restorative Massage Helps with Mental Health

Massage can enhance our psychological well-being by triggering the hormones, neurons, and receptors involved in mood modulation. These receptors are activated during a moderate pressure massage, providing the client with therapeutic relief as well as general mood and well-being improvement. Vagal nerve activity, which is frequently low in sad people, has also been proven to rise with a massage. Cortisol levels fall when this nerve is stimulated, causing our bodies to become more relaxed.

To sum it up, we understand that there is a relation between cortisol and stress, but it seems as though when stress levels are high the cortisol level is also at its highest. Therefore, we should make sure to find ways to relax and reduce the amount of stress we have in our lives so that we will not begin feeling fatigued or even sick.

If you find that you are becoming ill because of too much unnecessary stress in your life, schedule an appointment with a local massage therapist who can provide you with a restorative massage. Massage therapy has proven beneficial in aiding the body to moderate cortisol levels by reducing release and return to baseline cortisol levels. If you need more information or need more specific advice, then feel free to contact us at TheWellbeingClinic.Org. Find a professional who can truly listen to your concerns and perform a massage based on your particular situation.