Magic in just a touch

ASMR: IT SOOTHES FRAYED NERVES

- Hein Kaiser

Imagine a massage that was spawned in viral universe where whispering, chewing crackly snacks and tapping or slurping through straws reign supreme. ASMR – autonomous sensory meridian response – has hopped across the digital Styx to a real-world experience, from across the Atlantic to Mzansi.

An ASMR massage, the internet said, is designed to soothe frayed nervous systems through touch, breath, sensory experiences and ambient sound.

Ann-Marie Viviers, founder of Heavenly Healing, has introduced what she believes is one of the first ASMR-based massage treatments in South Africa.

Her method is inspired by the online trend that has captivated millions of people looking for calm in distraction in an increasingly messy world.

"It is not just a massage. It is a controlled sensory environment. You are surrounded by soft thunder, rain sounds and intuitive touch. It is designed to quiet the noise that most people carry in their heads," said Viviers.

The treatment includes slow, light touch, carefully selected soundscapes, energy work and ritual elements that feel like ceremony and therapy in the same moment.