Mind~Body Connection
Massage for a
Healthy Heart
The heart is a wondrous organ, snuggled tightly inside the chest cavity and is associated with love and understanding, compassion, empathy, peace and forgiveness. It is the center of chakra system, and connects the three lower physical/emotional chakras with the three higher mental/spiritual chakras.
The physical and emotional connections found within the fourth chakra are apparent to those tuned into their body. Feelings of despair or anger can coincide with chest pain, while stretching and relaxing chest muscles is often accompanied by positive emotions such as peace and freedom.
Massage can support a healthy heart in the following wonderful ways:
-Support cardiovascular health
-Reduce stress, increase production of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
-Improve blood circulation, reduce blood pressure, and slow heart rate—all benefits that
can contribute to heart health
-Reduce occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias, which cause the heart to pump less
efficiently, and can decrease both diastolic and systolic blood pressure
-Ease heart strain by improving circulation toward the heart while relaxing
contracted muscles
-Improve circulation of oxygen and essential nutrients in the body by strengthening
circulation
-Reduce hypertension
-Manage depression and insomnia
-Enhance relaxation
-Ease anxiety and supports emotional well-being
Clients experiencing chest restriction physically protect the area by concaving the chest, protruding the shoulders forward and rounding the upper back. As a result, the heart chakra becomes congested and is compounded by strained musculature of the upper back and shoulders. Massage can help to relax these muscles and help open up your heart chakra/chest area. This, in turn, this will improve posture, and neck alignment and help you to walk taller, straighter and with more confidence.
Show yourself some love and get a massage. You will feel so much better - cross my heart!
by Maria Knauff