It was not important whether the massage pressure was soft or moderate / UfaBizPhoto/shutterstock
Spending quality time at a spa chilling out and having treatments is an ideal way to unwind, however, many people struggle to schedule a whole morning or afternoon to themselves. A new study from the University of Konstanz in Germany has suggested that there could be a quicker way to relax. It’s found that 10 minutes of massage or rest can boost the body’s principal engine for relaxation – the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) – and lead to a reduction in perceived mental stress.
Physical and psychological The research involved 60 female participants who were split into three groups of 20 and randomly assigned to a 10-minute relaxation intervention, either a vagus nerve massage or a soft shoulder massage, or a seated resting control scenario.
The vagus nerve massage focused on the head and neck and involved applying moderate pressure to the vagus nerve – which activates the PNS. The neck-and-shoulder massage used soft stroking movements designed to examine whether just touch can also be relaxing.
Psychological relaxation was measured by asking participants to describe how relaxed or stressed they felt before and after the intervention, using a questionnaire.
Physiological relaxation was gauged by monitoring participants’ heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). The researchers say this is an indication of how the PNS responds to changes in the environment: the higher the HRV, the more relaxed the body is.
The women in all three groups (even those resting) experienced a reduction in both psychological stress, saying they felt more relaxed compared to before.
Moreover, all participants showed significant HRV increases, which demonstrates that the PNS, the body’s natural stress-reducer, was activated by the massages, and additionally, that the body physiologically relaxes just by resting alone. However, the physiological effect was more pronounced when participants received a massage.
Researchers noted that it was not important whether the massage was soft or moderate, but that tactile contact in general seemed to improve the relaxation of the body.
Next steps According to researchers, the discovery that massage is effective on the level of both psychology and physiology via the PNS will help pave the way for future studies on understanding the role of relaxation on stress.
“Massage, being such a commonly used relaxation therapy, was our first study,” says Maria Meier, study first author and doctoral student in the lab of Neuropsychology at Konstanz. “Our next step is to test if other short interventions, like breathing exercises and meditation, show similar results.”
Called Standardized massage interventions as protocols for the induction of psychophysiological relaxation in the laboratory, the study was published in the journal Scientific Reports in September.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 4
Editor's letter: Nurturing mental health
It’s time for spas re-evaluate their mental wellness approach to help governments and society to tackle the escalating mental health crisis says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Dr Narinthorn Surasinthon
RAKxa Jai, a cutting-edge medi-wellness spa, has opened in partnership with Bumrungrad International Hospital and Minor Hotels in Bangkok. Spa Business talks to its COO
Spa people: Isabelle Duchesneau
The executive director of Québec's Le Monastère Augustines explains why its priority of serving caretakers is more relevant today than ever
Spa people: Michael Banissy
The world's largest study on touch uncovers the role it plays in our health and wellbeing. Spa Business talks to the lead researcher
Interview: Krip Rojanastien
Chiva-Som’s CEO talks to Spa Business magazine about guiding the destination spa through COVID-19 and its first contract management project in Qatar
Ask an expert: Corridors of power
What will it take to make politicians realise the value of spas? Spa Business magazine asks those in government and others who’ve made inroads
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Promotion: ISPA: Lead, inform, inspire
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Interview: Mark Hennebry
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Promotion: Lemi: Creating the dream team
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Interview: Luisa Anderson
A Longevity Garden and inner healing room are just two of the extra special features at the new Healing Village Spa at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, says its regional spa director
Promotion: Biologique Recherche
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Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020
This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
Research: Matter of minds
A new study is the first to define and put a value on the global mental wellness industry – estimating it to be worth US$121bn. But what does this mean for spas?
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It was not important whether the massage pressure was soft or moderate / UfaBizPhoto/shutterstock
Spending quality time at a spa chilling out and having treatments is an ideal way to unwind, however, many people struggle to schedule a whole morning or afternoon to themselves. A new study from the University of Konstanz in Germany has suggested that there could be a quicker way to relax. It’s found that 10 minutes of massage or rest can boost the body’s principal engine for relaxation – the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) – and lead to a reduction in perceived mental stress.
Physical and psychological The research involved 60 female participants who were split into three groups of 20 and randomly assigned to a 10-minute relaxation intervention, either a vagus nerve massage or a soft shoulder massage, or a seated resting control scenario.
The vagus nerve massage focused on the head and neck and involved applying moderate pressure to the vagus nerve – which activates the PNS. The neck-and-shoulder massage used soft stroking movements designed to examine whether just touch can also be relaxing.
Psychological relaxation was measured by asking participants to describe how relaxed or stressed they felt before and after the intervention, using a questionnaire.
Physiological relaxation was gauged by monitoring participants’ heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). The researchers say this is an indication of how the PNS responds to changes in the environment: the higher the HRV, the more relaxed the body is.
The women in all three groups (even those resting) experienced a reduction in both psychological stress, saying they felt more relaxed compared to before.
Moreover, all participants showed significant HRV increases, which demonstrates that the PNS, the body’s natural stress-reducer, was activated by the massages, and additionally, that the body physiologically relaxes just by resting alone. However, the physiological effect was more pronounced when participants received a massage.
Researchers noted that it was not important whether the massage was soft or moderate, but that tactile contact in general seemed to improve the relaxation of the body.
Next steps According to researchers, the discovery that massage is effective on the level of both psychology and physiology via the PNS will help pave the way for future studies on understanding the role of relaxation on stress.
“Massage, being such a commonly used relaxation therapy, was our first study,” says Maria Meier, study first author and doctoral student in the lab of Neuropsychology at Konstanz. “Our next step is to test if other short interventions, like breathing exercises and meditation, show similar results.”
Called Standardized massage interventions as protocols for the induction of psychophysiological relaxation in the laboratory, the study was published in the journal Scientific Reports in September.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 4
Editor's letter: Nurturing mental health
It’s time for spas re-evaluate their mental wellness approach to help governments and society to tackle the escalating mental health crisis says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Dr Narinthorn Surasinthon
RAKxa Jai, a cutting-edge medi-wellness spa, has opened in partnership with Bumrungrad International Hospital and Minor Hotels in Bangkok. Spa Business talks to its COO
Spa people: Isabelle Duchesneau
The executive director of Québec's Le Monastère Augustines explains why its priority of serving caretakers is more relevant today than ever
Spa people: Michael Banissy
The world's largest study on touch uncovers the role it plays in our health and wellbeing. Spa Business talks to the lead researcher
Interview: Krip Rojanastien
Chiva-Som’s CEO talks to Spa Business magazine about guiding the destination spa through COVID-19 and its first contract management project in Qatar
Ask an expert: Corridors of power
What will it take to make politicians realise the value of spas? Spa Business magazine asks those in government and others who’ve made inroads
Promotion: Artofcryo: Cold Calling
Artofcryo.com aims to offer the best whole-body cryotherapy chambers as well as a complete, reliable and effective solution for operators and results for guests
Promotion: ISPA: Lead, inform, inspire
Lead, Inform, Inspire. It’s been quite a year for ISPA, with its firm commitment to supporting members through the pandemic, as president, Lynne McNees explains
Interview: Mark Hennebry
Ensana’s chair tells Spa Business magazine about its landmark development, Buxton Crescent, one of the only genuine spa hotels in the UK
Promotion: Lemi: Creating the dream team
This year leading Italian supplier Lemi launched three new spa solutions, and ventured into the creation of signature treatments for the first time. General manager Matteo Brusaferri explains why he sees this as the way forward to help spas maximise their investment
Interview: Luisa Anderson
A Longevity Garden and inner healing room are just two of the extra special features at the new Healing Village Spa at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Bali, says its regional spa director
Promotion: Biologique Recherche
Skincare specialist, Biologique Recherche, is using its knowledge of chronobiology to create new approaches to skincare which yield powerful results
Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020
This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
Research: Matter of minds
A new study is the first to define and put a value on the global mental wellness industry – estimating it to be worth US$121bn. But what does this mean for spas?
Sponsored briefing: Starpool: Cargo-tecture
During lockdown, Riccardo Turri, CEO of Starpool, was inspired to create a whole new category of product, based on recycled containers. The result is the new i.con spa brand, which fuses luxury, wellness, recycling and design
Software: All booked up
Spa software suppliers take a look at 'big data' to reveal the booking trends they’ve seen since spas have reopened
Promotion: Voya: supporting spa partners
Jessica Anhold, Voya’s head of global sales and marketing, talks community in a time of crisis and how the company is supporting its spa partners
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
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