Tiring times like today which are ridden by hectic lifestyle and job pressures causes sleep disorders in many. Insomnia is one of the commonest sleep disorders being faced by many city dwellers. To counter this problem, rather than popping pills, it is advisable to look out for natural options which would help induce sleep. One such solution is body massage in Vancouver. Massage therapy helps to reduce stress and tension and thus aids in sleep. Just a gentle touch can help relieve stress and relax the body.
To justify this theory, the basic example could be of a baby who is crying and bawling and upon the mother’s gentle touch and massage, the baby falls asleep. Massage soothes and relaxes the nerves, just like that of a baby, and thus helps in inducing sleep.
How does it Work?
The autonomic nervous system of the body comprises of two main parts; parasympathetic and sympathetic. The parasympathetic helps to balance the sympathetic system. A massage helps to activate the parasympathetic thus allowing the body to relax. Under stress, the sympathetic is activated, which causes stress and tension and in extreme cases even fight. Thus if stress and tension is the cause for someones insomnia, massage therapy can be a boon for them as it improves the sleep pattern of the body. This is further evident from the fact that a person tends to fall asleep while getting a professional massage.
Sleep Disorder
Sleep disorder greatly affects the normal functioning of the body as well as the quality of life. Some of the common sleep disorders include;
* Insomnia
* Sleep Apnea
* Restless leg syndrome
* Narcolepsy
Amongst all the aforementioned disorders, insomnia is the commonest sleep disorder and an estimated 3.3 million Canadians suffer from it. Many times insomnia is also caused due to physical problems such as asthma, heart disease, back problem and arthritis. Some of the common physiological and psychological related causes include;
* Anxiety and Nervousness
* Stress
* Remorse or Depression
* Pain (Internal or external)
* Erratic working schedule
* Drugs
* Changes in sleeping pattern due to ageing
* Extra caffeine in the body system
The relation between massage therapy and sleep
Massage therapy helps to ease the stress and anxiety in an individual. It is also proven to help alleviate back aches and other pains. Headache is also reduced greatly due to massage. Such cures indirectly help to relieve the body and thus induce sleep. It not only induces pain, but also regulates sleeping pattern by providing good quality sleep. A good sleep essentially incorporates a sound sleep for a long stretch without episodes of alertness. Compared to mere relaxation exercises, combining massage therapy can greatly reduce sleep disorders.