Clare Baker Massage

It's so wonderful to be seeing articles like this that highlight massage (and it will no doubt apply to other forms of therapy) in the context of a whole person approach. No one person is the same, and taking in account the multi-dimensional elements of the physical and emotional experiences of someone is an integral part of the treatment

A recent review exploring massage and brain imaging is worth paying consideration to 🧠👋

The authors looked at studies using EEG, fMRI and fNIRS to examine how the brain responds during, or after, different forms of massage and therapeutic touch. The findings suggest that massage may be associated with measurable changes in brain activity linked with relaxation, arousal regulation, body awareness, sensory processing, pain modulation and emotional state.

For therapists, the interest is not that we have found one simple mechanism for massage, because the research does not show that. The interest is that these findings sit alongside other research in touch science, pain science, interoception and contextual effects, where therapeutic touch is increasingly understood as part of a whole person process.

Massage involves mechanical contact with the body, so it is reasonable to say that tissues are mechanically stimulated during treatment. There may be local mechanical changes in skin, fascia, muscle or fluid movement, but these effects are likely to be transient, short lived and different from person to person. They are not enough, on their own, to explain why someone’s pain, movement, body awareness, confidence or sense of ease may change after treatment.

A more useful explanation is that touch provides sensory information. That information is interpreted by the nervous system in relation to the person’s current state, previous experiences, expectations, stress levels, sense of safety, body awareness and the therapeutic relationship.

That helps us speak about massage in a more accurate way. The pressure, pace, duration, environment and communication around treatment may all influence how the person experiences touch, how safe or threatened their system feels, how they sense their body, and how pain or movement may change.

The careful word here is *may*. The studies included in the review are varied, with different types of massage, different populations, different imaging methods and different outcome measures. That means we should not turn these findings into broad claims that one technique produces one predictable brain response.

What the review does offer is a useful direction for the profession. It supports the idea that hands on therapy can be understood as mechanical, sensory, relational and contextual input, with the person’s nervous system interpreting that input and producing the response.

That gives therapists a more thoughtful way to explain why touch can feel meaningful, settling and helpful for some people, without needing to over claim what is happening in the tissues or reduce massage to a brain only story. 👋🧠

The more I do this work, the more I come to know that the practice of massage itself is not the only thing at work. The space and the understanding created by the practitioner are as restorative as the touch.

Blog: Relaxation massage to nourish and restore: the deep healing power of touch, space and understanding
https://www.clarebaker.co.uk/2025/05/09/relaxation-massage/

What does health and well-being actually mean? Understanding our own bodies is complex and can be a challenge. Here I explore our how our amazing bodies interconnect with a multitude of factors that can affect our health and well-being
https://www.clarebaker.co.uk/2025/02/20/massage-for-health-and-well-being/

Friday gentleness for a crazy world ❤

Serendipity often has a hand in how I write my blogs and this one was definitely so. In a nutshell, it's three things I am grateful for and one hope. It draws on continued support from the benefits of seasonal/cyclical living; the importance of finding solid, logical advice for hormonal challenges in a space that is very noisy right now; and the power of words in the form of podcasts and books. And you will not be surprised to know that the hope lies in the belief that small, imperfect actions in the fairly major job of changing this crazy world really can lead to meaningful change

https://www.clarebaker.co.uk/2024/12/11/the-end-of-the-year/

It's really tough out there for small businesses. No-one describes better the ups and downs of being a small business owner than Naomi, and the difference it makes supporting them ❤️

Buy less, buy better, buy handmade

 

I say this a lot but what does it mean? How do you buy better? Why is it good to buy less? Why does buying handmade matter? If you're reading this, I think you know the answers, but it’s important to talk about because we live in a world of over-consumption and waste. A world of plastic and pollution, fast fashion and throwaway culture. I can’t change that with one shop, but I can do my bit to make it better and to support all the amazing small makers that make the world a more interesting and sustainable place to live. Everything in my shop is locally made from predominantly locally sourced materials. Nothing is flown in, nothing is single-use, nothing ends up in landfill. And yes, that may not make it the cheapest gift option, but it does make it a better option for community and the planet. That’s what buying better means – it means one handmade snood that will last for life, instead of 5 from Primark that will be in the bin by next Christmas. It means one unique handcrafted mug that will be your special mug, rather than a few from the supermarket. It means one handcrafted bar soap that will last for ages and leave nothing behind rather than a plastic bottle of soap that will run out faster and leave a much longer impact on the planet.

 

Someone went around the shop today with a list of people to buy for, all with a budget of £10 per person. She ticked off all her gifts and said how amazing it felt to know that everyone was getting something small but beautiful, unique and handmade. It’s an old but good saying – quality is better than quantity. None of us really need more stuff, but handmade, thoughtfully chosen stuff will bring joy and I think that’s what Christmas is about. When I tell people about the women who make the designs and how they make them, it’s not just because I love these women and what they do, but also because I think it matters to know they're made by individuals not machines. That’s what buying handmade is all about – the human connection, the signs that human hands made the design, the fact that no two mugs or prints are the same.What do you love most about handmade?

As the sun sits lower, the grass is heavy with moisture and the leaves shift from green to beautiful orange and red, we know autumn is here.

Our bodies know too. Seasonal change can be impactful on our bodies. They too start to feel the energetic shift of moving inwards. It can be hard to feel that in our ever-productive world, but it's there nonetheless. We are no different than the rest of nature.

How do you nurture yourself in this season, preparing for winter, beginning to guard your energy with an eye on spring and being able to greet that rested and ready for expansion?

I did my first stone massage of the season yesterday. I swear they're as beneficial for me as my clients. The stones full of their natural wisdom, the warmth they give to us both and the reminder of a pause to deeply nourish body and soul.

Of course, it can be anything that nods towards the acknowledgement of change: candle on desk, hot drinks, a warm blanket or chunky cardi.

Whatever you choose, this is a gentle reminder that we are not supposed to hurtle through autumn and winter at the same pace that summer allows. So if you're feeling that, go with it, pick out those little things that soothe and nourish you, and give you the hug you need to look after your precious body and soul

Well it's been awhile hey! I hope you are well.
I am back with a blog- about Lammas, a Celtic festival celebrating the first harvest of the year, which takes place on 1 August x

Lammas | Clare Baker Massage | Brighton & Hove Lammas is the Celtic festival used to celebrate the first harvest of the year. Held on 1 August, it is a time for celebration and reflection

This is such a lovely blog about the benefits of massage. Written by one of the absolute best therapists and teachers there is ❤

Massage therapy is a holistic approach to wellness that recognizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. It goes beyond just physical relaxation and aims to promote overall well-being by addressing the mental and spiritual aspects of a person’s health along with their physical needs.

Here’s a closer look at the holistic approach to massage therapy and its focus on the mind, body, and spirit connection.

https://collegeofclassicalmassage.com/massage-therapy-mind-body-and-spirit-connection/

I really loved this article about 'fulfilment'. It was a word that had been popping up abit for me recently, and then blow me if serendipitously it landed in my in-box (via the wonderful Kathryn Ho www.kathrynho.com). I did initially take the smallest of exceptions to the Imposter Syndrome point feeling it missed something about the layered nature of that for women. But as it was followed by reference to what women are 'raised to think', I loved it all after all!
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/04/oliver-burkemans-last-column-the-eight-secrets-to-a-fairly-fulfilled-life?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Oliver Burkeman's last column: the eight secrets to a (fairly) fulfilled life After more than a decade of writing life-changing advice, I know when to move on. Here’s what else I learned