Massage and Creativity

At Massage Matters Clinic, we often write about the physical benefits of massage, exercise, and stretching, but today we would like to explore one of the most fascinating experiences relating to brain activity from a holistic perspective.

Hypnagogic states of mind can be induced through relaxing massage. The term “hypno” is derived from the Greek word for sleep, while “agogos,” also from Greek, means to guide.

Some of the most creative artists in the world have used hypnagogia to aid their creative endeavours, finding it to be a rich source of ideas and inspiration. In his book 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship, Salvador Dali describes hypnagogia as “a walk in the equilibrium on the taut and invisible wire that separates sleeping and waking.”

The experience of hypnagogia is that of not knowing if you are asleep or awake; in this space, you are essentially in limbo between two states of consciousness. Several of our clients report seeing colours, with purple and green being the most common. Spiritualists believe that purple is associated with creativity, among other things, and green is associated with vibrant health and growth.

Scientists have established the presence of both alpha and theta brainwaves during a hypnagogic state. This is unusual, as alpha brainwaves dominate the brain during waking hours, while theta brainwaves are generally present only during restorative sleep. It is suggested that this rare and unique combination of both alpha and theta brainwaves being active at the same time induces this creative state of mind and allows us to remember what we are dreaming.

In many ways, a state of hypnagogia provides the best of both worlds: the benefits of REM sleep, which is critical to all human beings when the brain reviews and processes memories, feelings, and thoughts, combined with the reduced activity in the frontal cortex, which is responsible for logic, planning, and decision making.

At Massage Matters Clinic, our more experienced therapists use the healing power of touch to help induce the hypnagogic state of mind. Sharon uses her skills in holistic and relaxing massage, as well as her expertise in Gua Sha, to induce such a state. It truly is quite magical. Geraldine uses her amazing skills in reflexology to achieve the same effect, while Tom and John use techniques they developed around the face and scalp to help people who experience frequent headaches or migraines reach a hypnagogic state. We are particularly interested in the benefits for those experiencing overwhelm or highly stressful situations, where we have seen a wonderful transformation in as little as an hour.

So, there it is. If you have ever experienced the sensation of not knowing if you are awake or asleep, then you have experienced hypnagogia, and it is very beneficial.