One of My Favorite Compliments

People fall asleep on the massage table all the time.

Most of them don’t intend to. They arrive determined to stay awake, to be polite, to “participate” in the session somehow.

But the body has its own plans.

Quite often, when someone drifts off, there will be a sudden little snort. That snort wakes them up immediately. Almost every single person — dainty female or beefy male alike — will then raise a hand and clear their throat as if to say, “Yes, that was intentional.”

It’s a funny little human moment.

I always pretend not to notice.

Over the years, many clients have asked me something that genuinely puzzles them:

“How is it possible that I fall asleep here, even when parts of the massage are uncomfortable, but I struggle so much to fall asleep at home?”

It’s a good question.

Part of the answer is chemistry. Massage helps release endorphins, and those are powerful little helpers. They quiet pain signals and invite the nervous system to settle.

But I think there is something else happening too.

When the body feels safe enough, it takes the opportunity to rest — sometimes quickly and without asking permission.

I often tell clients that snoring is one of the highest compliments I receive.

It means their body has decided, even if their mind hasn’t quite caught up yet, that it’s safe to let go.

And when that happens, I simply keep working and let the body enjoy the moment.

After all, it seems a shame to interrupt a good nap.

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