Did You Know? The Science of Massage Session Lengths (It’s About Skin, Not Just Time)

Soul Journey
Jun 10
3 min read

Did you know your skin is your body’s largest sensory organ? And that it plays a starring role in how your nervous system decides whether a massage feels relaxing, annoying, or downright uncomfortable?

If you’ve ever felt like a massage was “too much” or “not enough,” there’s likely a biological reason behind it—and it starts with something called glide speed.

Glide Speed: Your Skin Knows the Difference

Massage isn’t just pressure. It’s movement—specifically, the speed at which a therapist’s hands move across your skin. In the book Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind by David J. Linden, researchers explain how different skin receptors are tuned to detect different speeds of touch.

In Touch, neuroscientist and bestselling author David J. Linden explores this critical interface between our bodies and the outside world, between ourselves and others. Along the way, he answers such questions as: Why do women have more refined detection with their fingertips than men? Is there a biological basis for the use of acupuncture to relieve pain? How do drugs like Ecstasy heighten and motivate sensual touch? Why can’t we tickle ourselves?

Here’s what the science says for each area of the body. It isn't one-speed fits all:

Back and Thighs: Optimal at about 1.2 inches per second
Arms and Legs: Prefer a slightly faster pace of 2 to 4 inches per second
Hands and Feet: Tolerate or prefer speeds closer to 4 to 6 inches per second
Neck and Face: Highly sensitive—prefer gentle, slow contact around 0.5 to 1.2 inches per second

Your nervous system is hardwired to interpret these speeds. Glide too fast? Your body reads it as mechanical, not emotional—disruptive rather than nurturing. Too slow? That’s interpreted as uncomfortable, almost like an itch that hasn’t been scratched.

There is a biological "sweet spot" that says, Ahh... safe, comforting, healing touch.

Why This Matters for Session Length

Let’s do some simple math. A massage therapist needs time to move over the entire body at the optimal pace. Now consider this:

The average 5’0", 110 lb person has about 16 square feet of skin.
A 6’4", 300 lb rugby player? Closer to 27 square feet or more.

That’s a difference of roughly 40% more skin—and your therapist can’t magically move 40% faster without disrupting your nervous system’s sense of safety and pleasure.

Not all bodies are built the same. Ask yourself “What does my body actually need?”

So let’s put this in perspective:

That 110 lb person may feel blissfully complete in a 60-minute full-body session. If stretched to 90 or 120 minutes, they might start to feel overstimulated—simply too much input for a smaller canvas.
But for the rugby player? A 60-minute session might feel incomplete or rushed. They need more time—not because they’re pickier, but because their body literally requires more time to receive the same level of sensory input at a therapeutic pace.

It's Not About Spoiling—It's About Science

When you book a massage, you’re not just buying time. You’re honoring the unique structure of your body. The way your skin talks to your brain, the way you unwind—those are personal.

That’s why we include this in your consultation at Soul Journey.

We’ve recommended shorter sessions for those who get overstimulated easily, and longer sessions for larger clients or those with deeper recovery needs. It’s not one-size-fits-all—and that’s exactly how it should be.