The Healing Power of Ayurvedic & Therapeutic Massage

[+AYURVEDA]

 Massage Is a Natural Birthright!

Massage has been a central pillar to many healing systems, including Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, as well as to many European and indigenous cultures the world over. Aside from the delightful relaxation and pampering that it offers, massage therapy is well known for having both physiological and psychological benefits, and has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years to promote healing and rejuvenation.

We may not think of this often, but even the process of childbirth comes with a natural form of massage performed by the contractions experienced during labor. These uterine contractions, although painful, have a double purpose. Not only do they motion the baby toward the birth canal, but as the uterine muscles tighten and relax, they also massage and stimulate her nervous system, prompting it to get ready for the outside world. Other mammals do this by licking their newborns as they come out. After months of the fetus being somewhat asleep, floating freely in the wound, contractions and/or licking during and after birth are meant to stimulate, awake, and welcome the newborn into the world! And yes, you guessed it, infants and kids can also greatly benefit from massage...

 

Benefits of Therapeutic Massage

As adults, one of the most obvious benefits of massage is the relief of tension accumulated in the body from daily activities and stress. Nothing like receiving a therapeutic massage on a regular basis to help you relax and let go of all that tension... Yet we have clients who come to us and say that they have never received a therapeutic massage before! Regardless, they experience how layers and layers of tension and stress accumulated over the years can start to fade away with even just one good therapeutic massage. Not to mention that the simple fact of laying on a massage table with no “mental agenda” can decrease a certain amount of stress in and of itself.

Aside from daily life stress, physical exercise can also cause achy muscles, especially if there is not enough stretching or warming up before exercising, or if it is very strenuous. Massage can also be very beneficial if you have any sport-related injuries, as when you pull a muscle playing a sport, or if you overdo it. And beyond sports, repetitive type of activities, including playing musical instruments, excessive typing, or clicking a computer mouse, can also promote the stress of muscles and ligaments, for which massage can be very helpful, especially if you don't wait till you have developed carpal tunnel symptoms, and receive regular massage to release all the strain and tension along the arms, shoulders, and back. Let's not forget that so many muscles, big and small, are interconnected!

Now, if you don't have enough physical activity, your body slowly loses its elasticity and strength, causing soreness and stiffness of muscles and ligaments. Even your posture (while awake and asleep) plays a major role in the health and tone of your muscles and ligaments. So if you already suffer from vertebral subluxations, promoting the relaxation of your back muscles with massage can definitely help with any pain and discomfort. Yep, if you have a sedentary life, you most definitely could benefit from massage (and, needless to say, exercise!).

Massage can also improve circulation by stimulating the blood flow of your bodily tissues and the clearing of lymphatic channels. For some people, massage can even lower blood pressure, reduce hypertension, and improve pulse rate. Massage also creates a sense of well being that promotes the release of feel-good endorphines into your system, leaving you with a happier frame of mind. Plus, psychologically speaking, the feeling of being touched for no other purpose but to be nurtured certainly creates a deep feeling of self-love. Furthermore, this care and attention to your personal needs is a wonderful form of preventative health care as well.

 

Many Types and Styles of Massage and Bodywork

There are many different types of massage, some of which focus on specific parts of the body, techniques, or types of injuries, like a neck massage, a face massage, pregnancy massage, sports massage, and so on, so depending on your specific needs you may choose between the different modalities of massage, such as the many variations and styles of Ayurvedic massage, or Swedish, deep tissue, injury, hot stone, and Thai massage, or myofascial release. No matter what your preferred style, massage not only provides deep relaxation, but can also relieve pain and discomfort of muscles, joints, and even strained cartilage. Furthermore, massage therapy can relieve chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, especially when combined with herbal oils and some form of heat or steam therapy, as many Ayurvedic therapies use.

Aside from the different styles and techniques of massage therapy, other forms of bodywork can be integrated into a massage session and be very beneficial for overall health as well. These forms of energy work can help you relieve energy and emotional blocks while stimulating body tissues and organs, and promoting peace of mind.

Some of the most popular ones are Thai massage, Reiki, and Craniosacral technique, but Ayurveda also offers marma therapy, marma massage, Ayurvedic polarity, and prana therapy. You may want to have one of these energy work sessions or have it incorporated into a massage for a full spectrum experience.

 

The Uniqueness of Ayurvedic Massage and Ayurvedic Therapies

Ayurvedic massage and therapies utilize herbal oils and heat, as the ancient rishis of India found that these elements were fundamental in promoting health, overall well being, and longevity. Using Ayurvedic herbal oils for a massage adds yet another dimension to it, because it integrates the properties of those herbs into the already therapeutic effects of massage. Plus, warming up the oils (or using heated stones, as in the case of shila abhyanga, or hot stone massage) makes it easier for these herbal oils to penetrate deeply into the tissues, taking their properties beyond the mere surface of the skin.

Furthermore, due to both their properties and temperature, warm Ayurvedic herbal oils promote extreme relaxation, which is necessary for any healing process to take place. So, as stress and tension accumulate all over your body, day after day, slowly promoting the dysfunction of all your tissues and organs, regular Ayurvedic massage and/or therapies do the exact opposite and can bring you deep rejuvenation and longevity.

Ayurvedic warm oil massage is commonly known as abhyanga, but there are many different techniques and styles ofabhyanga.

Abhyanga is a pre-oleation therapy used during the deep cleansing and rejuvenation program known as Panchakarma, and it is usually performed with specific and synchronized strokes. At Blue Lotus Ayurveda, we offer a traditional form of abhyanga with either one or two therapists in synchronicity.

Other varieties of Ayurvedic massage include shila abhyanga, marma massage, and nadi swedana.

[Mary]

Bravo Guilu, c'est trop beau, suis trop fière !!!