Touch Changes your Physiology

Studies show that Touch Therapy:

• touch activates the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, which is linked to feelings of reward and compassion.

• Increases weight in premature babies by 47%

• Reduces depression in patients with Alzheimers

• Teachers who give a friendly pat on the back doubles the likelihood that children will speak in class

• Getting medical doctors to make eye contact and pat the person on the back has shown to increase survival rates in complex diseases

• Increases compassion and builds cooperative relationships

• Activates vagus nerve, calms cardiovascular stress, oxytocin release

The power of touch is WAYYY overlooked. The Covid-19 epidemic has thrown everyone for a loop. It has shed some serious light on the need for both community and meaningful social relationships but also the need for physical touch in a time of isolation. We are coming out of a time of immobilization, or deep separation and freeze in the collective body. We are learning how to be with one another again, and navigating out levels of comfort around touch after being socially distant.

The power of touch really needs to be understood as being fundamental to our overall health as human mammals, and has the tremendous ability to be healing and communicate compassion. You obviously can go to professionals who work extensively with touch- massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, healers, etc. Im raising my hand here…but we all have the ability to transmute the physical and emotional benefits of touch through our hands.

Here’s the deal. Now more than ever we may need to be actively seeking out touch. Not in a needy way, but in a way that consciously communicates care, love, and compassion to the ones we find ourselves with. Our partners, children, pets, friends, even ourselves. We need this. It doesn’t have to be over the top or weird. Just a touch on the back, holding someones hand, a hug. These things matter.

And of course, this research continues to support and have huge implications for touch and manual therapies. Proper uses of touch truly has the power to transform the practice of medicine. Studies show that touching patients with Alzheimer’s disease can have huge effects on getting them to relax, make emotional connections with others, and reduce their symptoms of depression.

Researcher Tiffany Field has found that massage therapy reduces pain in pregnant women and alleviates prenatal depression—in the women and their spouses alike. Field also suggests that children with autism, widely believed to hate being touched, actually love being massaged by a parent or therapist, helping them calm down and better regulate their emotions.

The American Association of Pregnancy states:

“In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as nor-epinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression). These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.”

Benefits:

• Improved Newborn Health!

• Hormone level & mood regulation

• Improved labor outcomes

• Better sleep

• Reduced anxiety & headaches

• Hormone level & mood regulation

• Reduced back & joint pain

• Reduced water retention

Frequently Asked Questions for Newbies:

Where Will My Massage or Bodywork Session Take Place? Your massage or bodywork session will take place in a warm, comfortable, quiet room. Calm music is played to help you relax. You will lie on a comfortable and padded massage table. I am located in Black Mountain, NC and have a cozy and private room.

Must I Be Completely Undressed? Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly and professionally draped during the entire session. Don’t worry!

Will the Practitioner Be Present When I Disrobe? All practitioners leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet and will knock before entering the room. Red flag if a therapist is just hanging out waiting for you to change in front of them. But if you as a client start stripping down because you aren’t shy, (you know who you are), you’ll still be covered and under a sheet during your session.

What Parts of My Body Will Be Massaged? You and the practitioner will discuss the desired outcome of your session before lying on the massage table. This will determine which parts of your body require massage. A typical full body session will include work on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck, and shoulders. You will not be touched on or near your genitals (male or female) or breasts (female).