Health Benefits of BSR

Body Stress Release assists the body to unlock stored tension, improving communication via the nervous system.

 

Once the body stress has been released there is improved muscle tone, reduction in compression to nerves and circulation, and thus relief from pain and stiffness. The effects may be swift and dramatic or may take place gradually over a series of consultations, as tightened muscles relax at deeper levels.

 

The majority of people initially consult a BSR practitioner for relief from pain and to improve flexibility. Examples include; lower back ache and stiffness, leg or abdominal pain, upper back and shoulder ache, neck pain and headaches.

 

BSR’s purpose, however, is not only to provide relief from pain, but also to improve the body’s communication (promoting self-healing) and co-ordination, thereby promoting health.

 

Thus, after BSR there is usually a general upgrading of function, and clients experience improvement or relief from a wide range of ailments.

 

As pressure is released from the nerves, there may be immediate relief from pain, relaxing of tight muscles, even straightening of distorted posture. Usually this is the case if the body stress has occurred recently – the process of restoring normal tone is very rapid and the life energy flow is quickly re-established.

 

If the body stress has been present for a long time, it will be necessary for a number of stress releases to be carried out over a period of time. This allows the layers of tightened muscles to relax progressively back to their normal tone. This process of unlocking the deeply stored tension could be compared to peeling away the layers of an onion.

 

As the muscles lock up in layers, the body’s energy is diverted into holding the muscles in the defensive mode, resulting in constant tiredness. As the body stress is released, the muscles resume their normal supportive role and more energy is available for living.

 

With reduced nerve compression, there is improved communication, which results in improved function of organs. Clients often report that certain conditions that they had not mentioned have cleared up, such as constipation, bladder problems, indigestion, etc. Usually the physical changes are accompanied by an emotional upliftment.

Lower Back body stress

CAUSES

The jarring effect of accidents and falls may cause body stress to become locked into the lower back. Also, heavy or incorrect lifting or bending may strain ligaments and muscles and result in stress becoming stored in the structures. The wrong kinds of exercise – those which involve twisting movements or repeated forward bending – may stress the lumbar spine. Another cause is poor posture, especially sitting in a slumped position which reverses the normal lumbar curve. Sitting like this may give temporary relief from back pain, as it causes the joint spaces to open up at the back and thus reduce pressure on spinal nerves for a short time.

 

However, this posture builds up pressure on the discs and in time the back walls of the discs may weaken and develop a bulge. This would result in pressure being exerted on a spinal nerve.

 

EFFECTS

Irritation to the spinal nerves of the lower back may result in back pain and this may be referred along the nerve pathways into the abdomen, groin, hips, legs or feet. Often pain is felt along the large sciatic nerve which passes through the buttock and down the back of the leg. There may also be sensations of numbness in any of these areas. Muscle function may be affected, resulting in stiffness or weakness.

 

The compression effect in the lower back may be so severe that the back muscles lock up in a protective spasm, pulling the spine sideways or forwards. While body stress remains stored in the lower back, the irritation to the nerves may undermine or disturb the normal functioning of the areas and organs they supply. Thus body stress may lead to digestive problems, e.g. constipation/diarrhea, bladder complaints and may adversely affect sexual function. Sometimes a person may not be aware of the body stress in the lower back other than feeling stiffness on arising in the morning. After BSR a person may be pain-free for a period, then experience a return of the problem for no apparent reason.This signals that the lower back is ready to undergo further deeper releases of body stress.

 

If the body stress has been present in the lower back for a long time (the cause may have originated in childhood), it may be necessary for the stored tension to be released in “layers” over a period of time. As the foundation of the spine, the lower back area affects the stability of the rest of the spine. Therefore, if body stress is stored in the lumbar area, muscular tension will be referred to the upper back and neck.

Mid-Back body stress

CAUSES

The chest and back areas may be strained by working in a hunched or twisted posture, e.g. bending over a sewing machine, doing woodwork, etc. Body stress may be caused by lifting heavy objects or by holding something up for a long time. Body stress may also occur as a painful spasm of the diaphragm muscle.

 

Besides the mechanical causes mentioned above, the cause may be emotional tension, such as shock or anxiety, e.g. the typical “butterflies in the stomach” feeling. In addition the cause may be chemical, e.g. irritation from eating or drinking something spicy, acid or very cold. If there is body stress in the lower back, it may be referred into the muscles of the chest and upper back.

 

EFFECTS

There may be a mild, nagging ache in the upper back between the shoulder blades, or possibly a persistent itching. The body stress may also manifest as a severe stabbing pain in this area, or in the chest. The pain is worsened by deep breathing. Body stress in the diaphragm muscle may result in indigestion or heartburn, or a feeling of breathlessness. It may also manifest as a constant feeling of hunger.

 

Body stress in the mid and upper back may have an impact on the nerve supply to various internal organs, such as heart, lungs, kidneys and bladder, and may interfere with normal function.

Neck body stress

CAUSES

Jarring or jerking the neck as in a fall or a whiplash in a car accident; working or reading with the head tilted downwards for lengthy periods; twisting the neck as in reversing a car.

 

Emotions like intense anger, anxiety or shock, which cause a person to hunch the shoulders and tighten the neck muscles.

 

A state of ongoing depression will also bring about postural distortions. In addition, the physical discomfort resulting from the body stress will reinforce the negative emotions and lead to a vicious circle.

 

Exposure to harmful chemicals may severely irritate the nervous system and cause the neck muscles to tighten, e.g. chemicals which we inhale, such as car fumes and insecticides; substances which we absorb through the skin, such as cleaning materials and certain cosmetics. Some people react adversely to certain foods and to preservatives and colourants. Very often an infection, such as the flu or cold virus, will result in neck stress.

 

EFFECTS

The body stress stored in the neck structures may cause pain and stiffness and an inability to fully turn the head. As the lower neck supplies the nerves to the arms, there may be pain or numbness in the shoulder, arm or hand.

 

Muscles may be weakened, resulting in difficulty in grasping objects. The tension in the neck may cause headaches or pain in the face or jaw. There may be sensations of dizziness or nausea.

 

The pressure may irritate nerve pathways which connect with the eyes, nose and mouth and this could adversely affect vision and the senses of smell and taste. Another effect may be a burning, dry mouth or excess saliva.

Body stress in the neck area may also have an impact on nerve connections to internal organs, such as the heart, lungs and digestive system, undermining normal function.

Babies & Children with body stress

When Should a Baby or Child be Assessed for Body Stress?

The birth process may be stressful to the baby. It makes sense to have a baby assessed for body stress within a few months of the birth, even if there do not appear to be any problems. In this way, if there is any tension stored in the baby’s neck or back it will be released before it accumulates to have an adverse impact on the nervous system.

 

The BSR practitioner carries out the checks and releases while the baby is lying on the mother’s chest or lap. The pressure applied is very light and comfortable for the baby. After the stored stress is released a baby very often will fall into a sound sleep.

 

Small children cannot always verbalise what they are feeling, but the parents may observe signs indicating the presence of body stress. For example, a normally good-natured child will become sullen and uncooperative, or the child may talk about a “funny feeling in the tummy”, or complain of sore legs.

 

Children enjoy experiencing BSR as it is a gentle procedure and they become aware of how different they feel once the stored tension has been released. Often a small child will be aware of the body stress and will ask to be taken for a BSR session.

 

Babies & children respond very quickly to BSR, as the pressure has not been present in the body for a long time and is readily released.

 

CAUSES

If the birth process was difficult, a baby may be born with body stress, especially in the neck and lower spine. Small children are likely to accumulate body stress as a result of frequent falls and jerks while playing, or trying to lift heavy objects. Children may sit incorrectly, e.g. reading or studying while sitting hunched over on a bed will induce stress in the neck and lower back. Watching television while in a half-lying position which reverses the normal lumbar curve will cause pressure to build up in the spine. As they approach puberty, children become more self-conscious and may develop poor posture. Hunched shoulders, a contracted chest and downward tilted head occur as a defensive mechanism against the new challenges and stresses in life. Muscles tighten and tension becomes locked into the body.

 

EFFECTS

  • A common sign that a baby has body stress in the neck is constant crying for no apparent reason.

  • When body stress is present in the lower back the baby will cry when the hips are lifted while the nappy is being changed. The impact on the nervous system may cause constipation.

  • Body stress in the area of the diaphragm may result in colic.

  • Toddlers who refuse to walk and demand to be carried, or who complain of sore legs, (so-called growing pains) very likely have body stress in the lower back. The leg muscles may be affected, causing a tendency of the feet to turn inwards.

  • Bed-wetting may occur if the nerve supply to the bladder is irritated.

  • At school, a child with tension in the neck may lack concentration and become disruptive.

  • If there is pressure in the lower back, the child may be restless and unable to sit still.