Over the past 15 months, we’ve all felt at some point a sense of loss and anger. With so much time spent on screens and video calls, our compassion, empathy and sense of connection has withered.

We’ve had to deal with uncertainty, waiting for vaccines, not knowing if kids will be in school or not, loss of loved ones, separation from friends and family, struggling businesses, being unable to travel.

Perhaps the most significant impact has been the loss of human connection and touch.

We crave real human contact - and we need it to thrive.

From hugging our loved ones, to warm handshakes or patting someone on the back, cultures and societies relate to one another though physical contact and emotional expression.

A lack of human touch has so many consequences, it’s hard to fathom.



University of California, Berkeley, cites the work of neuroscientist Edmund Ross, who shares studies that show touch means safety and trust, and - it soothes.

A gentle warm touch calms our cardiovascular stress.

It activates our body's vagus nerve, which is deeply connected with our compassionate response. A simple touch can release oxytocin, which we know as the ‘love hormone’.



Since the 1970’s Dr. Tiffany Field, head of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine has been studying the science proven benefits of touch.

One of her most surprising discoveries?

Learning the impact of massage on our immune system, our growth rate and our mental wellbeing.

“We found that massage actually increases natural killer cells. Natural killer cells are the front lines of the immune system. They kill viral cells, bacteria cells.” Dr. Tiffany Field

Other studies show massage therapy decreases cortisol on average 31%, which means it helps our heart rate and blood pressure to decrease.

Massage therapy also increases serotonin by 28% which helps our mood and feelings of happiness.

And, it can increase dopamine by 31% which improves our motivation and pleasure.



Interested in simple self-massage
tips to lift your mood?

All in all - welcome news, not just for those who’ve suffered or are suffering an illness or disease.

Massage positively impacts our stress levels, our relationships and our ability to grow and thrive.

In short, it can help us live longer. 

Now, more than ever, we need massage.

The physical, mental and emotional benefits that regular massage and spa attendance provides is genuine.

At our award winning spa, our team of professionally trained massage therapists have been healing our community with caring and nurturing hands for 20 years.

Our team frequently shares their expert knowledge and empowers our clients with techniques to try at home.

Knowing we’re all spending more time than ever in our homes, we developed a user-friendly guide: 5 Easy Self-Care Tips To Help You Flourish.

“As soon as I walked in the Rosewater Spa my breathing slows, my thoughts unwind because I know I will be pampered and treated like the most special guest that has ever walked through the doors.”
Mary

There’s never been a greater need in history for healing ourselves. To gently restore our mental and physical health coming out of this pandemic.

Our healing therapists see on a daily basis how important the power of touch is.

Over the past year, our clients have openly shared how grateful they feel for the gift of massage.

To our clients, massage does more than restore their wellbeing.

It brings a sense of much needed normalcy.

For busy professionals, looking for longevity of overall health, the Rosewater Spa provides a superior healing massage experience in the heart of old Oakville, and is the only spa to be in the top 25 Spas in Canada.

We’ve teamed up with our Registered Massage Therapists to recommend simple self-massage techniques you can do in a few minutes at home.

These super easy tips will help lift your mood and relieve some of the stress of sitting in front of a screen all day long.

We invite you to download our user-friendly guide: 5 Easy Self-Care Tips To Help You Flourish, where you’ll learn simple healing techniques you can do right at your desk.

Source: Dacher Keltner On Touch, UC Berkeley psychology professor and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center