In-person ASMR services and therapies are growing slowly.
Here is a list of in-person ASMR services around the world, and here are some insights from an ASMR therapist.
In this post, I’m happy to share some insights from Santina Zienkiewicz, the founder of the in-person ASMR spa, “Studio ASMR” in Trójmiasto, Poland.
She also shared some data she collected from her ASMR spa clients, which you will also find below.
The following was written by Santina Zienkiewicz.
ASMR: The Touch We’re Missing – My Experience and the Voices of Those Who Use It
This is not an article about scientific research or who first coined the term ASMR. It’s my personal story, based on experiences from my own practice and the voices of people who are increasingly seeking something more in ASMR than just an internet curiosity.
My journey with ASMR began in August 2024, when I decided to create a space in Poland entirely dedicated to this phenomenon. Not as a TikTok trend, but as a real method of deep relaxation, mindfulness, and reconnection with oneself. Today, I know it was a decision that changed not only my life, but also the lives of many of my clients.
Not Just Sounds – But Connection
Most people who come to my ASMR sessions are women – they make up 98% of my clients. Often, despite being in relationships, they feel lonely, untouched, and unnoticed. They’re looking for closeness, not romantic, but human and emotional. They want to feel cared for. They want someone to truly be present.
One of my clients, a woman on the autism spectrum, showed me how important precision, ritual, and gentleness can be. Thanks to her, I understood that ASMR is not just a stimulus – it’s also a language that can communicate where other forms fail.
I Created a Real Space to Experience ASMR Live
Out of the need to offer real connection and a safe environment, I founded Studio ASMR Trójmiasto in Gdańsk, Poland, at Hynka 18 Street. I call the sessions I conduct well-being sessions. Their goal is to improve quality of life and mental health through techniques of deep relaxation, calming the nervous system, and therapeutic touch. Although research on ASMR is still developing, we already know its effects are real and measurable.
My method is based on touch, light scratching, and sensory tools that deliver a variety of physical stimuli. Without exception, each session is accompanied by meditative music, specifically Solfeggio frequencies, which are known for their healing, relaxing, and spiritual properties. During the session, I also guide a manifestation mantra – invoking positive energy, acceptance of one’s body and touch, and the feeling of being loved. It’s a process of focusing attention and energy on a chosen intention.
Men Need It Too – But They’re Afraid
Only 2% of my clients are men. Why? Because in Poland, we still feel ashamed to talk about mental health needs, and men, especially, are under intense social pressure. They’re embarrassed to come to a session, afraid of what their friends or family might say. But when they do come, their reactions are often profound. I frequently hear that it feels like a mix of good drugs and an out-of-body experience. And although it’s just a metaphor, it reflects how strongly ASMR affects both body and mind.
Relaxation That Starts With the Head
Every session I conduct is personalized – tailored to each individual, whether they’re struggling with sleep issues, anxiety, migraines, depression, or simply looking for emotional release. I focus particularly on the head and brain, our central control system. That’s where our senses and consciousness reside, sending signals to the rest of the body.
That’s why I start each relaxation process at the top of the body, moving slowly downward, and then return to the head to activate a new wave of sensory responses. All clients experience the same carefully refined ritual, and I don’t change it – because I know it works. Many return wanting to re-experience exactly what helped them the first time. Anonymously completed surveys also confirm this – no one asks for changes. My studio offers a friendly and safe space where everyone can feel good.
Long-Lasting Effects of ASMR
Through months of working with clients, I’ve learned to treat every person with gentleness and care. How someone feels during and after the session depends entirely on me. I always tell clients that the tingling sensations can remain in the body for a while. Some report it lasting up to an hour, others for two or even three. That’s the beauty of it – ASMR doesn’t end when the session does. The positive effect stays with you.
ASMR as a Dream Come True
Clients who’ve been fans of ASMR videos for years react with deep emotion when they discover there’s now a real, physical place where they can experience triggers on their own bodies. Many tell me this was their dream. They say you can’t compare the visual stimuli of YouTube or TikTok to what it feels like in person. It’s night and day – a world of difference.
ASMR as Support in Therapy and Autism
The stories of those who use ASMR daily are moving. Parents of children on the spectrum, who, after years of medication and behavioral therapy, find peace in gentle sounds and images. People with mental health conditions who can’t trust their own emotions but find comfort in ASMR’s repetitiveness and softness. Those with chronic pain for whom it becomes a form of relief.
Many of my clients are also highly sensitive, neurodivergent, or emotionally burned out. They tell me ASMR gives them something no other therapy does – unconditional presence. While research into ASMR is still in early stages, I truly believe future generations will uncover its full potential, perhaps even in treating serious illnesses.
Not Just a Screen – But a Real Experience
Sadly, most discussions around ASMR still focus on form – whispers, tapping, rustling. But the true power of ASMR reveals itself when felt through the body – in silence, in trust, and in connection with another human being. If we had more places like my studio and more real-life data, we could significantly expand our understanding of ASMR’s health benefits.
In Conclusion…
I want to say one thing: ASMR is not just a trend. It’s a language of tenderness. A way to reconnect with your own body, your emotions, and with other people. It’s a kind of “touch” that so many of us are missing today. We might not yet fully understand how it works. But we know one thing for sure – it works.
– Santina Zienkiewicz
– Studio ASMR in Trójmiasto, Poland
– Visit Studio ASMR on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok
The following are survey data collected by Santina from her ASMR spa clients. The survey consisted of 11 questions, collected from nine clients, and the responses were anonymous.
1. What emotions did you experience during the ASMR session? (Select all that apply) [Options: relaxation, joy, calmness, surprise, fear, shame, arousal, stress, excitement, indifference, euphoria, bliss, relief, stillness, muscle looseness, anxiety, nervousness, embarrassment, sleepiness, tension, boredom, other.]
Most common responses: relaxation (100%), calmness (80%), bliss (90%), stillness (80%), muscle looseness (60%)
2. How would you rate the intensity of your ASMR experience during the session? [Options: very weak, weak, moderate, strong, very strong, other]
Most common responses: strong, very strong
3. Did you experience any physical sensations during the session that you felt on your body? (Select all that apply) [Options: tingling, chills, cold or warm shivers, sleepiness, muscle relaxation, pain, ticklishness, trembling, itching, other]
Responses selected by 80% or more: tingling, chills, muscle relaxation, shivers
4. Which ASMR techniques were the most relaxing for you? (Select all that apply) [Options: scratching, accessory sounds, background music, touch, bead accessories, brushes, soft brushes, cold tools, metal tips.]
Most common responses: touch (100%), scratching (90%), background music – especially Solfeggio frequencies (50%), use of various tools (<50%)
5. What changes did you notice in your well-being after the session? (Select all that apply) [Options: increased sense of calm, reduced stress, improved sleep quality, easier falling asleep, increased focus, reduced nervousness, faster hair growth, pain relief, reduction of panic attacks, anxiety, depression, deeper meditation, other.]
Most common responses: sense of calmness (<80%), stress reduction, better sleep quality, easier falling asleep, reduced nervousness (<50%)
6. After the ASMR session, did you feel more connected to your body or emotions?
Responses: Yes – 45%, No – 22%, Not sure – 33%
7. How often would you like to participate in ASMR sessions?
Responses: Daily – 22%, Several times a week – 22%, Once a week – 56%
8. What could we do to improve your experience during the session?
Responses: Nothing – 100%
9. Do you agree to have your responses used for ASMR research?
Responses: Yes – 100%
10. How satisfied were you with the ASMR session? (Scale 1–5)
Responses: 4 – 11%, 5 – 89%
11. What is your gender?
Responses:Female – 100%, Male – 0%
– Santina Zienkiewicz
– Studio ASMR in Trójmiasto, Poland
– Visit Studio ASMR on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok
More Posts and/or Pages related to this topic:
Learn more about ASMR:
- Website: ASMR University
- TED Talk: ASMR Benefits and Brain Science
- Podcast: ASMR University Podcast
- Book: Brain Tingles
ASMR podcasts for Sleep & Relaxation:
- Podcast for Sleeping: Sleep Whispers
- Podcast for Relaxing: Calm History
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This post brought to you by ASMR University. A site with the mission of increasing the awareness, understanding, and research of the Art and Science of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.
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