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 as you try to fall asleep.
Pent-up levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol can affect nearly every system of your body, from the cardiovascular to the musculoskeletal. You may have noticed your muscles tensing in response to stress. Theoretically, this is meant as a protective mechanism, and your muscles should relax 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.
That’s where massage comes in. Regular massage therapy helps relax and de-stress, not only at the muscular level but also at the hormonal level. Here’s how it works.
Simply put, massages are relaxing. Taking an hour at least once a month can help the body enter a restful recovery mode, and the effect lingers long after the massage is over. That pause can give an overstimulated body a chance to reset. Over time, making relaxation part of a regular routine may help you recognize tension earlier and recover from everyday stress more easily.
What Is a Relaxation Massage?
A relaxation massage is a full-body massage focused on calming and easing 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.
Massage therapy can be great for relaxation throughout the body in a few key ways. It does so by helping:
- Calm the nervous system: Massage activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the branch responsible for the body’s rest-and-digest response. This shift slows the fight-or-flight signals that keep the body on edge, helping you feel at ease.
- Manage stress hormones: Research shows that massage may reduce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a key stress marker that triggers the body’s stress response, while increasing oxytocin, a hormone associated with calm.
- Ease muscle tension: Massage works out that tension by improving circulation to tired tissue during the session and releasing muscle fatigue that builds up from sitting, overexertion, or simply carrying the weight of a long week.
- Lower heart rate and blood pressure: The same nervous system shift that calms the mind also signals the cardiovascular system to ease up, helping reduce heart rate and blood pressure, particularly in people managing hypertension.
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. That conversation sets expectations for your personalized massage, but you should always feel empowered to speak up at any time to fine-tune your experience. Therapists can adjust pressure, spend more time on trouble spots, and adjust music and table heat, all of which go a long way toward helping you relax. 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 to shift out of its alert, reactive state. Breathing naturally deepens and slows, and heart rate should follow suit. Your parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest and recovery, is likely activated by the massage.
Muscle Tension Release
Massage therapy directly targets and relaxes muscle tension, temporarily improving circulation to compressed tissue and encouraging contracted muscles to release. The neck, shoulders, and lower back tend to hold the most tension, and many people only realize how much they were carrying once it melts away.
Feel-Good Chemicals Increase
Touch triggers a measurable hormonal response. Research shows that moderate-pressure massage increases oxytocin, a hormone linked to calm, trust, and social connection. Dopamine and serotonin levels also shift to support mood and mental ease.
The Stress Response Quiets
On the hormonal side, massage has been shown to reduce ACTH, a key marker of the body’s stress response, while oxytocin further suppresses it. The two effects compound, which may help explain why the sense of calm from a massage tends to outlast the session itself.
Physical and Mental Benefits of Relaxation
Not only does a relaxing massage feel good, especially when your brain and body have been on high alert, but it can also 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; support better sleep; and reduce the physical sensation of pain, especially when tension and stress are amplifying how your body feels it.
What Kind of Massage Therapy Is Best for Relaxation?
A massage therapist incorporates different modalities and techniques based on what your body needs that day. Massage therapy for relaxation typically uses 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. It uses long, flowing strokes and kneading movements to help ease muscle tension.
- Hot stone: Smooth, heated stones can be incorporated into a session to deliver direct warmth to tense muscle groups. The heat helps muscles relax more quickly, and many people find the added weight and warmth deeply grounding.
- 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 blend can meaningfully enhance your relaxing massage.
- 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, making them well suited to the slow, intentional work that defines a relaxing massage.
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. 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.
Learn more about how to maintain relaxation with the Massage Envy guide to post-massage care at massageenvy.com/self-care-blog/body-care/keep-the-relaxation-going-your-guide-to-post-massage-care.
Find Your Calm at Massage Envy
The massage therapists at 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 the 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.
Sign up for a Massage Envy membership today. To learn more, call 860.233.8890 or email: Clinic0825@massageenvy.com.