Body Stress Release
Unlocking tensions
Restoring self-healing
WHAT IS BODY STRESS?
When the body fails to adapt effectively to stressful circumstances stress overload is reached and the muscles may involuntarily clench in protective action. This muscular response is usually the body’s attempt to reduce mobility or limit movement of an affected joint, tendon or tissue.
When normal stresses and strains reach the point of overload, this tension may become locked into the body’s physical structures. This stored tension is known as ‘body stress’. Over time this accumulative progression of body stress exerts pressure on the spinal nerves and may result in pain, numbness, muscle weakness, stiffness, distorted posture and impaired functioning.
At first one may just gradually feel fatigued but later pain, stiffness, or numbness may set in. The effects may vary, but the result could be a slow decline in overall health.
Sometimes stored body stress is so severe that even just one small movement can set off a severe cascade of painful symptoms. Body stress needs to be effectively and precisely released to encourage and restore normal functioning to stop the cycle of stress overload and compensation.
WHAT IS BODY STRESS RELEASE?
The Body Stress Release technique is built on the premise of using the body as highly sophisticated biofeedback system. The practitioner interprets the body’s reflex response to accurately ascertain sites of stored tension and muscle contraction. Once the source of the body stress has been identified, the practitioner performs the release with a series of gentle precise movements that stimulate the nervous system and activate the body’s self healing response.
THE BENEFITS OF BODY STRESS RELEASE
AFTER THE RELEASES
As pressure is released from the nerves, the client may experience immediate relief from both pain and muscle stiffness, and even correction of distorted posture. Usually this is the case if the body stress has occurred recently – then the recovery process is very rapid and the muscle tone and equilibrium is quickly re-established.
However, if the body stress has been present for a long time, it will be necessary for a number of consecutive releases to be carried out over a period of time, thus allowing the layers of tightened muscles to progressively relax back to their normal tone.
INCREASED FUNCTION, ENERGY AND WELL-BEING
With reduced nerve compression, there is often almost immediate improvement in communication, which in turn could result in improved organ function. Clients often report that certain conditions that they had not mentioned have cleared up, such as constipation, bladder problems, indigestion, heartburn etc. Usually the physical changes are accompanied by an increased emotional well-being.
As the muscles lock up in layers, like a protective corset, the body’s energy is diverted into holding the muscles in the defensive mode, often resulting in constant tiredness. As the body stress is released, the muscles resume their normal supportive role and more energy is available for living.
WHY DOES PAIN SOMETIMES COME AND GO?
After a release, when pressure is released from nerve pathways, there may be a temporary increase in pain as sensation is restored to partially numbed nerves. This is not always an indication of crisis but rather a sign of reconnection. As the healing progresses, the irritation to the nerve drops below its firing point and there is the wonderful sense of pain receding. However, while the release process is on-going, if a client does something that triggers tension or stress (such as lifting something heavy or slouching on a soft couch and putting pressure on the back) the stress will quickly irritate the nerves back up to firing point, causing pain to return. If one avoids the stressful action, it allows the nerve irritability to once again drop below threshold level and pain to recede. This is why it is essential to allow the body time to complete its healing cycle, before challenging it with stressful activities.
THE PROCESS OF HEALING
As the energy flow and communication is restored, some people may initially experience sensations of tingling or warmth. In certain cases there may be increased pain for a short time, as feeling is restored to numbed nerves. This is a healing pain as areas which had decreased sensation, may restore normal functioning and nerve regulation.
After the releases a person may feel an area stiffen slightly and temporarily as the body’s wisdom is directing the surface muscles to tighten, in order to restrict mobility and allow for the underlying structures to heal and repair. This way there is minimal irritation to the underlying tissues during their healing process. A coming and going of pain and stiffness is a very normal part of the recovery process.
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Dawn Spies
M.B.S.R.A
Body Stress Release Practitioner