I love this article by Dr Olson because it highlights something important….the public perception of how the body works and also what the experience of massage or body work is not.
Manual therapy doesn’t “change the tissue” — it changes what the nervous system predicts and feels about the tissue.
That means we’re not correcting mechanics. We’re creating new internal experiences.
Therapeutic massage is about listening to the body, listening for imbalance and the gentle attunement of hands on work.
This is such a good reminder that our bodies are the messenger for whatever is going on in our life and this will show up as symptoms in the body. Symptoms of stiffness, pain, discomfort, inflammation and swelling.
In therapeutic massage, the pressure, the rhythm, the quality of presence — they all send signals to the interoceptive system. And when those signals are safe, novel, and meaningful, they have the power to re-map perception. To interrupt pain. To support regulation. To invite trust. As a Specialised kinesiologist I work on the all levels to bring about more powereful shifts in my massage practises so I really resonate with his views and my customers experience this deeper conversation.
And it’s not just deeper — it’s more hopeful. Because if the body isn’t broken, just misunderstood, then healing doesn’t require fixing. It requires listening.
His full article can be read here
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