As human beings, touch is so important.
~Anita Bondi
laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, it is now understood that prolonged daily stress weakens DNA structures by shortening chromosome-protecting telomeres, a major component in premature cell death and the trigger of genetic, predisposed markers for disease. Studies by Dr. Owen Wolkowitz,
of the University of California, San Francisco, demonstrate the link between shortened telomeres and insufficient response to free radicals, resulting in chronic inflammation, now believed to be the catalyst of most degenerative diseases. Psychological stress, according to research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Shel- don Cohen of Carnegie Mellon Univer-
Age-Defying Bodywork How to Turn Back the Clock
by Marlaina Donato I
t has been said that stress kills, and it oſten can be a slow and premature process, leading to common but
avoidable symptoms of decline: impaired memory, loss of mobility, fatigue and decreased libido. Good nutrition, getting enough sleep and staying active contribute to vitality; however, fortifying the nervous system is critical to combating age-acceler- ating stress hormones like cortisol. Te key to keeping body and mind
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young may lie in the therapeutic modali- ties of bodywork, an umbrella term for up to 350 methods that include massage, energy work and meridian-based therapies like acupuncture, shiatsu and reflexol- ogy, which can improve quality of life and promote cellular integrity. Once consid- ered a luxury confined to spas and private home sessions, bodywork is moving into the medical mainstream with reputable hospitals like the Memorial Sloan Ket- Hudson County
NAHudson.com
tering Cancer Center, in New York City, which offers reiki sessions and instruction for patients and caregivers. According to a survey by the Ameri-
can Hospital Association, reiki and its close cousin Terapeutic Touch comprise one of three top complementary thera- pies in American hospitals, along with massage therapy and music. Te Arthritis Foundation recommends massage for all types of arthritis and pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, as it can reduce discomfort and stress.
Te Chemistry of Premature Aging Busy lives without enough downtime can set up the body to be in a chronic state of “fight-or-flight”, which compromises cardiovascular health, nutrient absorption, waste elimination and immunity. Tanks to groundbreaking researchers like Nobel
sity, in Pittsburgh, changes how the body regulates inflammatory response. “Stress and inflammation cause pain
and disease,” says Certified Reflexologist and holistic practitioner Martha Garland, of CreativeSpirit Healing Arts, in Baltimore. “All of this that we carry in our bodies will make us feel much older than our years.” Trough application of pressure on
specific reflex zones on the feet, hands and ears, reflexologists like Garland can help promote the natural flow of bodily functions. “Reflexology, a modality that is separate from massage therapy, reduces the tension, stress and pain that we hold in our feet and in the rest of our body, which can promote longevity and better quality of life,” she says. Certified craniosacral therapist
Margaret Connolly, of Narberth, Penn- sylvania, agrees that mental or emotional strain plays a key role in the aging process.
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