Monkey Mind

Monkey mind is a term that Buddha used to describe the dangerous mental acrobatics we put ourselves through on a daily basis. We over think our lives, replay former conversations, second guess our decisions and anticipate problems before they happen. We allow our inner voices to create incessant chatter, mayhem, and screeching that Buddha referred to as a mind filled with “drunken monkeys.”

Massage is able to bring a purposeful peace and healing silence to our overactive minds and allows us to reach a state of stillness called “massage mind” that is very much like a state of deep meditation. Extraneous ambient sounds disappear while our internal voices settle down into a whispered murmur and then morph into a distant hum. Eventually, one can reach a relaxed state where your mind is no longer your enemy but is a quiet observer allowing you to reach a deep, cleansing, quiet peacefulness.

This relaxed state is known to aid in healing troubled minds or weakened bodies and to replace worry and angst with mental and physical wellness. According to many professional massage therapists, “massage mind” is a state that is easily achieved by experienced meditators, but it is also a byproduct of therapeutic massage. Your professional massage therapist can help you reach the goal of eliminating monkey mind by being responsive to your needs.

If your objective is to rid yourself of those drunken monkeys keeping you awake at night or impeding your progress at work, tell your therapist that your goal is to train yourself to successfully silence your thoughts and reach the stillness known as massage mind. Your massage therapist can help you by choosing music and specific massage techniques that gently guide you into this state of relaxation.

According to Pat Crozier, a well-known massage therapist and educator from Chandler, Arizona, “When the brain is in this meditative state, it is able to sort through the clutter and focus on any areas that need it, allowing healing to occur at the cellular level.” She continues, “ The meditative mind is a wonderful place to hang out. It’s calming, strengthening, restorative, and clearing.” Massage mind will help you reach a state of balance and health by removing abusive and detrimental thoughts that evoke fear, anger, shame, sorrow and sadness.

Clients report that with the cessation of the negative voices, a positive feeling develops. When this occurs, emotional baggage is often left at the mind’s curbside.