You can spot true love a mile away, and there’s no mistaking it when you see it.
We have all stumbled upon a real life love scene at one point or another in our lives.
You’re at the grocery store and spot a couple holding hands and softly cracking jokes with each other. As they smile and carry on, there’s a distinguishable glimmer in their eyes & the energy they put off just can’t be mistaken. It’s love.
But what’s the secret?
What makes that feeling of love so strong that it can be felt by others in the room?
If you have been in a long term relationship you know all too well that couples will experience up’s, down’s, and sometimes even a sideways. Strengthening and creating deeper bonds with our partners over time is key to the long term success & happiness of any couple. In today’s article we are going to break down the science of why couples that get massages together end up forming deeper bonds and creating a peaceful balance in their relationships.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes in your brain when you get a massage. Therapeutic touch and muscle manipulation activate and release 3 primary chemicals in the brain. Let’s dive into what they are and how they play a major role in strengthening relationships.
Oxytocin
This hormone is released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland. Not only does this hormone play a role in dropping stress levels, it increases positive attitudes towards other people. When a couple experiences raised levels of oxytocin at the same time, it helps to foster a sense of trust in each other and a greater feeling of attachment.
Serotonin
Produced by your nerve cells. This chemical is known for regulating your emotions and bringing down anxiety. Post massage, a couple experiences raised levels of serotonin. This extra serotonin in the system boosts the feeling of affection a person has towards another.
Dopamine
This chemical is known for sending information between your neurons, and much like serotonin, it plays an important role in regulating emotions and feelings. Specifically, this chemical is triggered in the brain to reward our bodies for indulging in things that make us feel good. As such, when we experience raised levels of dopamine in our systems we associate positive thoughts and feelings with the actions that caused the rise in that chemical. Couples that get massages together experience this dopamine rise and then begin to develop more positive correlations with spending time together.
This potent chemical concoction that is released by a massage can simply be described as the holy-trinity of love potions. Couples who experience this effect find that it brings a thoughtful awareness to the time they spend together outside of the message.
Not only does a couples massage elevate your minds on a chemical level to form deeper connections, but the simple act of booking and going to your appointment also sends important signals to your partner.
When you set time aside to be together and do something together it tells your partner that no matter what’s going on in life right now, this time is for us & I find it important to focus on us.
If you’re like a lot of couples, it’s all too easy to fall into your daily routines. Wake up, rush to work, come home, eat dinner, watch Netflix until you fall asleep on the couch, watch one more episode even though you’re totally asleep but you have to prove to yourself you can still stay up past 10pm, and repeat. By taking action and breaking outside of the normal daily routine you add some novelty to your relationship.
Dr. Holly Cox of Lotus Therapy Center states, “Research tells us that partners who continue to inject novelty into their relationships have closer, more rewarding bonds.” She then goes on to say, “I think couples massage, for couples in which both partners find the idea interesting, can offer an avenue to that shared adventure.”
Experiencing something so different & healing together helps to build and nurture a strong relationship.
As you can see, couples who massage together experience deeper connections with each other and a greater sense of balance.
If you’re looking for the best couples massage York PA has to offer, be sure to reach out to us to book your next appointment.
P.S. Try adding on a 15-30 minute infrared sauna session for an unforgettable day together!
** To learn more about our couples massage pricing & what’s included in our sessions, you can click the button below.
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