Invagination: is the process of a cellular surface folding in on itself.
Gastrulation: involves changes in cell shape.
Neural Plasticity and Massage:
Massage therapy and mainly the massage practitioner can act as a corrective force, akin to the cellular invagination process of folding and remapping the cells. The brain maintains a “map” of the body in the somatosensory cortex of the brain, where every region of the body is represented.
However, due to stress, trauma, injury, or repetitive strain, parts of this map can become “blurred” numb or disconnected. This phenomenon is often described as sensory amnesia—a loss of accurate body awareness.
Touch activates underused or “forgotten” areas of the brain’s sensory map, allowing the brain to rebuild or refine its understanding of the body’s boundaries and connections. Gentle or deep strokes provide a clear “electrical” input to the nervous system, helping the brain redefine how areas of the body relate to one another.
Repeated therapeutic massage sessions can help the brain form new
connections, especially in areas affected by chronic pain, stress, or trauma.
By encouraging relaxation and reducing the dominance of stress-related
pathways, massage therapy supports the brain’s ability to shift from survival
(sympathetic nervous system activation) to healing mode (parasympathetic
dominance).
This process fosters a deeper integration of physical, emotional, and cognitive
experiences, akin to the folding and unfolding of layers within the cells during
invagination.
Lymphatic, Energy and Emotional Flow:
Massage therapy also mirrors the cellular process of invagination and gastrulation process in the way that it stimulates the flow of lymph, blood, and emotional energy within the client’s body system.
Just as in the cellular processes it facilitates the internalisation and processing of nutrients or signals, massage allows the body to release stagnation in physical and emotional systems and encourage clients to reconnect with their inner forgotten world.
This reflective process can lead to profound shifts in how clients experience their bodies, emotions, and overall sense of well-being, sometimes leading to profound shift in their personal journeys or careers.
In essence, massage therapy works on a larger scale—helping clients “fold inward” through touch, leading to a deeper understanding of their body’s needs, intuition, an improved sense of self-awareness, and a rewiring of brain-body connections.
This process not only soothes but actively transforms the body’s internal cartography, creating a more integrated and harmonious state of being.
Stay Tuned,
All the Best.
Sergio Alejandro Canteros