Anyone who has had exposure to massage knows that massage is good for relaxation, energizing, moving toxins, improving blood flow, and several other benefits. Have you ever wondered why? It’s more than just the localized effects of squeezing a muscle.
There are, in my opinion, two parts to massage: the physical effects and the energetic effects.
Physical Effects
In massage school we are taught that we are manipulating skin and muscle to cause an effect, usually releasing toxins and improving blood flow to relieve pain and allow the muscle to function properly. More importantly though, we are manipulation the connective tissue, sometimes called the extracellular matrix or the living matrix.
James Oschman, in his book Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, says that the connective tissue is “a continuous and dynamic ‘supramolecular’ webwork, extending into every nook and cranny of the body”. What that means is that when you touch the body, you are touching every part of the body because of the connective tissue, right down to the DNA in the nucleus of each cell.
When you do a mild stretch of the neck, arm, or leg, you are potentially stretching and pulling deep into the muscles in internal organs and releasing adhesions anywhere in the body. That is the basis of level 1 of John Barnes’ approach to Myofascial Release (MFR). By manipulating the surface you can cause deep effects. The stretches in MFR are held for several minutes to allow the stretch to propagate as it releases.
Energetic Effects
From a physical standpoint, by manipulating the skin and muscle, we are also manipulating the connective tissue. The collagen in the tissue is piezoelectric in nature, so by compressing and stretching it, we cause a charge to be generated and pass through the matrix. These charges are negative ions that can act like antioxidants in the body, helping to promote tissue repair and relaxation. That’s what most people like in a massage. Longer stretches and strokes in a massage release more negatives ions through the piezoelectric effect, causing deeper relaxation.
There is also an energy transfer when giving or receiving a massage. When we have the intent to do something good, it causes a measurable change in the electromagnetic field that is generated by our body and surrounds it. When we are working with our client, or from the client’s standpoint, we are receiving a massage, our body fields overlap and energy is transferred back and forth. Our intent as a therapist to allow healing and relaxation is energetically transferred to the recipient and is broadcast through out their body via the living matrix, or connective tissue. Each cell receives the message, right down to the DNA, and changes can occur.
So, when you give or receive a massage, have the intent that it will be a great massage for both of you and allow the healing happen.
Wayne Woodworth
Massage Therapist
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I'm glad you made it through that long quote. I find the connective tissue matrix fascinating. I was working on a clients neck one time and she could feel it in her foot.
Heh, great article I thought I was gonna go cross eyed at the “a continuous and dynamic ’supramolecular’ webwork,” part but I made it through! Great Article!