Love Your Heart!

February is Heart Health Awareness Month! I think we need to take a minute (or 80-100 heart beats) and honor just how amazing our hearts are. They truly are the reason why we are here. We often take for granted just how important this vital organ is in order for us to function properly in our crazy, hectic, everyday lives. Our hearts really do love us! Its important to love it back.

According to the American Heart Association, one of the biggest risk factors for developing high blood pressure is extended periods of stress. While anyone who has ever had a massage can tell you that they feel more relaxed after a session with their massage therapist, this positive result is so much more than just the relaxing setting and gently-loosened muscles.

Sometimes, our body’s natural fight-or-flight responses are triggered by day-to-day issues that we can never fully escape. As a result, increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released into our system. When this gets out of control, our body’s natural filtering system can’t flush these substances out fast enough, and they begin to build up leading to chemically-induced, chronic stress. This is when our hearts start to feel unloved. It is so important to take the time to just STOP. We need to slow down and we need to take care of ourselves! Most of our culture finds it to be a luxury getting a massage, when in reality, it is an absolute necessity. 

May this month be the first of many to eat a little better, exercise more, meditate, get regular massages... and most of all love your heart!