The answer is simple: nothing. If you fall asleep during a massage, your therapist will be happy and your body will thank you.

The most common misconception about massage is that it should be relaxing. In reality, a good massage should be invigorating — and the more you relax into the experience, the more beneficial it can be for your health.

Massage actually increases blood flow and circulation in the body, which helps carry nutrients to every cell in your body. When we’re stressed out or worried about something, our bodies secrete hormones like cortisol that signal our brains to shut down nonessential functions so we can focus on whatever is causing us anxiety. Cortisol also slows down digestion and reproductive processes because it wants us to conserve energy for fighting or fleeing from danger — both of which are important if we’re being chased by a saber-toothed tiger!

But if there’s no saber-toothed tiger chasing us down, then this stress response isn’t doing anything useful at all. In fact, it can lead to sleep problems, digestive issues, memory problems, weight gain around the midsection (a symptom of insulin resistance), depression and anxiety disorders — just to name a few.

Last modified: September 5, 2022