Can a massage actually help me sleep?

So can having a massage help you sleep?

Yes.

Ok blog post over.

All the lols, (do people still say this… am I showing my age? So many questions) only kidding, I promise to give you an actual explanation on how regular massage can help you sleep.

So sleep, wow it’s a big topic. And I say this as a mum. Before becoming a mum, I did struggle to sleep at times, but it was nothing compared to pregnancy insomnia. I mean I didn’t even know pregnancy insomnia was a thing (new blog post title coming - the things no one tells you about pregnancy.)

On top of all the body changes, waking up to pee all night and generally becoming more uncomfortable the larger you get, just getting to sleep because your mind is racing is another pregnancy symptom.

Then you have the baby and goodness, I had no idea that all my conversations with mums would revolve around how much my baby was sleeping, (or how much they weren’t sleeping) and baby poo. The baby poo chat kinda settles down, your kids sleeping - always a hot topic. And to be honest, it’s not surprising.

We human beings need our sleep, we love our sleep, bed is amazing. Having kids who suddenly don’t want to sleep reminds us of how much we LOVE that beautiful bed and getting a good night's sleep.

So we’ve got pregnancy, then kids disrupting our sleep, and we haven’t even got to the stress and anxiety of life that keeps us up at night, and makes us feel even more exhausted when we wake up in the morning.

I understand how much you need your sleep and how much it might be disrupted at the moment. Now a massage from me, cannot stop your stressful job from entering your brain at night, and unfortunately, I can’t stop those pesky kids from waking you up. BUT a regular massage can give you more restorative sleep and improve your overall wellbeing.

So let’s talk how…

Massage encourages the body to switch to “rest and digest.”

This is the parasympathetic system reducing/slowing down the actions of the body, it allows you to relax and “rest.” This process helps lower our cortisol levels (a stress hormone) and allows us to calm down and enter a more relaxed state. This process encourages sleep because it essentially quietens your mind and decreases anxiety levels.

Massage can help combat insomnia because it increases the production of serotonin.

I feel like I am always talking about serotonin and that’s because it is an amazing hormone for making us feel wonderful! It’s been said that an area of the brain that facilitates the body entering into deep sleep uses serotonin to communicate this. The brain also uses serotonin to produce melatonin, this hormone tells the brain to slow down and is a key element in preparing us for sleep.

Reducing pain and tension in your body.

Sometimes our ability to sleep is down to how comfortable we are. When we are in pain it is hard to sleep, especially when you’re pregnant or suffering from back/neck pain. A massage can help release muscle tension and offer pain relief, which will in turn allow you to be more comfortable while you are trying to sleep.

Massage essentially prepares your body for sleep.

You know that fuzzy feeling you have when I say “all done now” and you think - wait what, I have to move now? Your mind and body have relaxed, and you are ready to drift off. Some of my clients come to me in their pjs for evening appointments - an amazing idea, so they can just drive home and head straight into bed!

So to summarise, regular massages can allow you to fall asleep more easily (even if you are woken up) and more deeply. This in turn will allow you to feel more rested and refreshed in the morning.

Sleep is an essential part of our health and overall wellbeing, when we aren’t rested everything can feel so much harder (I am a much better parent when I have had enough sleep).

I can’t stop the things that can interrupt your sleep, but having a regular massage can at least ensure that the sleep you get is of better quality!

If this sounds like something that you might need support with, contact me for a chat or book an appointment.

I am here to help where I can!