The power of touch: how massage can positively impact anxiety and burnout

What exactly is massage therapy?

The power of touch is not to be taken for granted. It is an art, a craft honed over years of experience by therapists who love what they do and value the importance of hands-on therapeutic touch. At Ground Wellbeing, we approach massage therapy through the lens of the nervous system and how stress has impacted the body. We view massage as a vitally important tool to support overall wellbeing. Massage is so much more than pampering or indulgent treatments. It’s really about understanding that the more time we spend in the rest and digest state, instead of what most of us are all too familiar with (fight-or-flight), the more our body and mind become resilient.

How does massage benefit our overall health and wellness?

Massage helps stimulate touch receptors that send signals to the brain and nervous system. This can help to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation, encouraging the body out of the often tight and tense position we find ourselves in. Early studies even suggest that regular massage may boost white blood cell count, further enhancing immune function.

There are so many techniques of massage that can be used to support lymphatic flow, assist with scar tissue, relieve aches and pains as well as accredited training to support those with compromised health or going through cancer treatments. Massage offers something for everyone. We can all benefit from the power of touch. Ultimate wellness is about balance and support, and massage is one of the most effective ways in which we can achieve it.

Listen to Peigín Crowley’s episode on The Wellness Project Podcast 

How does massage affect those who suffer from…

Anxiety

Anxiety varies greatly among each of us, but physiologically speaking, it keeps the body in a continuous fight-or-flight state. This high-alert mode often leads to feeling tense, on edge, fearful and worried. The stress cycle is in a constant loop. Massage works to break that stress cycle. In a way, it’s like having a conversation with the body, guiding it gently out of an anxious state. We can do this through the power of touch, the power of aromatherapy and creating a safe space for somebody so that they can invite that relaxed state into their mind and body. Whilst it’s absolutely not a cure, it is important to understand that if we combine this approach with talk therapy it can serve as a truly holistic way to understand and to make friends with our anxiety and provide a sense of peace in our mind and body.

Burnout

Burnout is when we’re essentially feeling stuck in the stress cycle for a long period of time with all cylinders firing at all times! Massage interrupts this cycle in a gentle and encouraging way. Through our GROUND massage rituals, we can work to stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps to soothe and regulate stress responses. While a benefit will be felt after just one massage, it is ideal to schedule regular massage treatments that can gradually restore a sense of connection with self while soothing both body and mind, making massage an effective approach to addressing burnout.

Fatigue

Therapeutic touch can be vitally important for anyone suffering from fatigue, but its impact really does depend on the cause of the fatigue. As we know fatigue can arise for so many reasons, including illnesses, medications, burnout, or emotional strain like grief. It’s vital we understand the root cause before deciding on the best approach. For instance, someone undergoing cancer treatment may experience fatigue, in which case, shorter, gentler massage sessions are recommended. On the other hand, if the fatigue is due to burnout, longer massage treatments may be more beneficial. At Ground, we emphasize the importance of understanding what each individual needs from their massage treatment and understanding how to make the most of that time with their therapists. 

Sleep disorders

We all know that lovely sleepy, relaxed feeling we get from a great massage. That isn’t just anecdotal, several studies point to the fact that massage can actually improve the quality of our sleep. At Ground, we created a specific massage called The Sleep Ritual with this in mind because we all know what it’s like and how out of sorts we can feel when we don’t get enough sleep or have had an interrupted night of it, let alone if it’s a long term issue. While massage certainly isn’t a cure for sleep disorders, it can be a useful complementary treatment to promote relaxation and better sleep quality. Massage works on the nervous system, moving us into the rest and digest state, leading to a slowed heart rate, relaxed muscles, and lower blood pressure, all of which support sleep. Massage can also enhance the production of serotonin which regulates mood and sleep, proving once again how massage can be so much more than an indulgent treatment.

Aches and pains

As massage therapists we are working directly on the musculoskeletal system, meaning we have direct access to the areas where most of us feel aches and pains or stiffness, whatever the reason. For those going through menopause for example, joint pain is common, and massage can help ease this by improving joint mobility and circulation. Similarly, those who engage in physical activities such as running and hiking, or those in labour-intensive jobs might develop aches due to the physical demands they place on their bodies. Massage can work to counteract this impact. Understanding the cause of these aches, often through the lens of the nervous system, allows massage to effectively provide the body with a recovery pathway through therapeutic massage techniques, encouraging it out of a tight or tensed position. 

Gut disorders

While research is still very much evolving on this hot topic, studies are showing that massage may benefit individuals with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, and bloating for example. At Ground, we approach gut health by acknowledging the vitally important connection between the nervous system and our gut. About 80-90% of the communication in our body flows from the gut to the brain, reminding us how essential gut health is to our mental and emotional wellbeing. We know that approximately 95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, so supporting gut health will absolutely influence the rest of our body in a positive way. 

We have worked to consciously incorporate abdominal massage into nearly all of our Ground rituals. One of our signature treatments, The Cleansing Ritual, focuses specifically on the torso, addressing the digestive system, abdomen, diaphragm, and intercostal muscles, all of which play important roles in both digestion and breathing. Since breathing is deeply connected to the nervous system, these elements work together to promote overall wellbeing. 

What are the short-term vs long-term benefits of massage?

In the short term, massage helps soothe the muscles and improve circulation but it also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting the body into the rest-and-digest state. As a result, people often comment on feeling a deep sense of calm, improved mood, and reduced stress immediately after a massage.

In the long term, we believe that regular massage can help the body build resilience by making rest-and-digest the default state. Massage supports the body by soothing the nervous system, helping to alleviate chronic stress, and improving emotional wellbeing. Over time, we start to notice better sleep, enhanced immunity and a stronger ability to manage stress. When the body consistently returns to this relaxed state, all systems – digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and immune – function more efficiently. The simple fact is that the better each of these systems runs, the better our body will function.

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