Canberra Remedial Massage (Ainslie, ACT) - Relaxation

MAIN Contact Information
Monica Gallacher
20 Hawdon St
Ainslie 2602
0401 947 601- Monica
Servicing Ainslie, ACT and Inner North Canberra

We offer remedial massage, sports massage, relaxation massage and pregnancy massage.



Book your appointment here:

https://bookings.gettimely.com/canberraremedialmassage/bb/book

The clinic is on the traditional land of the Ngunnawal people, and we respectfully acknowledge their custodianship of Country.  

Our clinic is a welcoming space for all individuals, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. We embrace people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Please let us know if you have any special needs or considerations.  

We strive to maintain a healthy and welcoming clinic environment for everyone. Please adhere to all ACT Health guidelines regarding COVID-19 or other communicable diseases, and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

If you have any cold or flu-like symptoms, please cancel and reschedule your appointment.

 

Relaxation Massage (Evidence-Informed Overview)

Relaxation massage is designed to help you unwind completely. Using gentle, flowing strokes and light pressure across the entire body—head, face, neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, legs, and feet—this treatment invites your nervous system to slow down and your body to relax and soften.

 

How it works

Relaxation massage primarily acts through neuro- and psychophysiological pathways, nudging the body toward parasympathetic dominance (“rest & digest”), which is associated with a calmer heart rate, improved heart-rate variability (HRV), and a felt sense of safety and ease (Isar, Zikri, & Ong, 2022). 

Delivered before bedtime, a single session has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce sleep-onset latency in people with insomnia symptoms (Ntoumas et al., 2025). These effects reflect nervous-system modulation rather than structural tissue change—consistent with critical summaries that emphasise massage’s contextual and neurobiological mechanisms (Ingraham, 2025; AMT, 2024). 

 

Evidence-based benefits

Peer-reviewed research indicates relaxation-oriented massage can:

  • Increase parasympathetic activity / HRV markers after a single session (Isar et al., 2022). (bodyworkmovementtherapies.com)

  • Enhance sleep quality and next-day functioning in individuals with poor sleep and those experiencing symptoms of insomnia (Ntoumas et al., 2025; Giannaki et al., 2025). (MDPI)

  • Support general well-being and mild pain relief as part of a broader self-care plan (Mak et al., 2024). (BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine)

AMT guidance supports relaxation massage as a safe, person-centred modality when provided by a qualified therapist, with screening and informed consent (AMT, 2024). (mobile.amt.org.au)

 

When to book

Relaxation massage is ideal during periods of stress, emotional fatigue, or physical tension, and pairs well with sleep-support routines, gentle movement, and mindfulness. Most people leave feeling lighter, calmer, and more grounded, with benefits that often ripple into the days that follow.

 

References (APA 7th)

Peer-reviewed

  • Isar, N. E., Zikri, M. H. A. H., & Ong, M. L. Y. (2022). Acute massage stimulates parasympathetic activation after a single exhaustive muscle contraction exercise. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, 30, 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.02.016 (bodyworkmovementtherapies.com)

  • Ntoumas, I., Karatzaferi, C., Giannaki, C. D., Papanikolaou, F., Pappas, A., Dardiotis, E., & Sakkas, G. K. (2025). The impact of relaxation massage before bedtime on sleep quality and quantity in people with symptoms of chronic insomnia: A home-based sleep study. Healthcare, 13(2), 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020180 (MDPI)

  • Giannaki, F., Papanikolaou, F., Dardiotis, E., Lavdas, E., & Sakkas, G. K. (2025). Massage positively influences daytime brain activity and reduces daytime napping latency in poor sleepers: A randomized trial. BMC Complementary Medicine & Therapies, 25, 290. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05022-6 (BioMed Central)

  • Mak, S., Allen, J., Begashaw, M., et al. (2024). Use of massage therapy for pain, 2018–2023: A systematic review. JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2821154. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.22259 (BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine)

Professional evidence summaries (context, not peer-reviewed)

  • Association of Massage Therapists (AMT). (2024). Benefits of massage. https://www.amt.org.au/massage-and-you/benefits-of-massage.html (amt.org.au)

  • Association of Massage Therapists (AMT). (n.d.). What to expect. https://mobile.amt.org.au/massage-and-you/what-to-expect.html (mobile.amt.org.au)

  • Ingraham, P. (2025, Mar 28). Massage Therapy: Does it work? PainScience.com. https://www.painscience.com/articles/does-massage-work.php (www.PainScience.com)