The Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy
Rapaport et al. (2018) argue that massage therapy has something to offer in the treatment of mental illness. They point out that research has shown massage therapy to reduce cortisol, increase oxytocin, and decrease reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. Indeed, it is no secret that massages are relaxing – just ask any of our clients with post-treatment “massage brain”! Still, I believe that one overlooked aspect of the potential benefits of massage on mental health is the opportunity for mindfulness.
Mindful Massage
It is well known that meditation is very beneficial for mental, physical (and I would add spiritual) health. However, for many people, the idea of meditation sounds boring at best and terrifying at worst. Particularly when someone is going through a period of psychological distress, sitting quietly without distraction and focusing on the breath (mantra, etc.) might be the last thing they want to do. Massage therapy can act as a gentle gateway to meditation for people who are nervous to meditate. Receiving a massage invites us out of our racing minds and into our bodies. When there is therapeutic pressure on our aching muscles, our attention is drawn to the area. So, instead of focusing on the breath, a person can focus on the area of their body receiving touch at the moment. This can be more engaging and pleasurable than focusing on the breath. It can also feel safer and more accessible because of the supportive physical contact from a caring healthcare provider.
Massage Therapy for Insomnia and Restlessness
For some people, periods of psychological suffering involve difficulty sleeping or insomnia. One contributing factor can be a low tolerance for lying still and quietly. In more extreme cases, lying down may trigger intense fear due to learned association. In other words, when someone experiences panic every time they lie down in bed, their subconscious may learn to associate lying down with danger. Receiving massage therapy can help retrain the subconscious to form a positive association with lying still, making it easier to relax in bed at night. In fact, periods of mindfulness and low-stimulus rest throughout the day go a long way in making it easier to “turn off” at bedtime.
Mindfulness Is a Practice, Not Perfection
While massage therapy offers a wonderful opportunity to practice mindfulness, it is not always just a matter of hopping on a massage table. It can require some effort on the part of the massage receiver to actively bring attention to the sensations in their body. And just like with other meditation practices, successful mindfulness during a massage session is not a thought-free 60 minutes. Success is noticing racing thoughts and gently returning to the body over and over and over again.
Our Approach at Welling Centre
Massage therapists at Welling Centre aim to foster deep relaxation while simultaneously treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction (and more). We invite clients to take the lead on how much they would like to chat, and wholeheartedly support engagement with mindfulness during treatment sessions.
To book your massage therapy session, explore our massage therapists and book online here.
References:
Rapaport, M. H., Schettler, P. J., Larson, E. R., Carroll, D., Sharenko, M., Nettles, J., &
Kinkead, B. (2018). Massage Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders. Focus (American
Psychiatric Publishing), 16(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20170043