The Quiet Power of Breath: Why Breathing Matters in Massage
When most people think of massage therapy, they think of muscles, tension, and knots being released. But there’s a hidden partner in every session that can deepen your results more than you might expect: your breath.
Breathing is something we do automatically, without thinking. But the way we breathe has a remarkable effect on our muscles, our nervous system, and our ability to release stress. When we breathe well, the body has a much easier time letting go.
How Breath Affects the Body
When we take slow, steady breaths, we’re sending a signal through the body that we are safe. This matters because stress, pain, and muscle tension all thrive when the body is in “protection mode.”
Physiologically, deep breathing:
Increases oxygen flow to muscles and tissues
Improves circulation
Helps loosen areas holding chronic tension
Supports lymphatic flow
Reduces sensitivity to pain
Basically, relaxed breathing creates a relaxed body.
Breathing and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
You may have heard of “fight or flight”. This is what we call the sympathetic nervous system; the body’s stress response. Its counterpart, the parasympathetic nervous system, is often known as “rest and digest.” This is the state of being where muscles release, digestion improves, blood pressure lowers, and the mind settles. This is also one of the reasons why, as massage therapists, we love to hear tummy grumbles, as this means its starting to kick in 😊Deep, slow breathing flips that internal switch from one nervous system state to another.
Even just a few mindful breaths can:
Calm the mind
Lower heart rate
Decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels
Allow muscles to soften more easily during massage
How We’ll Use Breath in Our Sessions Together
This doesn’t mean you’ll be doing intense breathing exercises or trying to “get it right.” Instead, I’ll gently guide you into simple, natural breath patterns that support your body’s ability to unwind.
Sometimes it might look like:
Taking one or two slow breaths before we begin
Using breath to soften into deeper pressure
Exhaling through areas that feel tight or tense
Nothing is forced... its more just quiet, supportive awareness. My goal is to make it feel comfortable and at ease, like you’re giving your body a small kindness.
A Simple Breath to Try at Home
If you'd like to explore, try this once or twice a day:
Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds
Exhale slowly for 6 seconds
That gentle, longer exhale is where the magic happens as its this breath that activates your calming parasympathetic response. Even 3–5 breaths can create a noticeable shift.
Breath as Part of Your Toolbox
Massage works from the outside in and breathing works from the inside out.
Together, they help your body not only release tension, but remember how to rest, which is so important not only for a great massage, but your general wellbeing ❤️
I look forward to introducing breath into our sessions in a way that feels supportive and intuitive. If you’d like to experience how breath and massage work together, you can book a session here.
Further reading:
Studies have shown that massage therapy helps regulate the nervous system and promote relaxation — this peer-reviewed article provides more detail for those interested in the science behind the practice.
Joanna x
