the healing power of touch

I’m a firm believer that there is enough space for everyone. Especially in business. Everyone has their specialty, their niche, their own magic. That je ne sais quoi that separates you from the next person (even if that person or business seemingly offers the same services). We are all unique in how we approach the same task. We all nerd out or home in on different aspects of the same subject matter that fascinates us. Sometimes in ways we can’t explain. We’re just drawn to it.

When it comes to skincare, I love researching a plant’s constituents and brainstorming ways to use them in skincare treatments. I love troubleshooting skincare concerns with my clients because it feels like a little mystery that I’ve solved. But most of all, I love facial massage. Of course, there is the physical benefit of massage – boosting circulation, stimulating collagen, moving lymph, etc. But the emotional benefit of massage is intangible. It feels powerful to me to take a client who is worried, stressed and overwhelmed with their day and gently lull them into a state of relaxation where they’ve either forgotten their own name or fallen asleep entirely. There is a healing power in touch and rhythmic movement.

Scientifically, soft touch activates nerve fibers in your skin call C-tactile afferents. These fibers then send signals to your brain to release oxytocin, the hormone and neurotransmitter involved in feelings of love, bonding and relaxation. Oxytocin potentially inhibits the HPA axis where cortisol (the stress hormone) is released. By increasing oxytocin levels, you’re effectively mitigating the negative impacts of cortisol. When cortisol drops, your heart rate slows down, your blood pressure decreases, and tension begins to melt away. Soft touch, like that in facial massage, can create feelings of safety and connection, literally melting stress away.

In our hyper-digital, fast-paced, no-time-for-sleep-just-give-me-all-the-coffee kinda world, physical distance and information overload have become the norm. Human connection has decreased. Although many people view facial treatments and massage as a ‘luxury’, I view them as a necessary protocol in self-care and as a reset for your nervous system. You’re creating space for interpersonal context and allowing your body and mind to ease into tranquility. And that’s where true healing begins.