Why can relaxed hands reach so deeply? A discussion of the nervous system and treatment techniques. | If you are a therapist school, executive academy Osaka | Blog

Last time, I wrote about this.

They're just forcing it.

The structure itself is the cause of the pain in the body.

So, what makes a treatment that doesn't involve tension different?
Why can hands that aren't tense reach deeper into the client's body?
I'll write about that today.


The body has two switches.

The human nervous system has two main modes.
Sympathetic nervous system—responsible for tension, alertness, and the fight-or-flight state.
Parasympathetic nervous system – a state of relaxation, reassurance, and recovery.

The body truly relaxes only when the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant.
No matter how much pressure is applied or how long the treatment lasts, the body will not relax if the nervous system remains in "tension mode."
It's not technique, but the nervous system that determines whether or not you relax.


What are tense hands trying to communicate?

When a practitioner is tensing up, their hands are sending this message:
"We have to do something about this."
"We need to push it in more."
"I have to do my best."
That tension is directly transmitted to the client's body.

Touching someone is like sending a signal.
The client's nervous system, receiving signals of tension from tense hands, unconsciously judges that "this might be dangerous."

The body tenses its muscles in order to defend itself.
The more you press, the stiffer the body becomes.
The harder you try, the further away you get.
This is not a matter of the practitioner's skill, but rather a fundamental aspect of the nervous system's structure.


What do relaxed hands convey?

So, what about hands that aren't tense?
A hand that touches as if surrendering.
Using their body weight, the hands slowly sink down.
The rhythm is stable, and the hands show no signs of rushing.
The signals transmitted through those hands are as follows:
"This place is safe."
"I'm not being rushed."
"It's okay to keep relaxing like this."
The client's nervous system receives that signal and switches to the parasympathetic nervous system.

The muscles begin to relax.
The organization becomes more flexible.
Blood flow returns.
The fact that a relaxed hand reaches deeper isn't just a matter of feeling; it's a more intuitive concept.

The nervous system has given "permission to relax," which is why the tissue is physically changing.


Law of Resonance

There is a law of physics called resonance .
Things with the same frequency attract and influence each other.
When the practitioner is relaxed, that frequency is transmitted to the client. When the practitioner is tense, that frequency is also transmitted.

This is not a spiritual story.

The practitioner's breathing rhythm, hand temperature, pressure application, and weight shift speed

All of that information is transmitted as signals to the client's nervous system.

Therefore, the practitioner's own condition determines the quality of the treatment.
Before honing your skills, get yourself in order.

This will be the foundation for everything.


Changing your "way of being" changes the treatment.

Relaxed massage techniques are not something that can be acquired through special practice.
It all begins with realizing that you don't have to try so hard.

Use the right amount of oil and make sure you can use your body weight effectively.

Regulate your breathing and stabilize your rhythm.

Let go of the feeling that "something must be done."

That alone will change your technique.
And the client's nervous system honestly perceives that change.

Relaxed treatments not only make the client feel more comfortable, but they also offer other benefits.
The practitioner's own nervous system is also regulated at the same time.
Instead of becoming exhausted with each treatment, I feel myself becoming more balanced with each treatment.

Such treatments create a job that can be continued for a long time.

KAORI