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The relaxed feeling after a massage or facial does not have to fade by dinner time. This short body-scan meditation helps you return to that softness whenever you need it.

Holding on to that treatment-table feeling

After a remedial massage or a facial in Lane Cove, many clients describe the same thing: a body that feels heavy and soft, and a mind that has finally gone quiet. A body-scan meditation is a simple way to revisit that state at home. It uses the same skill your therapist draws on during a treatment, noticing where tension sits, except this time you guide your own attention.

Why attention helps us unwind

We often carry stress without realising it: a clenched jaw, raised shoulders, a furrowed brow. Simply directing awareness to these spots is something anyone can do, and many people find that noticing tension is the first step towards letting it go. Eastern traditions describe this as allowing energy to move more freely; you can simply think of it as relaxing.

The five-minute practice

1. Settle. Lie on your bed or sit in a comfortable chair. If you are a beginner, playing a guided recording can make this easier.
2. Look inward. Starting at the top of your head and moving slowly down to your toes, notice what you can feel. Pay special attention to the face, jaw, neck and shoulders, where tension often hides.
3. Acknowledge, do not fight. When you find tightness or discomfort, simply say hello to it. There is no need to force it away. Think of it as a part of you asking for a little care.
4. Breathe in light. On each in-breath, imagine soft white light, warm and kind, flowing in through your chest towards your heart.
5. Breathe out softness. On each out-breath, picture that light travelling to a tight spot, like the gentle pressure of a therapist's hands, inviting the muscles to loosen.
6. Repeat. Take several breaths this way, moving between the areas you noticed.
7. Spread it out. Finally, let the light flow evenly through your whole body, from scalp to soles, and rest in the feeling for a minute or two.

Making it part of your routine

Try the scan in the evening while a hydrating mask sets, after a warm bath, or on the morning of a busy day. Many people find regular practice helps them notice tension sooner. It is a relaxation technique only, so for ongoing pain, skin conditions or stress that affects daily life, check in with your GP.