During a massage, the muscles and tissues experience an emotional release just as they experience a release of physical tension. This emotional release can manifest in several ways: a sigh, laughter, muscle twitching, or even tears. These emotional responses are common during massage therapy.
Yes, massage can make you feel emotional. The short explanation for emotional release is that because massage may access the soft tissues of the body deeply, that it can unlock emotional energy locked in those tissue. It's actually something we learn about in massage school.
Emotional Intensity Trauma massage therapy can sometimes be emotionally intense. The release of stored trauma can bring up strong emotions, which may be overwhelming for some individuals. Not a Standalone Treatment While beneficial, trauma massage therapy should not replace traditional treatments like psychotherapy.
The physical manipulation of muscles and soft tissues during a massage triggers the body's relaxation response, leading to a decrease in the production of stress hormones like cortisol. This can help calm the nervous system, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and induce a state of deep relaxation.
The autonomic nervous system is activated as the blood circulation improves. Activating the autonomic nervous system helps to trigger the release of the positive hormones. Myofascial release therefore increases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.
Endorphins. While technically not a toxin, the release of endorphins during a massage is a significant benefit. These "feel-good" hormones naturally boost mood and relieve pain.
Release of endorphins
One of the main reasons why massages feel so good is because they help to release endorphins, which are our body's natural "feel-good" chemicals.
When fascia releases, it can feel like taffy softening. Sometimes people may feel cold or heat, tingling or buzzing, burning, or a sense of water or air moving through the area. They may also notice a sensation in an area other than that being treated.
Massage can help reduce the pain of muscle knots by increasing blood flow to the affected area and relaxing tense muscles. When you massage a knot, it often feels like you are stretching a rope or taffy which is stuck in your muscle tissues.
4 Talking about tightness suggests an uncanny ability to feel your pain. The therapist is saying, in effect, “I can tell that you are feeling stiff, because I can feel your tight muscles.” This is a good way to impress anyone with a body.
Grief massage helps a person heal by allowing them to shift out of the stress response and into the relaxation response. Following a major loss, grieving individuals often find it very difficult to relax on their own. Here's where a massage therapist can help. Massage Helps People Cope with the Loss of a Loved One.
Physical sensations such as tingling, warmth or a sense of energy may occur. Some people experience muscle twitching or shaking as tension is released.
Massage and Emotional Release: It's Totally Normal! When you think of massage, common assumptions would be that it's relaxing, peaceful and restful. And these are all true, but there are other emotional releases you might experience - and they're totally normal.
The following are research-backed facts about crying: Tears can help release pent-up emotions, providing a sense of relief and calm. Crying can be a way to signal to others that you're going through a tough time and might need help.
Many people think that because massage is a natural therapy that it can't do any harm, but this is a classic example of where it absolutely can. Many therapists believe that by relieving muscle tension with a deep tissue massage, they will release emotions and therefore help to heal trauma.
Releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good and diminish pain. If you have real aches or pains, the morphine-like effect from the endorphins works by blocking pain signals from the brain causing a decrease in discomfort.
This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.
Lack of blood supply to the muscle causes lactic acid to build up, over time this can solidify with calcium deposits and is often the reason we hear a crunching sound when trying to realise the knots.
Yes, massage therapists are trained to identify muscle tension through touch and experience. They use their knowledge of anatomy to pinpoint problem areas effectively. The frequency depends on your activity level and tension severity.
Scientific evidence shows that fascia is not only responsible for helping our muscles move and many other physical functions, but also responds to emotions and environment. So, the next time you're feeling stressed or emotional, remember that it's not all in your head – it could be in your fascia too.
Reduced Stress and Tension
Muscle tension may also contribute to stress and tension. Trigger point therapy may help alleviate tension and stress by releasing knots in the muscles. This can result in an overall sense of relaxation.
Physical tension and emotional stress are closely connected, and when pressure is applied to muscles during a massage, it can trigger the release of both physical and emotional tension. This release may manifest as tears as the body and mind let go of built-up stress and emotions.
Feeling "drugged" after a massage is a common side effect of the relaxation response that massage can trigger. When you receive a massage, your body releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers that also produce a sense of euphoria.