Teens Under Stress & Pressure

You Need a Break!

Teen years are an exciting time: you’re learning about who you are and where you want to go in life. It’s a time of staying out on Friday nights to celebrate after the football game and getting up early on Saturday to practice for the school play.

It is also a time of worrying about SATs, college applications and staying in college once you get there. It’s a time when your body goes through changes, peer pressure becomes a part of everyday decision making, and you’re learning how to balance a social life, extra curricular activities, and, oh yeah, school and homework.

Being a teen can be stressful. And how the stress shows up can vary: for some, it shows up as trouble with sleep and moodiness, while others may experience anxiety and depression. Stress can even show up physically, causing the body to feel sore and achy.

Whether you are a teen who plays sports, one who carries a heavy backpack, or a teen struggling with the changes and challenges you are facing, massage is a great way to break up the tension that your body – and mind – are experiencing.

You’re probably wondering how massage can help relieve stress – especially if your back doesn’t hurt. Massage is much more than rubbing someone’s back. Massage helps your body to release endorphins, which are your body’s “feel good” chemicals that help you feel relaxed, in high spirits and stress-free. Massage encourages the body to release the tension our muscles hold on to. Once that tension is released, we are giving our bodies and minds permission to relax. It improved athletic endeavors, concentration and posture. What more is that you will learn tools that will last a lifetime, thus reducing future injuries and giving you tools to stay healthier as you age.

Below are ways you can help keep your stress levels low:

• Check in with your posture! Sitting at your desk or using the computer, it’s easy to find yourself hunched over. Good posture is important for so many things: the way we breathe, how our blood circulates, and how we feel. It means keeping your spine’s natural curves and distributing your weight evenly. Hunch forward and then arch your back to feel the extremes. Come back to a neutral spine and make sure your ears are lined up with your shoulders and hips.
• Do the twist! You don’t have to be in a gym to do yoga – you can even do it in the middle of homeroom! Sit facing forward and cross your left leg over your right. Hold onto your left thigh with your right hand, and inhale. As you exhale, turn your torso to the left, while pushing against your leg with your arm. Hold for a five to ten seconds, breathing normally. Exhale as you release and return to your starting sitting position. Repeat on the right side. That good feeling you have after this is caused by the increased blood flow and release of tension you just allowed yourself.
• Book your massage! Remember that massage is not a luxury – it is a healing modality that is one of the oldest forms of medical care, dating back to 2,700 B.C. It continues to be used all these years for a reason – it WORKS!

We know that, as a teen, your life is crazy. We invite you to In Balance Center to talk with us, relax, and give yourself a break!