5 alternative therapies to reduce stress and aid relaxation of body and mind
Stress
is something most of us deal with to some degree in our everyday lives; whether
it’s a result of pressure at work or problems at home. This can have serious
negative effects on our overall physical and mental health, and it shouldn’t be
just ‘one of those things’ you have to put up with.
We have
looked into a few different therapies which can aid relaxation and in doing so
improve your overall wellbeing, and below you can find our thoughts on each.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy
isn’t exactly new, but it is definitely growing in popularity as people lean
towards more holistic therapies to deal with stress. Aromatherapy involves the
use of essential oils (which are extracted from specific plants and flowers
with particular properties) in a controlled way to promote relaxation of the
mind and body and improve overall wellbeing. These oils can be used in
different ways, whether it’s through inhalation in the form of diffusers or
other scent releasing products, or through absorption into the skin, often
during a massage. Aromatherapy is used for a variety of purposes in addition to
relaxation, including pain relief and increased brain function.
This
is a great option for anyone who enjoys using candles to wind down in the
evening, as that would suggest that calming scents work for them. The massage
option, however, is particularly effective due to the combination of physical
therapy and the inhalation of naturally healing oils.
Infrared Saunas
This
is a treatment which many people aren’t aware of yet, but is fast becoming a huge
trend. This is especially true amongst celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, who
recently advocated the saunas positive impact on her metabolism and mental
wellbeing in comparison to more traditional saunas.
These
infrared saunas differ from how traditional steam and coal saunas work, as they
emit infrared light which is absorbed directly as heat by our skin. This makes
it more effective than other saunas, in terms of time (infrared heats you up
much faster than traditional saunas) and enjoyment (the sauna feels less humid and
uncomfortable because of the infrared). Similar to regular saunas, however, is
the extensive list of benefits they provide; improved circulation, lower blood
pressure, healthier skin, improved weight loss and mental well being, and they
can even help fight cancer.
The
science behind infrared treatment is supported, and as far as relaxation goes,
they certainly sound like they would do the trick.
Sound Therapy
Most
of us have a specific song or album that we listen to which helps us relax, but
sound therapy takes this to the
next level. Sound therapists believe we are all made up of different energy frequencies,
and they use particular sound frequencies to interact with these to rebalance
the body’s energy. These sounds can be made up of a combination of bells,
singing bowls, drums and even the human voice - whatever sounds the therapist
feels will benefit the client and help reduce their stress levels.
They
suggest that this works because sounds tap into our emotional beings as well as
our physical beings, so the use of audio helps to balance us emotionally and make
us feel more relaxed. The therapy is always administered with a qualified sound
therapist present, and if you already have that one song in mind that you know
helps you relax, then on a small scale you have a grasp of sound therapy.
Reflexology
Reflexology
is an alternative medicine which involves specific application of pressure to
your hands and feet using thumb and finger techniques, without using any
massage oil or lotion. This is a more technical form of physical therapy in
comparison to general body massages, as it is based on a specific system of
zones and reflex areas on the hands and feet being interconnected. The
stimulation of these zones is intended to relieve tension in other parts of the
body.
There
are some who are sceptical about these methods though, who suggest that there
is no scientific proof that these zones actually exist. However, people do
strongly advocate for them regardless, and even if there isn’t scientific
evidence to support it, the placebo effect and just the act of lying down can
sometimes be all people need to de-stress.
This
method might be more suited to people less comfortable with a full body massage,
as it is more specific and involves pressure on only the hands and feet.
Halotherapy
This
is the technical name for Salt Therapy, which is rather new in therapy circles.
It is predominately focused on healing respiratory problems, but it is also
believed to cleanse your body and improve overall wellbeing. The origins of
halotherapy can be traced all the way back to Ancient Greece, with doctors as
far back as then and as recent as now championing its health benefits. The
process essentially involves sitting in a salt room, or ‘salt cave’ as some
call them, and simply inhaling the dry, salt-enriched air which then naturally does
its work.
One problem
people face when taking this up as a regular treatment is that it’s not that
widely accessible at the moment; which is a shame as it is particularly
effective for those that might have respiratory problems. A simple search
online should tell you whether you’re lucky enough to have one of these nearby.
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