Altered State during massage

[Fun-sizedd!]

Sometimes, during a really good massage session, I drift off to another place. I am not asleep, I am aware of the actions of the therapist, but seem to experience a wonderful sort of emotional or cognitive disconnect. I highly value this experience when it happens. The relaxation component during and lingering after the session is, for me, the ne plus ultra of massage experiences.

Duration can be less than a minute or can go on for an extended period of time. I have experienced this during energy work and during Swedish style massage therapy. It almost never happens when I am getting deep tissue. Questions: Is this a common occurrence? What is happening? Do brain waves change?

 

[Grrr!]

Extremely common.

It is due to a number of things including brain wave states reaching theta or delta levels as you relax as well as an influx of endorphins released from the brain.

No worries. It's all normal and it's all good!

 

[Sikorsky S76]

While I've more often entered this state during energy work & Tibetan/Himalayan Singing Bowl/Sound Healing work,
I've occasionally entered it during massage therapy as well.

It can leave you in a profoundly centered & deeply relaxed & yet rejuvenated state, as well as being dreamlike, as though you've entered into a healing realm.

When doing bodywork I've consistently had clients go much deeper into these states more quickly when I use the Hot Stone therapy, & combined it with both massage & energetic healing techniques, such as Reiki & Jin Shin Jyutsu. Those sessions have been incredibly powerful for my clients & for me as well. I can only describe them as being transformational, and they have alway left me feeling as though I've been honored to have been a facilitator for something very special to have occurred.

 

[Stupendous315]

And, as an added benefit of receiving massage on a regular basis, this mental state is more easily/rapidly received because your body/mind becomes 'trained' to enter this state. It's kind of like your body/mind has developed an on/off switch. Soon after bodywork begins, the switch is flipped and you enter the state. Cool, huh!?

 

[nearlyfond]

I've sometimes tried to explain this possibility to new clients and "altered state" is the best I've managed to come up with. When I first started, I used to think clients were asleep because they exhibited most of the signs - closed eyes (obviously), deep breathing (often noisy) - but I gradually realised they were in a trance-like state. Except, of course, for the ones who really were asleep!
Clients sometimes describe it in a way that brings to mind hypnosis - relaxed as though asleep, but conscious and aware of what is going on.

 

[kokopelli9090]

This state could also be referred to as similar to a lucid
dreamlike state. When I tell clients in advance about these
experiences I let them know that it is deeply relaxing, and that it is a very positive healing state, in many ways like a deep meditation.

For those who find it difficult to relax, it is a lesson in allowing themselves to let go. And generally speaking my clients find they want to experience it more often too!

 

[Weijie W]

Altered State during massage

This is how I know that my body is being really receptive to the bodywork I'm receiving! I almost feel like my physical body is "sleeping or resting" and my mind is off in la la land! I've had really beautiful dreamlike "visions" where I just feel so comfortable and so relaxed. Ahhh.. this post is really making me feign for a massage! LOL. I find that a few certain kinds of music help facilitate this for me, I really love Anugama's Healing which features tibetan singing bowls. I also use Brainwave Symphony which is supposed to help "align brainwaves" or something, but it definitely gets me sleepy fast! I also had the pleasure of receiving a sound table massage session with Native American Drums and it was incredible!

 

[dieownhi5x3]

Altered State during massage

Since my earlier post, I have started a hypnotherapy course and it has confirmed my view that this is similar to a hypnotic trance. In fact, massage can induce a trance that is deeper than is necessary for any hypnotic therapy.

I have a psychology teacher as a client and we discussed this as she struggled to come "back into the room" after a massage. I've suggested that, after a suitable time, I might count her back after her next massage as if I had put her into a hypnotic trance. We'll have to see if that works!

 

[the hackmaster2013]

Natural State

All creation is asking us to dance, and, thru massage, we become celebrants in the great Mystery. Let us dance!

 

[Graci]

Altered State during massage

I'm a big fan of the altered states craniosacral therapy can induce, in both client and practitioner.

I often get the sensation of "going somewhere else" for a while until I'm jolted back to the here and now by a release, sometimes subtly other times not. Sometimes in that "somewhere else" I'll find myself watching a drama unfold... usually the drama climaxes right before or as the body's physical/energetic release happens.