WHAT IS BODY STRESS?

Body stress occurs when the body fails to adapt to an overload of stress and tension becomes stored in physical structures. The causes of body stress may be: Mechanical stress - accidents, poor posture, incorrect lifting; Chemical stress - pollutants, harmful substances, foods, cosmetics, and viruses which irritate the nervous system; Mental and emotional stress - can cause our body defensive stress. An example of this effect is the ‘fight or flight’ response which is designed to protect us from trauma. However this causes your body to tighten (particularly around your spine), causing the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. Simultaneously adrenaline rushes into your blood stream, brain functions change and blood flow moves away from your digestive and reproductive systems and into your heart lungs and muscles. Even if the stresses are mild, your body can get trapped in this defense pattern and can dramatically affect the way your nervous system and internal organs function. It may cause pain or affect your body’s ability to rest and regenerate.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF BODY STRESS?

When the point of stress overload is reached, the stress becomes “locked” into the body manifesting itself as tension. This causes disruptions to the nervous system distorting the messages being sent throughout the body. Some effects of body stress are shown in the diagram below.

WHY BODY STRESS RELEASE?

Body Stress Release is a safe, gentle yet effective way to help the body release stored tension. This results in an improved nervous system, an improved ability to adapt to stress, thus helping your body to regenerate and evolve as it was designed.

HOW DOES BODY STRESS RELEASE WORK?

The practitioner does a series of pressure tests, with the client lying down fully clothed. Muscular responses indicate the sites of body stress. Light but definite pressure is applied in specific directions to allow the body stress to be released. The effects may be dramatic, with instant relief from pain or straightening of distorted posture. However if the body stress has been stored for a long time, it may take several sessions to release the layers of tension that have been locked in.

FROM WHERE DOES BODY STRESS RELEASE ORIGINATE?

Body Stress Release (BSR) was developed in South Africa by Ewald and Gail Meggersee and has been researched and practiced since 1981. In 1988 the BSR Association was formed. The Association controls the mode of practice of practitioners and is governed by its constitution, a legal document by which all practitioners are bound. This ensures that a professional level of practice is maintained and provides a code of ethics and disciplinary powers.

The body's natural ability to maintain health relies on undisturbed communication within the brain and nervous system. Any tension locked into the physical structures, under-mines the efficiency of the nervous system and disturbs its ability to co-ordinate its function.

HEAD AND NECK UPPER BACK LOWER BACK THE ARMS THE LEGS

Body Stress Release is suitable for everyone, from infants to the elderly, whether sick or healthy. As we are all subject to the stresses of life, we all tend to accumulate stored tensions, with the resultant decline in the body’s efficiency. Therefore, everyone’s quality of life may be enhanced by being assessed for body stress and having it released from time to time. We all need to take responsibility for our own health.