Everyone is aware of the fact that it is one of the oldest and effective systems of medicine. If you have heard about Ayurvedic medication, you must have heard about Ayurvedic Massage too. It’s one of the most amazing things Ayurveda has to offer, and it’s one of those experiences you should have at least once in your lifetime. But Ayurvedic massage is still an enigma to most of us. While we have heard Ayurvedic massage is arguably the best natural way to improve blood circulation, relaxation of the muscles, prevention of stress and complete rejuvenation, most of us don’t know what an Ayurvedic massage exactly is, or how does it affect the human body. Here’s everything you want to know about Ayurvedic massage.

It’s not literally just a massage!

Yeah, you heard it right. Ayurvedic massage is not just about working on your muscles and tissues with some essential oils. Before we get into the details, let’s see how a human body is conceptualized in Ayurveda. The human body is said to be made up of the Pancha Bhoota, the five fundamental elements, namely air, water, earth, fire, and aether (sky/space/vacuum). The health of a body depends on the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) that are related to the Pancha Bhoota. Whenever there is a disrupt in the balance between the three doshas, a human body or mind is said to be unhealthy. The main reason behind the dosha imbalance is due to the ama, the digestive toxins inside the body which gets accumulated due to our unhealthy lifestyle.

There are a large number of Ayurvedic medicines to cure an unhealthy body. On the other hand, Ayurvedic massage is generally done to retain the health and fix small anomalies in the dosha balance. The Ayurvedic massage focuses on localized energy points on the surface of the body called chakras and marmas, which are connected to the vital organs. Essential oils, prepared specially for each type of dosha, are used extensively on the body to work on the energy points. This manipulation has a direct effect on the energy field associated with the body, which leads to a complete mental and physical relaxation. Ayurvedic massage combines the clinical effects of essential oils with the benefits of touch and therapy.

Types of Ayurvedic Massages

Depending on the type of oils used or the part of the body which needs rejuvenation, there are different types of Ayurvedic massages. Let’s have a look at each of them in detail:

Shirodhara

Shirodhara is done for improved blood circulation, especially in and out of the brain; thus, it can be used as a treatment for various eye diseases, greying of hair, hypertension, and many more. The procedure is done by the continuous pouring of oil, coconut water, buttermilk, or water on the forehead along with a thorough massage on the scalp. Shirodhara helps to relax the hypothalamus of the brain, and so it’s highly effective against mental conditions like stress and insomnia.

Njavarakizhi

When specially cooked rice is bagged with a cotton cloth followed by dipping it in medicated oil and cow milk, you have yourself a Njavara. The process of pressurizing the Njavara on localized energy points on the already oil-massaged body is called Njavarakizhi. This treatment causes a controlled increase in body heat, thus increasing the perspiration. This causes the removal of toxins from the body in the form of sweat, and it also heightens the senses.

Pizhichil

Pizhichil is perhaps the most popular form of Ayurvedic massage. It is primarily done to treat all types of illnesses or conditions related to muscles or bones. Often termed as Ayurvedic physiotherapy, this treatment is the best one for the Vata Dosha. Pizhichil is done by pouring warm oil on to the body with a thorough massage that helps you rediscover the lost strength of the muscles.

Abhayangam

Just like Pizhichil, Abhayangam also involves a full body massage with hot medicated oils but with the focusing on specific energy points. Rather than a treatment, it is viewed as a recurring procedure that’s done to maintain good health and well being. By reducing the Vata imbalance through Abhayangam, production of white blood corpuscles and antibodies are increased, thus increasing the immunity. Abhyanga also leads to the removal of toxins from the body and the burning of cholesterol.

Garshana

Unlike all other kinds of Ayurvedic massages, Garshana does not make use of medicated oils or lubricants of any kind. Garshana aims at the stimulation of the lymphatic system and prevention of Kapha imbalance by massaging the body with raw silk gloves. Not only Garshana is helpful to remove ama, but it also improves the blood circulation, reduces body fat, and exfoliates the skins.

Apart from these major types of Ayurvedic massages, many variations yield different results. Professional Ayurvedic massage centers always choose the correct type of massage your body requires by analyzing and examining your body first. Many Ayurveda centers couple modern techniques with massage for better results, such as the use of tuning forks at specific frequencies to stimulate organs such as heart and brain and performing massages accordingly.
It is evident that Ayurvedic massage is arguably the best natural way for rejuvenation and removal of toxins from your body. If you are a busy person with burdened with everyday stress and tension, signing up for a full-course Ayurvedic massage is highly recommended.

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