Sponsored post
Stress. None of us want to live with it (the bad kind, which makes us sick), but we also know we can’t live without it (the good kind, which keeps us on our toes and motivated). What’s important is knowing how to strike a healthy balance between the two.
In this blog post, FHT Vice President and complementary therapist, Mary Dalgleish, offers a few simple techniques to help you self-manage your stress levels, in case you ever feel the scales are starting to tip in the wrong direction…
Feet first
The adrenal glands, which are directly affected by stress, are responsible for the ‘fight-or-flight’ response we feel when we’re under pressure. This response is meant to be short-lived, but in many cases it is a regular occurrence, which means these small but mighty glands eventually get overworked. In reflexology, the adrenal reflex is found just below the ball of each foot and also on the fleshy area below the thumb on the palmar side of the hand. Gently pressing these reflex points for a few minutes can help calm the adrenal glands and reduce tension. The hands can be worked at any time of day and the feet are best worked for about five minutes per foot before bedtime.
Aroma time
Aromatherapy involves using plant essential oils to help improve our health and wellbeing. Lavender is one of the most studied essential oils in terms of its relaxing effects. It has been shown to calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature, as well as change brain waves to a more relaxed state. Neroli, often referred to as the ‘rescue remedy’ of essential oils, is also a valuable oil for helping to ease anxiety and stress, along with bergamot, which is traditionally used in Italian folk medicine to relieve tension and anxiety. Add one or two drops of oil to a hanky or pillowcase and inhale when required, avoiding contact with the eyes and skin.
Facing up to stress
My speciality treatment is a natural facelift massage and I am constantly amazed how tension can be released throughout the whole body when just the face is being treated. We tend to hold emotional stress in our faces – particularly in the jaw and temples – so gently massaging these areas using upward and outward circular motions helps to promote relaxation and reduce stress, while increasing muscle tone and revitalising your skin. It is easy to do yourself, using your favourite cream or oil after cleansing, which means you can make it part of your daily routine.
Visit FHT’s blog and type ‘self’ into the search engine to find lots of other helpful self-care tips. Alternatively, you can search FHT’s Directory if you’d prefer to see a professional therapist (go on – you deserve it!).
The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) is the UK’s largest professional association for complementary, holistic beauty and sports therapists, and has been developing and promoting the highest standards in education and therapy practice for more than 50 years.