If you’re counting more sheep than there are potholes on the Trans-Canada Highway, you’re not alone, eh? Insomnia affects about one-third of Canadians—that’s more people than have opinions about the correct pronunciation of “about.”
But before you start googling “how much coffee is too much coffee?” at 3 AM, let’s talk about how a good head massage might just be the sleep solution you’ve been dreaming of.
The Great Canadian Sleep Drought
According to the Canadian Sleep Society (yes, that’s a real thing, bud), the average Canuck is getting about 60-90 minutes less sleep than we did 50 years ago. We’re more sleep-deprived than a new parent during hockey playoffs!
And what happens when we don’t sleep? We get crankier than a Torontonian during rush hour on the 401, that’s what.
How Head Massage Tells Insomnia to Take a Hike
Here’s the science, without too much of the hoity-toity jargon:
Head massage stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system—that’s the part responsible for making you feel more chilled out than a backyard rink in February. This triggers:
- A drop in cortisol (the stress hormone that keeps you wired like you’ve had a double-double at midnight)
- An increase in serotonin and melatonin (the “hit the hay” hormones)
- Relaxation of the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles that might be tenser than a Montreal-Toronto sports rivalry
A study from the University of Alberta found that participants who received regular head massage therapy fell asleep an average of 15 minutes faster and reported 27% fewer nighttime wake-ups. Now that’s something to write home about!
What Makes Head Massage Different Than Just a Regular Back Rub?
Head massage focuses specifically on pressure points that affect your sleep cycle. These magic spots include:
- The occipital ridge (fancy talk for where your skull meets your neck)
- Temporal regions (the spots you rub when your in-laws announce an extended visit)
- The crown of your head (where your toque sits)
When a professional hits these points just right, it’s like hitting the power-off button on your brain’s hyperactive hamster wheel of thoughts.
Give It a Go, You Hoser!
If your sleep schedule is more messed up than a Winnipeg intersection during construction season, maybe it’s time to put down the melatonin gummies and try something that doesn’t come from a bottle.
Head massage isn’t just some new-age hooey—it’s backed by more science than a CBC documentary and has been helping people catch Z’s since before “The Littlest Hobo” was on TV.
So instead of lying awake wondering if you locked the car or replaying that embarrassing thing you said at Tim’s seven years ago, book yourself a head massage session at Head Spa Toronto. Your pillow will be getting more action than a hockey puck at the Stanley Cup finals, and that’s a beauty way to go!