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Massage and the mind

© Chris E Barrett

By now, many people are aware of the physical benefits of regular massage - the improved circulation, decrease of the effects of stress, reduction of headaches, improved range of motion of formerly stiff joints, and numerous other happy results.

What we often fail to consider is the emotional and mental benefits of massage. We know how much babies and children love the warmth that comes from physical contact, but we deny it for ourselves. Our North American society is almost phobic when it comes to touching other people, or even ourselves. Many women do not perform regular breast self-examination because of a deep-seated belief that it is somehow "dirty" to put your hands on your breasts. In reality, this contact can save your life.

Consider the number of times a day you have actual physical contact with the people you encounter. We won't count the bumping and jostling of big-city bus and subway rides. How many people do you touch, and how? Do you shake hands with a co-worker or someone coming into your office for a meeting? Does anyone pat your shoulder or your back as they pass your desk or workplace? Do you greet an old friend with a hug?

All of these examples are of appropriate, non-sexual contact, and each can add to the quality of your day. But many people go through days, weeks at a stretch without even this simple contact. Men, especially, are touch-deprived in our society. Most physical contact men experience is either sexual or violent in nature. By "violent," I'm not referring to fights or causing harm, but the force used in sports like football, or the casual punch on the shoulder, often delivered hard enough to sting, and dismissed with "Ya wuss! You hit like a girl!" We call this sort of thing "male bonding," and it's all over our high schools.

Women have the freedom to embrace their friends and even coworkers, without being accused of inappropriate sexual advances. Men endure being called anything from homosexual to a harasser, should they make an attempt to hug a friend or coworker. Somewhere, we've lost our compassion and humanity, when we gave up reaching out compassionate, caring hands to each other.

Teenagers are becoming involved in sexual activity at an increasingly young age; and most of them, boys and girls, say it's mostly to feel warm and loved. The solution? I can't say. But I would like to see massage, not as therapy, but as a healthy form of touch, taught in health classes in high school. Perhaps if our youth could learn to touch each other with respect, and compassion, the need for sexual touch would diminish. They might grow up understanding that warm and caring contact goes far beyond sex.

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