Body stress release: what is it and what does it do to your body

Your body's reactions to stress and pain

Tension in itself has a function. It allows you to be alert and active in difficult situations. When the tense situation subsides, your body relaxes again.

However, when you experience long-term stress symptoms, your body can no longer adapt. The stress then builds up in certain muscles, which therefore remain tense. You cannot influence this muscle tension yourself: your autonomic nervous system is responsible for it.

You can bring your autonomic nervous system into balance by, for example, meditation exercises. Yet this is not always enough to achieve muscle tension in the deeper layers of your muscles. And that is where body stress release can help. It is also an effective additional treatment for injuries and overloading.

What is body stress release?

In a body stress release treatment we first find out where in your body the muscle tension is. Muscle tension is stored in certain patterns. This is visible through reflexes your body gives. Such reflexes are called the bio-feedback mechanism .

The reflexes are clearly recognizable: the body stress release practitioner knows exactly which release you need and in which direction it should be performed.

The treatment consists of giving small impulses with the hands, fingers or thumbs. This must be done in the right place and in the right direction. So it is not a massage, but signals are given so that your body releases tension. The moment your body releases the tension, it can repair itself.

How does a body stress release treatment work?

Prior to a body stress release treatment you will first have an intake interview with the practioner. During this conversation he or she will discuss with you:

• What your complaints are
• Your medical history
• Whether you have any injuries
• What stressful periods you have experienced recently and in the past

The BSR practitioner will then discuss with you what the connection is between your symptoms and the built-up tension in your body. We will also discuss what effect you can expect from the treatment. Usually you will have your first body stress release treatment immediately after the intake. Shortly afterwards you will have two more treatments.

During the treatment

A BSR treatment takes place on a special, tilting treatment couch. You take your place on the footstool and then the couch is tilted into the right position for you. The treatment is painless and you keep your clothes and shoes on. As you lie on the treatment couch, the practitioner delivers impulses (manual) to the right place on your body. Through these impulses your body will slowly release the muscle tension.

What complaints does body stress release help with?

Above we mentioned stress as the cause of muscle tension in your body. Muscle tension in deeper layers of your muscles can also have other causes, such as:

• Physical overload: injury, accident, wrong posture at work
• Strong emotions: sadness, anger or shock (often related to stress)
• Hypersensitivity to harmful substances you come into contact with.

If you build up muscle tension due to the above causes, you can recognize this by the following symptoms, among others:

• Headaches, tinnitus or migraines
• Pain in your back, neck or shoulders
• Restless legs
• Stomach and intestinal complaints
• Bladder problems
• Pain in your hips, legs and buttocks
• Allergic reactions
• Painful knees and ankles
• Pregnancy complaints
• Lots of crying due to stress (babies)

For these complaints, body stress release (BSR) can help the body recover.

The results of body stress release

The effect after a treatment can vary from person to person. The complaints will almost always decrease significantly or even disappear completely. After treatment, for example, these effects are noticeable:

• Pain relief (sometimes immediately after treatment)
• Flexible muscles
• Your organs are more active
• A feeling of warmth or cold
• A feeling of relief
• More energy

Sometimes old pain can return briefly after BSR treatments. This is not harmful and will go away by itself.

Body stress release is suitable for any age

A BSR treatment is not painful or intense. You keep your clothes on and there are no unpleasant side effects. Body stress release therefore works for any age: from babies to the elderly. For example, babies who cry for a long time or women with certain pregnancy complaints can also benefit from body stress release treatments.

What can you do yourself to relax?

BSR treatments are always an addition to other (often medical) treatments. Many adults and children benefit greatly from them. Every situation is different. Therefore, after a treatment you will receive personal advice on what to do and what not to do after a BSR session. It is important to avoid mental and physical overload. Otherwise tension will build up again in your muscles. Support the treatment for example by:

• Mild physical exercise such as walking or cycling
• Meditation exercises
• Relaxation exercises
• Limiting excessive exercise and prolonged stress

Body stress release breathing exercise

Finally, we provide a breathing exercise to get started with body stress release yourself. You can use this to support the treatments you receive, or just relax. The breathing exercise works as follows:

• Focus on an area in your body
• Breathe in and tighten the muscles in the area you are focusing on
• Hold your breath and tighten the muscles
• Exhale and relax your muscles

You can repeat this exercise several times, each time tightening and relaxing different muscles. After that, your body can relax completely. It is also a very suitable exercise before going to sleep.