Have you ever heard of laughter yoga? This concept, which may seem far-fetched, asserts that by forcing ourselves to laugh, we end up feeling happier. In other words, that emotion can be born of bodily action. But is this really the case? After all, we might think that it’s because we’re sad that we cry, or because we’re happy that we smile, the emotion preceding the body’s reaction.
And yet, during a massage session, it’s not uncommon to observe the opposite. Take the example of a practitioner who notices that a tense client, arriving with a tense face and the frown typical of anxiety, often leaves after the massage with visibly relaxed features and a calmer mood. By working on relaxing facial muscles such as the jaw and forehead, it’s not uncommon for this physical relaxation to be accompanied by emotional relief, sometimes even expressed by a slight smile or deeper breathing.
These observations suggest a powerful link between body and mind, one that massage therapy can not only reveal, but also strengthen. So, what’s really going on? Is it possible that the body, through its movements or relaxation, influences emotions?
| Contents Research | Our hearts tell us Research | Smiling and positive emotion Research | Botox and facial expression Embodied emotion theory Conclusion |
Research | Our hearts tell us
A study by Borkovec and Glasgow seems to show the opposite. They took a group of people, and presented them with images of snakes while listening to their own heartbeats. Exposed to these images, the normal reaction is to feel fear, and the accompanying body racing with increased heart rate. However, half of the participants who thought they were hearing their hearts were actually hearing a regular heartbeat. Thinking that the sight of snakes did not cause them to feel the heartbeat synonymous with fear, they agreed to get that much closer to a real snake than the other participants.
Research | Smile and positive emotion
Another study by Strack and colleagues shows that this effect is also found on positive emotions. By asking participants to hold a pen between their teeth, which induces a smile, they found that the latter found a cartoon funnier than those who held a pen between their lips (which creates a pout).
Research | Botox and facial expression
What happens, then, when muscles that normally allow us to communicate emotion are frozen over the long term? This phenomenon has been brought to light by the study of the effects of botulinum toxins (or more commonly “botox”). Botulinum toxins freeze the muscle, preventing muscle contraction and thus the motor production of facial expression. Lewis observed that blocking the glabella, involved in frowning (negative expression), improved mood, while freezing the orbicularis muscle (linked to smiling) increased anxiety and depression.
Theory of embodied emotions
These findings are interpreted within the framework of embodied emotion theory, where our emotions are not just mental states but objectified (embodied) experiences in the body, observable through physiological responses. Our emotional experiences are thus shaped by the way our body interacts with the environment. This theory integrates the role of the body in our understanding of emotions, going beyond the traditional view that separates the cognitive and bodily aspects of emotional experiences. There is a mutual, dynamic influence between mind and body. This implies that cognitive and emotional processes can have effects on the body, and vice versa.
Darwin himself put it this way in 1872: “The free expression of an emotion by external signs intensifies it”. Although these effects are small in scale, they underline the interconnection between cognitive and bodily aspects.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this research reinforces the idea of a profound interconnection between body and mind, where our emotions influence our posture and expressions, and vice versa. For a massage therapy practitioner, these mechanisms open up fascinating perspectives: by working on muscular release and bodily expression, it is possible to contribute to emotional well-being in clients.
So when a customer arrives tense and leaves with a relaxed face, sometimes even with a smile, it’s more than just physical relief. It’s a concrete illustration of the theory of embodied emotions: by freeing the body, we also free the mind. It’s a reminder that in the practice of massage, every gesture is an opportunity to support this subtle but essential dynamic between emotions and bodily sensations.
To remember:
- It’s wrong to think that the link between emotions and the body is a one-way street. Emotions are not only mental, they are also shaped by physical reactions and the body’s interaction with the environment.
- Research has shown that manipulating facial expressions (forced smiles, muscle immobilization with botox) influences mood and reactions to stimuli.
- Our body and our emotions have a mutual and dynamic influence.
Sources :
- Borkovec, T. D., & Glasgow, R. E. (1973). Boundary conditions of false heart-rate feedback effects on avoidance behavior: a resolution of discrepant results. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 11(2), 171-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0005-7967(73)80003-8
- Darwin, C. (1872). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. https://doi.org/10.1037/10001-000
- Lewis, M. B. (2018). The interactions between botulinum-toxin-based facial treatments and embodied emotions. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33119-1
- Strack, F., Martin, L. L., & Stepper, S. (1988). Inhibiting and facilitating conditions of the human smile: a nonobtrusive test of the facial feedback hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(5), 768-777. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.768
