The body can produce an unhealthy buildup of hormones when we're stuck in traffic or meeting a work deadline. And that stress can look like more than just a bad mood in the carpool line, crashing when you finally get home, or anxious thoughts swirling through your head as you try to fall asleep.
Pent-up levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol can have effects on nearly every system of your body from the cardiovascular to the musculoskeletal. You may have noticed your muscles tensing up in response to stress. Theoretically, this is meant as a protective mechanism, and your muscles should release once the stress passes. But constant stress can keep muscles engaged far longer than necessary, potentially leading to lower back pain, tension headaches, and migraines.[1]
That’s where massage comes in. Regular massage therapy helps relax and de-stress, not only at the muscular level but at the hormonal level too. Here's how it works.
Are massages good for relaxation?
Simply put, massages are relaxing. Taking an hour at least once a month can help the body enter a restful recovery mode, an effect that lingers long after the massage is over.
How does massage therapy encourage relaxation?
Massage therapy can be great for relaxation throughout the body in a few key ways. It:
- Helps calm the nervous system: Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the branch responsible for the body's rest-and-digest response. This shift slows down the fight-or-flight signals that keep the body on edge, helping you feel at ease.[2]
- Helps manage stress hormones: Research shows that massage may reduce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a key stress marker that triggers the body's stress response, while simultaneously increasing oxytocin, a hormone associated with calm.[3]
- Helps ease muscle tension: Massage works out that tension by helping improve circulation during the massage to tired tissue and releasing the muscle fatigue that builds up from sitting, overexertion, or simply carrying the weight of a long week.[4]
- Helps lower heart rate/blood pressure: The same nervous system shift that calms the mind also tells the cardiovascular system to ease up, helping reduce heart rate and blood pressure, particularly in people managing hypertension.[5]
How does massage therapy cause relaxation?
At Massage Envy franchised locations, your therapist will check in first to learn what's bothering you and what you're hoping to get out of your session. Although that conversation establishes expectations for your personalized massage, you should always feel empowered to speak up anytime to truly fine-tune your experience. Therapists can adjust pressure, spend more time focusing on trouble areas, and make adjustments to music and table heat that go a long way towards sending you off to full relaxation. Once the massage is underway, here's what your body starts doing on its own.
Breathing and heart rate slow
As the massage gets underway, the nervous system begins shifting out of its alert, reactive state.2 Breathing naturally deepens and slows, and heart rate should follow. Your parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for rest and recovery, is likely becoming activated by massage.
Muscle tension release
Massage therapy directly works on and relaxes tension in your muscles, helping to temporarily improve circulation to compressed tissue and coaxing contracted muscles to release. Neck, shoulders, and lower back tend to hold the most tension, and many people only learn how much they were actually carrying once it melts away.4
Feel-good chemicals increase
Touch triggers a measurable hormonal response. Research has found that moderate pressure massage increases oxytocin, a hormone tied to calm, trust, and social connection.3 Dopamine and serotonin levels also shift in ways that support mood and mental ease.[6]
The stress response quiets down
On the hormonal side, massage has been shown to reduce ACTH, a key marker that drives the body's stress response, while oxytocin works to suppress it further. The two effects compound each other, which may help explain why the sense of calm from a massage tends to outlast the session itself.3
Physical and mental benefits of relaxation
Not only does a relaxing massage just feel good, especially when your brain and body have been on high alert, but it can have downstream effects on your wellness. Increased feelings of relaxation can help:
- Improve mood and mental outlook, including feelings of emotional balance and ability to handle pressure[7]
- Support better sleep[8]
- Reduce the physical sensation of pain, especially when tension and stress are amplifying how your body feels it[9]
What kind of massage therapy is best for relaxation?
A massage therapist incorporates different modalities and techniques depending on what your body needs that day. Massage therapy for relaxation specifically tends to utilize a few approaches (and enhancements) that work particularly well, and many can be combined in a single session.
- Swedish massage: The most common starting point for relaxation-focused work. Swedish massage uses long, flowing strokes and kneading movements to help ease muscle tension.[10]
- Hot stone: Smooth, heated stones can be incorporated into a session to add warmth directly to tense muscle groups. The heat helps muscles relax more quickly and many people find the added weight and warmth deeply grounding.[11]
- Aromatherapy: Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus can be added to your massage lotion or oil and used throughout a session. Scent has been shown to support mood and emotion, so the right combination can meaningfully contribute to your relaxing massage.[12]
- CBD cream: Some Massage Envy franchised locations offer CBD-infused creams as a topical addition to a session. Many people find the application and botanical aromas soothing, lending itself well to the slow, intentional work that defines a relaxing massage.
Find your calm at Massage Envy
The massage therapists employed by Massage Envy franchised locations understand that sometimes, a person just needs to fully decompress. That's why from your first consultation with your massage therapist, to the ambiance of the massage room and enhancements you choose, relaxation can be built into every step of the experience.
Now, you can experience an even greater level of calm with a Relaxation Massage specifically designed to ease tension and help you unwind. And explore body care beyond massage with a Relaxation Stretch session for a new approach to rest and recovery.
Ready to get started? Book an appointment for relaxing massage therapy at a Massage Envy franchised location near you today.
FAQs
How long do relaxation benefits last?
The immediate effects of a massage can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days depending on the individual and the specifics of the service provided. Research suggests that regular massage builds on these effects over time, meaning the more consistently you go, the more your body learns to return to that relaxed state.[13]
Learn more about how to keep the relaxation going with our guide to post-massage care.
What is a Relaxation Massage?
A Relaxation Massage is a full-body massage focused on helping to claim and ease tension. It typically uses slow, flowing strokes at moderate pressure to help relax body and mind, ease everyday muscle tension, and promote an overall sense of well-being.
