Slow down and breathe.
Even a little bit of down time will relieve stress and boost your mental and physical state, according to researchers at the University of Konstanz.
After only 10 minutes of receiving a massage, study subjects recorded higher levels of psychological and physiological relaxation. The same results were noted after 10 minutes of simply resting, but to a lesser degree than after a massage.
Researches determined that short-term treatments reduce stress by boosting the body's principal engine for relaxation — the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
Stress is one of the leading causes of disease and poor health. Your body’s PNS, however, wards off stress during times of threat. By launching a relaxation response through massage or rest, you can protect your health and restore balance in your body.
"We are very encouraged by the findings that short periods of disengagement are enough to relax not just the mind but also the body," said Maria Meier, a doctoral student in the lab of neuropsychology at the University of Konstanz and first author on the study. "You don't need a professional treatment in order to relax. Having somebody gently stroke your shoulders, or even just resting your head on the table for ten minutes, is an effective way to boost your body's physiological engine of relaxation."
Massage was the research group’s first study, Meier said. Their next step will test the effects on relieving stress by other short interventions, like breathing exercises and meditation.
Source: Newswise Sept. 8, 2020