Ayurvedic Massage

Traditional Indian Techniques for Balancing Body and Mind

Harish Johari

• Publisher: Healing Arts Press
• Year: 1996
• ISBN:
  9781620550779
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Alternative & Complementary Medicine

Ayurvedic Massage is the first book on the subject, and the first new massage therapy introduced to the West since shiatsu. One of the oldest systems of medicine in the world, Ayurveda views the human being as intimately connected with the environment and all other life forms. Ayurvedic massage works on both the physical and mental levels, transmitting a life-giving energy that assists all systems of the body to repair and renew themselves. Practitioners concentrate on the marmas, subtle energy points that respond to gentle physical manipulation, and work with the needs of the different body types. The author guides both the novice and experienced practitioner through each step in the full body massage and explains which oils work best for particular body types.• Includes massage techniques for expectant mothers and their babies.• Outlines techniques and natural remedies for treating specific disorders, including arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, and insomnia.• Offers a complete guide to the traditional forty-day beauty treatment as practiced in India, and includes recipes for massage oils, facial creams, and beautifying clay baths.

Chapter One

Introduction to Massage

MASSAGE AS A DAILY PRACTICE

Massaging the body daily for thirty to forty-five minutes before bathing can improve one’s health and vigor. By rubbing the skin the body becomes heated, which in turn thins the blood and helps it circulate through the system. Since this heat also opens the pores, it is important not to take a bath until the body has absorbed the oils and cooled to at least normal room temperature. This usually takes thirty minutes to one hour from the completion of the massage.

Massage is essential for all people in all stages of life—infants, householders, elderly, handicapped, infirm, or bodybuilders. For people unable to exercise, massage is an excellent alternative for enhancing the growth and development of the body. And for the young and energetic people who are busy practicing the martial arts, massage is a must. The muscular strain acquired during workout sessions can only be relieved by massage. It refreshes the muscles, bringing them back to their original shape.

For people suffering from sleeplessness or disturbed sleep, receiving a massage, or even self-massage, is essential Foot massage, which is good for the entire system, is especially recommended for those suffering from fatigue. According to Charaka, the author of the well-known Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita people with insomnia should be given a head massage before retiring. For even greater results, he recommends a combination foot, spine, and head massage.

MASSAGE AS AN EXERCISE

Massage should be an exercise for the practitioner. Since a good massage calls for vital energy or pranic force, one who gives a massage has to breathe deeply and slowly. Attention should be paid to not becoming breathless, as this puts a strain on the heart and can dilate the cardiac muscles. The practitioner should be able to control his or her breathing, relaxing between strokes to inhale deeply. A good massage should generate a sweat in the practitioner, which is beneficial.

When given as a form of exercise, the strokes are hard. By applying bearable kneading and rubbing pressure, the practitioner’s pranic force and muscle power are strengthened.

MASSAGE AS RELAXATION

If carried out in a gentle manner, massage is an excellent relaxation technique. The practitioner’s hands should be warmed by rubbing them against each other, then lubricated with a fragrant oil to avoid causing friction, irritation, or uneasiness. Massage of the spine, feet and arms, shoulders, and head can become an enjoyable experience for anyone and everyone. Massage of the pressure points (the marmas) relaxes the body instantly. If the practitioner is not relaxed, then the person receiving the massage cannot fully relax. Relaxation massage should reduce the speed of the breath and mind in both parties.

With aging comes the gradual loss of agility and quickness. The physical and mental strain that accumulates each day while one performs unnatural activities causes weakness in the nerves and impairs circulation of the vital life fluids. Tension, constant worry, dissatisfaction, greed, and anxiety are bound to affect the organism. These enemies bring on premature aging. To avoid this problem, and to reduce the stress on the body and mind, relaxation is a must. While yoga postures and deep-breathing exercises ensure relaxation, massage offers even more benefits. This is because massage employs, in addition to muscular stimulation, the miracle of touch and fragrant oils prepared from rejuvenating herbs. In sum, massage can stop premature aging, reduce wrinkles, tone muscles, and restore agility to joints. It lends a smooth texture to the skin, strengthens the nerves and the immune system, and helps the body retain its proper shape and elasticity. Regularity is key in obtaining the maximum benefit from massage.

HEALING BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

Life in modern times has become very luxurious in some ways. Most people who live in towns and cities do little physical labor. The demands of their jobs don’t allow them to participate in activities that make their muscles work. Coupled with not enjoying fresh air, naturally grown foods, or sunlight, their systems become imbalanced. Constant worry and stress increase the accumulation of toxins in their system. The best, easiest, and most natural remedy for all of these problems is massage.

If the entire body cannot be massaged, at least a foot massage should be done each night before going to sleep. The head should be given a massage once or twice a week, or every third day.

Regular massage, given even once or twice a week, prevents the development of many skin disorders such as eczema, blisters, scabies, and seborrhea. It also increases stamina, patience, self-confidence, forbearance, wit and intelligence, sexual vitality, and physical beauty.

Massage is therapeutically used for neurasthenia, headaches, insomnia, gout, polio, obesity, arthritis, blood pressure irregularities, asthma, and mental disorders. Massage increases the body’s production of white blood corpuscles and antibodies, which provide resistance against viruses and diseases produced by Infections. It helps the defense mechanisms of the body and strengthens the immune system. Massage also increases the body’s ability to adapt to sudden changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure, as well as to other environmental changes.

Regular massage helps balance the three body humors, known in Ayurveda as doshas: vata (wind), pitta (bile), and kapha (mucus). It also establishes balance among the three fundamental principles—sattva, rajas, and tamas. (These principles will be discussed later in the text.)

When massage is adopted as a daily practice, it offers many pleasurable benefits. Body heat and vitality increase as the circulatory and respiratory systems open to provide fresh oxygen and vital energy in the form of nutrient material Simultaneously, waste gases and toxins are flushed from the system.

Chapter Two

Ayurvedic Principles of Massage

The Sanskrit term Ayurveda is a combination of two words: ayu (life) and veda (knowledge). The literal translation of Ayurveda is “knowledge of life” or “right living.” Its principles are universally applicable. Those who wish to live happy, healthy, and inspired lives can benefit from the wisdom Ayurveda holds.

Ayurvedic knowledge is grounded in the Vedic scriptures, which date back to 3000 B.C. According to the Vedas, life is seen as an evolution of the creative principle, Prakriti, and the formless and attributeless nonbeing, Purusha. While Prakriti is the Shakti, or Divine Mother, Purusha is the Father principle, which is unchanging. Prakriti creates all forms in the universe. In their primary states all forms contain the three gunas, or principles (sattva, rajas, and tamas), in perfect balance. When the gunas start to interact, the balance is disturbed. In an attempt to restore this balance, activity begins. This action creates currents of energy, and space, or Akash is generated. From Akash comes Air, from Air comes Fire, then come Water and Earth. Simultaneously, during this process of creation, three fields are created: the mental (conscious) field, created by Sattva; the power field, created by Rajas; and the material field, created by Tamas. The five elements belong to the material field and are the building Mocks of the body.

TRIDOSHA AND THE FIVE ELEMENTS

The tridosha theory—vata (wind), pitta (bile), and kapha (mucus)—is unique to Ayurveda. These three doshas constitute the chemical nature of every living organism; they are created by the five elements in the following way. The elements of ether and air (akash and vayu) form the vata temperament; fire and water (agni and apah) form the pitta temperament; water and earth (apah and prithvi) form the kapha temperament. Within the body, bones, flesh, skin, nerves, and hair belong to the earth element. Semen, blood, fat, urine, mucus, saliva, and lymphatic fluid belong to the water element. Hunger, thirst, body temperature, sleep, lethargy, intelligence, anger, hate, jealously, and radiance belong to the fire element. All movements—breathing, natural urges, sensory and motor function, secretions and excretions, and transformation of tissues—belong to the air element. Love, enmity, shyness, fear, and attachment are qualities identified with the akash or ether.

Each individual’s temperament, or prakriti, is determined at the time of conception and is unchangeable during one’s lifetime. The chemical environment of the ovum fertilization plays an important role in establishing the psychosomatic nature of an individual. By the interaction of the individual and the environment, imbalances in one’s prakriti occur. These imbalances are referred to as one’s vikriti.

TYPES OF TEMPERAMENTS

According to Ayurveda, one (and often two) of these seven temperaments can be found in all living organisms:

1. Vata (wind-dominated)

2. Pitta (bile-dominated)

3. Kapha (mucus-dominated)

4. Kapha-pitta (dominated by a combination of wind and bile)

5. Pitta-kapha (dominated by bile and mucus)

6. Vata-kapha (dominated by wind and mucus)

7. Vata-pitta-kapha (dominated equally by all three doshas)

Additionally, when the varying proportions of vata, pitta, and kapha are considered, an innumerable variety of temperaments exist.

Through these doshas the human organism accepts environmental changes and receives energy from food. The workings of all three doshas is most concentrated in the region between the heart and the navel. It is here that the doshas ceaselessly interact, carrying on the body’s task of self-preservation and growth. Any disturbance in one dosha immediately creates an imbalance in the body and interrupts the discharge of waste material.

A harmonious balance of all three doshas is essential for the maintenance of physical and mental well-being. Disturbance of any one dosha creates disease and disorder within the organism. Because of the crucial role the tridoshic system plays in the regulation, preservation, and growth of our bodies, it must be studied by every Ayurvedic massage practitioner. Examination of the radial pulse is essential for determining a person’s vikriti and must be learned by the massage practitioner (see page 17). To select the appropriate oil, it is necessary to know which dosha is aggravated, (See chapter 3 for a discussion of doshas and oils.)

The state of one’s body chemistry varies according to such factors as place, climate, and diet. Underlying these factors, which can vary daily, there exists one’s prakriti—a basic chemical blueprint on which the organism has been constructed. This genetic code dictates many aspects of an individual, such as his or her likes and dislikes, choices of food, and preferences regarding taste, flavor, and temperature. While Vata and Pitta types can receive enormous benefit from oil massage, Kapha types should concentrate on dry massage or massage with medicated oil made especially for their type.

Vata

People of the vata temperament—those dominated by vayu (wind)—sleep little, walk fast, and talk too much. Their bodies are dry, and their hair is thin, sparse, and brittle. They have restless minds and their feelings roam from place to place almost continuously They dislike cold and cold items, have weak memories, and leave many sentences incomplete because their minds switch abruptly from one thought to another. They are lovers of sexual and sensual enjoyments and are especially fond of sweet-, sour-, hot-, and pungent-tasting foods. They eat too much or too little, and produce sounds while drinking water. Basically, Vata individuals are unpredictable and insecure. They spend money quickly and tend to remain poor. The life span of the Vata individual is relatively short. Vata people dream of dwelling on mountains, in trees, and in the air, and of flying without mechanical aids. The Vata body is tall and thin, with knees that are knobby and weak. The pulse is feeble and moves like a snake.

When wind (vayu) is disturbed it is characterized by the following types of conditions: excessive thirst; shaking; dryness; roughness; redness of skin; pain; asthma; cough; ailments of ears, nose, and throat; circulatory troubles; urinary ailments; and constipation.

If vata (vayu) continues to increase, it creates roughness of the voice, throbbing sensations, and a desire for heat; it darkens the complexion and leads to weakness. If vayu decreases, it produces uneasiness and sometimes unconsciousness.

Pitta

People of the pitta temperament—those dominated by bile—have angry dispositions and sweat profusely; they are also learned, brave, and proud. Their hair is soft, oily, and yellow, and becomes white or gray at an early age. They are lovers of flowers and aromas. People of good character with a spiritual outlook, they are kind, courageous, and will save even their worst enemies. Pittas do not follow the religion in vogue, and their attachment to the opposite sex is minimal. They are lovers of sweet-, bitter-, and astringent-tasting foods, and are especially fond of cold drinks. They are jealous by nature and frequent the bathroom often. Their color is fair and body temperature is hot. Their joints and muscles are loose and their virility and sexual desire not strong, Their eyes are red, and get more red with anger, intoxication, or exposure to sunlight. Their life span is average. Pittas have soft, oily, and warm skin. They are aggressive and avoid disturbances or frequenting places where there are likely to be quarrels. They dream of fire, falling stars, lightning, sun, moon, shining objects, and poisonous plants. They spend money on luxuries and devise their own methods of earning a living.

When pitta is disturbed it is characterized by burning sensations, acidity, thirst, irritability, redness of the eyes, indigestion, heat in the chest and stomach, skin diseas...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Massage
• Chapter 2: Ayurvedic Principles of Massage
• Chapter 3: Massage Oils
• Chapter 4: Preparation for the Massage
• Chapter 5: Full-Body Massage
• Chapter 6: Therapeutic Massage
• Chapter 7: Massage During Pregnancy
• Chapter 8: Massage of Infants
• Chapter 9: Beauty Massage
• Appendix: Marmas and Their Positions
• Glossary
• Footnotes
• Sources of Supply
• Other Books by Harish Johari
• About the Author
• About Inner Traditions
• Copyright