Every day we are subjected to various types of stress. There is mechanical stress, such as falls, accidents, heavy lifting and incorrect posture. Chemical stress may occur in the form of air pollutants, additives and colourants in food and harmful chemicals in some cosmetics. Also we all experience mental/emotional stress. When stresses reach overload level, the body is unable to adapt to them, and tension becomes stored in physical structures. This may cause pain, stiffness, numbness or postural distortions. The compression of the nerves disturbs the body's communication system and undermines its healthy functioning. The BSR Practitioner does a series of pressure tests on the fully-clothed person, and the muscular responses indicate the exact sites of stored stress. The practitioner then applies a light but definite pressure in the precise directions indicated. This allows the body to restore muscle tone and return to its in-built ability to heal and maintain itself, and cope successfully with the stresses of life.