I’m Not Stressed. Or Am I??

Recently, I met a young girl of about 24 and when she learnt about what I do, she asked, “What can I do about these pimples? Is there something I can apply to make them go?”

Now of course, pimples occur due to bacterial infection but the root cause of it is wrong lifestyle and stress. Wrong lifestyle includes irregular sleep habits and wrong food which affects the digestive system. When the digestive system is irregular, it manifests in many ways, one of them being pimples. Another cause is stress, which affects all the systems of our body and weakens the immune system, thus leading to infections, like pimples.

External applications are practically useless if this basic root cause is not tackled. When I explained this to the girl, she was confused. “But I am not stressed. My exams are long over.”

This is when I realized that most people associate ‘stress’ with some external stimulus or event. Thinking that stress occurs only if there is a stressful situation is a common misconception. Stress is a state of mind. A person can be stressed even when they have nothing to do.

Psychological tests show that ‘Type A’ personalities are more prone to stress. People of this personality type tend to be perfectionists, want to keep in control of any situation, worry about work, think and procrastinate a lot, etc. These are stressful personalities and they get affected, whether the situation demands it or not.

Stress is a defensive response of our body. It is a fight and flight response to a situation that the body considers a threat to itself. For example, if there is a bomb blast near us, we will become jumpy, our pulse rate increases, blood pressure increases, adrenalin rushes through our body and that helps us to cope with the situation and run away from the danger.

However, in present times, our way of thinking has changed and we worry about everything. Our negative thoughts and state of mind signal the brain into thinking that there is a constant threat to the body. Due to this, it is continually in fight or flight mode. This is the reason that prolonged stress leads to chronic diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes, PCOD and other symptoms like pimples.

What is really required is not some medication or external application to remove the symptom, but some relaxation techniques and de-stressing therapies on a regular basis that can help relax body and mind. Over time and regular treatment, one learns to be more relaxed in their approach to life and so balance is restored in the body.

So be aware, watch yourself and your thoughts in any situation. It is said that an idle man can be more stressed than a busy man because his thoughts can turn negative and lack of physical exercise weakens the body and mind.

So be active and stay healthy.

Writer:

Ms. Ankita Shah

Director & Trainer

Pristine Senses Academy

When Not to Give/Take Massage

Many a times our body craves a massage, especially when we are sick and the body is aching. But is that the best time to get a massage? Should a responsible therapist give a massage at that time?

Massage is a very non-invasive and safe alternative therapy. But it can be harmful in two cases:

• If done by an untrained therapist and
• If done when contraindicated.

In the first case, we can ask for the qualifications (proof of qualifications) of the therapist. Beware, due to lack of licensing and standardization of massage training in India, even good spas may not have well trained therapists, as some of our students have experienced first-hand. Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to do our research well and get the therapy from them at least once.

In the second case, there are a few points to remember where massage is contraindicated:

Fever/Infection – at this time, the body needs only rest, not stimulation. There is also a danger of the infection spreading within the client and to the therapist also.

Hypertension/Cardiac conditions – Massage generally helps in calming the body and mind and reducing stress. However, vigorous, stimulating massage should be avoided by anyone who has High BP or cardiac conditions. If one is taking blood thinning medication or has recently undergone surgery, they must avoid massage unless recommended by their doctor.

Diabetes – Again here it depends on the nature of the disease. If one is suffering from diabetic neuropathy, they may not feel the pressure during massage and may ask for more, but the therapist must not relent as it could be harmful. A doctor’s permit before treatment is recommended. In case of cuts or bruises or gangrene, there is a chance of infection spreading in the client as well as the therapist.

Injury/fracture/skin conditions – Any part with injury or infection should be avoided. In such cases it is better to avoid massage until the part is healed. In case of fracture, there should be absolutely no movement in the part and massage is strictly contraindicated. Some skin conditions are harmless, such as Psoriasis, Leucoderma, etc. But others may carry infection or be painful and massage on and around the part should be avoided.

Under influence or alcohol/drugs – If a person is taking strong prescription medication, a doctor’s permit should be acquired before massage. If under influence of alcohol, massage is strictly contraindicated as the nervous system is affected.

Cancer – Light, gentle massage can be very beneficial for cancer patients. However, in some cases, there are chances of it spreading in the body with massage. It is best to have a doctor’s permit for massage therapy.

Varicose Veins/Inflammation – Massage directly over varicose veins is contraindicated as well as in case of internal or external inflammation.

If massage is done to someone with any of the above contraindications, it can have an adverse effect. This is why a good, responsible therapist take the case history of the client before giving treatment. A client should be aware of these points before trying any therapy and the therapist should help educate the client for the same.

Writer:

Mr. Pinakin Shah

Founder

Pristine Senses Academy

www.pristinesenses.net