Are you aware of the effect stress has in the role of 90% of your members’ lives? Have you considered programming that will assist your members with managing this very real dilemma? There is a complete wellness program – a Colorgized wellness program -that can assist in relieving the effects of stress in your clients’ lives thereby having a domino effect on your business. Members or clients will feel the effect of stress reduction which in turn, will have them talking to their friends about their health and well being which in turn, will increase your membership numbers.
In a recent study, researchers found 89% of those surveyed reported high stress levels in their daily lives. Why does this statistic matter? Simply put, it matters because 80 to 85% of all disease is directly correlated with the level of stress a person experiences. Stress is also the culprit when it comes to loss of revenue for companies across the country. Each year, $200-$300 billion dollars are lost due to stress-related work or lack-of-work issues.
When a stressful incident occurs, there are many reactions the body experiences. Adrenaline and other hormones, like cortisol, are released into the bloodstream. The liver releases stored sugar for an immediate energy boost. Blood flow increases to the brain, heart, lungs and large muscles (at the expense of lower priority functions like digestion, etc). This allows the person who has just experienced a stressful situation to do what needs to be done to survive. Our nervous systems go into shock. If prolonged stress continues over time without any lifestyle changes or stress management techniques, the system resources become depleted. This is classic “burn out,” with fatigue, adrenal exhaustion and a weakened immune system. Stress is related and has been responsible for insomnia, chest pain, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Diseases, such as cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, pneumonia, infection, ulcers and so many more, are the result of stress. Death is not the direct result of stress, but rather death may occur when continued stress causes the body to lose its resistance to illness.
Let’s look at several common diseases and how stress impacts each of them:
Heart Disease
Medical researchers aren’t sure exactly how stress increases the risk of heart disease. Stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress make other risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) worse. For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure goes up, you may overeat, you may exercise less and you may be more likely to smoke.
If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.
Gastrointestinal Disease
Stress can result in digestive problems and pain in the abdomen. Stress hormones directly hinder the release of stomach acid and emptying of the stomach, and can directly stimulate the colon, speeding up the emptying of its contents.
Also, continual, high levels of cortisol – as it occurs in some forms of depression, or during chronic psychological stress – can increase appetite and lead to weight gain. Overeating at night is also common among people who are under stress.
Reproductive Disease
Stress suppresses the reproductive system at various levels. For example, stress hormones inhibit the testes and ovaries directly, hindering production of the male and female sex hormones testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
Immune System Deficiency
Stress interacts with the immune system, making an individual more vulnerable to colds and flu, fatigue and infections. In addition, the high cortisol levels resulting from prolonged stress could serve to make the body more susceptible to disease by switching off disease-fighting white blood cells. Often, when stress is continual, the body loses its ability to turn off the “flight or fight” response and the individual is then in a constant state of anxiety and apprehension leading to a lack of motivation in general. Hallmarks of this form of depression are anxiety, loss of appetite, loss of sex drive, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Can we escape stress? No. Can we minimize its harmful and deadly effects? Definitely.
Some of the ways we can control our stress are through positive thinking, exercise, deep breathing and reframing or changing how we look at events. Is there a program you can implement into your fitness or wellness facility that will bring these healthy, stress-relieving tools to your clientele immediately? Yes, a Colorgized wellness program. Members will participate in cycling, yoga, Pilates, belly dance or mediation classes in a color-changing environment while focusing their minds on deep breathing and positive thoughts or affirmations that will reduce their stress levels.
By slowing the mind down and focusing on positive thoughts, the mind is relaxed. The subtle (emotional) body is then free to function properly. This will reduce the amount of physical disease experienced by the individual. That is a true wellness experience.
Christina Leon is the President of Spectral Journeys. She can be contacted at 800.573.5974, or by email atchristina@spectraljourneys.com, or visit www.spectraljourneys.com.
