The Transformative Power of Touch in Healing and Wellbeing
Touch is one of the most essential and misunderstood aspects of human connection. I have spent over twenty-five years studying massage and touch therapy, teaching across the world, and writing about its effects on the body and nervous system, yet I still find myself in awe of what intentional, mindful touch can truly do. I’ve spoken about this so much throughout the years, in press and to therapists I teach. It’s not simply about easing muscle tension or relieving pain, touch has the ability to change how we feel about ourselves, how we relate to others and how safe we feel in our own bodies.
On a physical level, the benefits of touch are undeniable. I came across a great read recently in The Guardian called, ‘The magic touch: how healthy are massages actually?’, which beautifully highlights the amazing health benefits massage truly has. Through massage, the muscles soften, circulation improves, and the body begins to function more efficiently. Pain eases, movement becomes freer. Many of my clients over the years have told me they feel stronger both physically and mentally since making regular massage part of their lives. They feel more grounded, more aware of their posture, and more able to cope with the pressures of daily life. This is the side of massage that most people understand.
But the deeper power of touch goes far beyond the physical.
Touch is the very first sense we develop in the womb. Long before we see, hear or speak, we experience through contact. Even when sight or hearing fades later in life, the sense of touch often remains. It gives us a sense of reality and reassurance that we’re not alone. When we touch with awareness and respect, we communicate on a level that does not rely on words. We feel seen, held and recognised in a way that language alone cannot provide.
Sadly, in modern society, many people have become disconnected from healthy touch. Even before the pandemic, there was already fear, hesitation and misunderstanding surrounding its importance. Touch became something that felt awkward or suspicious rather than nurturing and necessary. Yet at our core, we remain the same human beings who crave connection. We want the warmth of a hand on our shoulder at the end of a long day; we want reassurance in moments of vulnerability. These simple gestures are not luxuries; they’re part of what makes us emotionally resilient.
One of the most profound experiences of my life took place far from a spa or treatment room. During my research into touch, I spent time with the Kalahari Bushmen in Southern Namibia so I could learn about their healing traditions. When I first met them, there was only silence because we didn’t share a language. There were no familiar social cues to rely on. Slowly, with permission, I began to touch first the hands, then the arms, the shoulders, the head and the chest. Gradually, something shifted. Barriers softened and trust appeared before words ever arrived. When we eventually spoke through translation, the communication felt deeper because it had already been established through touch.
That experience stayed with me. It taught me that we are often afraid of what we don’t understand. In many ways, touch itself has become the unknown. To rediscover its power, we have to set aside fear and allow ourselves to experience this quiet, wordless form of communication again.
Touch has the ability to restore dignity, confidence and a sense of belonging. It reminds us that we are human. It transcends language, culture and background. When it’s offered with presence, respect and training, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for healing we possess.
This is why teaching therapists to work not only with technique but with awareness and integrity matters so deeply to me. The hands don’t work alone; the nervous system is always part of the treatment, and when both are supported, true transformation becomes possible.