Just Not That Into Massage?

You came across this blog because you are already likely interested in massage.  But, how about the people who don’t want to get a massage?  Once they happen to get one, I guarantee they will love it!  But, how can I convince them that massage is good for them before they actually receive one? 

I understand table massage can be intimidating and invading privacy because I myself didn’t like to be undressed to get a massage.  But, in a chair massage, you are fully clothed.  I have offered free chair massages at a health food store.  Surprisingly, most of the people, who were there buying pricy health products, were not interested in a free massage.  Some of them were interested, but in a hurry.  I first thought: Are they embarrassed to receive a massage in public, or just trying to be polite not to take advantage of a free offer?  Are they afraid I will try to sell something later?  But, I finally accepted they were JUST NOT THAT INTO MASSAGE.  I couldn’t still help thinking about “why?”  I came up with possible reasons. 

My Three Guesses:

1. Massage has never been in their minds: They don’t know about benefits of massage, and don’t necessarily want to learn about it unless doctors recommend it. 
2. Massage is for those who have problems: They don’t think they have to get a massage because they don’t have any pain, stiffness, and etc.
3. Touch makes them uncomfortable: They are not used to being touched by a stranger.  Touch will tense them up, not relaxing.

I even thought about what can be done.

Solutions:

1. More widespread, valid endorsement for massage therapy from a medical community as a whole.
2. Re-education: Massage is enhancement of your health and wellness (like taking vitamins), not “a treatment” you need.
3. Re-education of touch: You benefit greatly from massage to get used to positive touch and learn how to relax.  It will change the quality of your life.

Maybe, I can’t change their mind, ever.  But, I will continue to try to spread the wonder of massage.  If you know somebody who doesn’t want to get a massage, please leave me a comment!

FAQ: Why Massage Makes Us Feel Good?

Touch is the most important foundation of massage therapy.  I have written about how touch affects body and mind in “Touch,” “Benefits of Massage,” “Human Touch” and the Japanese post “スキンシップで幸せになろう.”  Now that recent studies prove that touch is good for us, I will sum it up from a scientific point of view. 

When we receive positive touch, two (at least) physiological reactions happen to us.  First, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated.  The parasympathetic nervous system is our home base and helps us back to healing mode, “rest-and-digest,” decreasing the “fight-or-flight” stress response.  Consequently, we experience the sense of relaxation and contentment.

Secondly, oxytocin, so called the “love hormone,” made in the hypothalamus in the brain, is released.  It immediately makes us feel calm and connected to the environment and people around us.  It contributes to relaxation, healing, trust-building, and psychological stability.  One of the studies on oxytocin and massage concluded that “massage increases OT (oxytocin) and decreases ACTH (adrenocorticotropin hormone)”  (ACTH is a hormone often produced in response to emotional and physical stress.)

We don’t have to have pain or tight muscles to receive a massage.  Without knowing it, we deal with stress (big or small) all the time or are getting ready for the next stressful moment.  Massage gives us a break.  Let’s make a feel-good-experience a habit to better our life.

Human Touch

I heard an advertisement on the radio about high-tech Shiatsu massage chairs manufactured by a Japanese company.  It scans your body profile, detects your Shiatsu points, and customize each massage session.  In fact, I have tried one of those at hot spring inns in Japan before I became a massage therapist.  It was much more improved than the older models that the hard rollers only went up and down, circled, and vibrated.  It scanned the body structure first and massaged supposedly “Shiatsu points.” It also compressed and kneaded the arms and calves.  It felt good.  However, I couldn’t help feeling little something was missing.

Of course, it’s just a machine, not a real person doing a massage.  But, it’s not just because a real person has soft hands and can adjust the pressure or position so minutely to your liking.  What makes a real massage so special is the connection with another human being through touch, which is the first and most fundamental craving.  I received a bodywork when I didn’t have any pain or discomfort.  Even a leg or an arm being held or compressed gave me such a comfort for my body and mind as a whole.  Here is the person who is there for you, cares about your well-being, and accepts you as you are.  The acceptance and connection benefit your body and mind more than the accurate pressure on the perfect spots or multiple skilled techniques.

Out of curiosity, I checked how much those massage chairs that I heard on the radio cost.  Surprisingly, it costs about $10,000!  You can get 100-150 real massage sessions for the money worth.  I wonder who would buy one and why.  Probably people with very little time to go get a massage, for convenience.  But then, if they can afford the high-tech chair, they could certainly afford a massage therapist for house calls any time.  Maybe for solitude?  If so, sadly, they may be missing out on the most important benefit of massage.  The secret to well-being is human touch – the connection with other people.    

Power of Touch with a UFO Ball

At massage school, we had an experiment using a UFO Ball. It was a very simple demonstration, but it made a profound impression on me.  The instructor didn’t tell us what was for, so I’m also going to explain the procedures first and the point later.

The UFO Ball is a size of a ping-pong ball, and it has two metal strips embedded.  The instructor held the ball touching one metal strip and asked one of the students to touch the other metal strip with a finger.  Nothing happened.  Then, they held the other hands together while still holding the ball.  Voila!  It lit up and started beeping.  The electricity (or electrons) encircles the two people through their hands, which closed the circuit and activated the battery-operated device in the ball.  

Next, about 20 of us sat in circle on the floor and held hands with the people sitting next to us.  Two of them sitting next to each other in the circle release their hands (still the other hands held) and held the UFO Ball.  One person held the ball touching one metal strip and the other one touch the other metal strip with a finger.  Can you guess what happened?  Yes, it lit up and started beeping.  Why?  Because the electricity traveled through everybody’s hands in the circle and closed the circuit.  And, suddenly, the beeping stopped. The circuit was broken. Somebody in the circle let the hand go. We played with holding and letting go of hands so that light and beeping turned on and off.  

I was excited like a kid.  This can be just a science tool to teach electronic circuits, but it did show that we were connected by touch.  I knew that touch had power to influence the body and mind, but it is easier for me to really “get it” when I can actually see or visualize it. To me, it was amazing to even imagine that electrons were traveling through everybody’s body in a circle and united us. Other than electrons, you never know what else touch facilitates to transfer to other people.  I am re-visiting the power of touch now that I am interested in Craniosacral Therapy.