Why People Fall Asleep During Massage

Have you ever drifted off during a massage and wondered why it happens?

In this episode, Pauline from Pendulum Massage explores the science behind one of the most common experiences on the massage table — falling asleep.

Massage therapy can encourage the body to shift from the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” stress response) into the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the body’s rest-and-digest mode. When this shift occurs, heart rate slows, breathing deepens, and muscles begin to release tension.

Research from Tiffany Field at the Touch Research Institute has shown that massage therapy can reduce the stress hormone cortisol while increasing serotonin and dopamine — neurotransmitters associated with relaxation and well-being.

Because serotonin is involved in regulating sleep cycles, this change in body chemistry may help explain why many people naturally drift into sleep during treatment.

In this episode, Pauline explains what is happening in the body and why falling asleep during massage is often a sign that the nervous system has finally switched into recovery mode.

Weblinks:

http://pendulummassage.co.uk

Citations:

Field, T. (2014). Massage Therapy Research Review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

• Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2005).
Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience.

• Research from the Touch Research Institute on physiological responses to massage therapy.