Hormones & Healing Hands

Why midlife women are turning to massage to ease the mayhem of menopause

If someone had told me that a pair of hands could untangle brain fog, soothe a soul mid-hot flush, and reignite sleep like a reset button, I’d have laughed – sweatily – in their face. But then I met Anne Schuetz from Mindfulness & Massage. Her specialism? Women whose hormones have gone rogue – from pregnancy and post-natal, all the way to our menopausal years.

Anne Schuetz from Mindfulness & Massage

I booked a massage. For research, of course. But also because I was deeply intrigued. What could a tailored massage really offer a midlife woman who's juggling deadlines, caring responsibilities and night sweats?

A Massage Therapist with Hormonal Cred

Anne’s journey to massage wasn’t linear – it was hormonal. After ten years in high-pressure office roles in London, a career pivot arrived alongside motherhood and the big 4-0. Commuting lost its shine, and a growing interest in osteopathy led her to massage training as a more accessible first step. What followed was a deep dive into how touch, empathy, and presence could support women like her – and me.

Her menu includes Swedish, Deep Tissue, Indian Head, and, crucially, Menopause, Pregnancy and Post-Natal massages. “Every session is a mix,” she told me. “The hormonal ones need a very different approach – it’s about nurturing, slowing down, and giving the body what it needs today.”

Menopausal Bodies Need Menopausal Hands

The menopausal massage, it turns out, isn’t just a luxurious lie-down (though I won’t lie, that part was lovely). It’s a carefully thought-out ritual: calming strokes, hormone-sensitive pressure points, gentle breathing guidance, and even some meditation if you’re up for it.

Anne describes it as “managing symptoms rather than fixing hormones.” And she's right – massage won’t magically rebalance our oestrogen or progesterone levels. But what it can do is help with the fallout: sleeplessness, joint pain, anxiety, rage, and a general sense of “whose body is this and why is it always sweating?”

Evidence backs her up. A recent UK review in The Targetted Therapies noted in 2024 that  massage therapy significantly reduced physical symptoms such as joint stiffness and fatigue, eases muscle and joint pain, reduces stress and anxiety, promotes better sleep, balances hormones naturally, alleviates headaches and migraines, improves circulation and skin health, all whilst also helping women feel emotionally supported – a crucial factor when so many feel unheard or invisible during this life stage.

The Power of Permission

One thing that stood out in our session? The sense of permission. For an hour, I wasn’t anyone’s employee, partner, parent, or project manager. I was simply Amanda – lying still, being cared for, and breathing properly for the first time in weeks.

Anne's method includes a gentle intake chat, zero pressure to “fix”, and an openness that means even first-timers feel safe in their changing bodies. “Some women don’t know where to start,” she said. “So I let them talk. That alone is therapeutic.”

Massage isn’t a miracle cure for menopause, but it can provide a buffer against the chaos. According to a 2024 factsheet from Women’s Health Concern, massage, aromatherapy and reflexology are among the complementary therapies that can support menopausal women experiencing sleep disturbance, low mood and muscular aches. These therapies don’t rebalance hormones but can ease the symptoms caused by hormonal shifts, helping women feel more in control and less alone.

Ann agrees: “It’s about layering support – HRT, coaching, yoga, rest. Massage plays its part by soothing the nervous system and giving women permission to just be.”

The Science of the Stroke

Massage, it turns out, does more than feel nice. Anne described how certain pressure points can trigger responses in the body – including one particularly magical one that helps menopausal women fall back asleep after night sweats.

Cortisol – our stress hormone – is a big focus. “It’s one hormone we can influence through massage,” Anne explained. “By relaxing the nervous system, we help lower cortisol, which then improves sleep, mood, and reduces that wired-but-tired feeling.”

A July 2023 systematic review in BMC Women’s Health found that therapeutic physiotherapy modalities—including aromatherapy massage and other manual techniques—significantly reduced insomnia and depression in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women over the course of several weeks. It’s little wonder that clients often say afterwards: “I finally slept!”

Lunchtime Bliss and Chair-Based Miracles

For women without the time for a full-body treat, Anne also offers workplace-friendly options: chair massages focusing on upper back, shoulders, and that tension hotspot – the head. “I’ve got a magic point that reinvigorates your brain,” she joked. It sounded like a joke. It felt like sorcery.

She recommends massage every 2–4 weeks during stressful periods – budget and time permitting. But even one-off sessions have an impact. “There’s no pressure to rebook,” she says. “But health is a priority.”

Busting the Massage Myths

Worried you’ll need to undress in a cold room or wince through pain? Don’t. Anne is clear: “Massage isn’t about pain – that’s a myth. Pressure is tailored. You’ll never feel exposed or uncomfortable. The goal is positive touch, nothing invasive.”

She encourages clients to hydrate, skip heavy meals, and schedule some decompression time after. “You’re no good to anyone if you sprint straight to a Zoom call in full fight-or-flight,” she grinned. 

Healing in Layers

Our chat – and her touch – reminded me of something I often tell my coaching clients: healing isn’t about fixing all at once. It’s about layers. Permission. Reconnection. Anne's massages are a bridge between body and mind, a gateway to self-care that isn’t performative or prescriptive – it’s personal.

She often sees emotional releases: tears, belly laughs, post-massage euphoria. “So many women feel disconnected from their bodies,” she said. “My job is to help them come back to themselves.”

As I stepped out into the day, my shoulders felt like they’d been returned to their factory settings. My head was clear. My heart was full.

Final Thought

If your hormones are running the show, and the show feels like a chaotic improv performance with too much sweat and not enough sleep – book the massage. Light the candle. Breathe. You are worth the hour.

And if you’re not sure where to start? Just lie down. The healing hands will do the rest.

#MenopauseMassage #MidlifeWellbeing #HormonalHealth #HealingTouch #SelfCareMatters #CareerCoachForWomen #MassageTherapyUK #MindfulnessAndMassage #MenopauseSupport #PauseAndEmpower #MenopauseRelief #MassageMatters #MidlifeReset #HormoneHealth #SleepSupport #SelfCareIsStrength