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Ayurvedic Therapies: Secrets of Marma
 
Ayurvedic treatments involve establishing an individual's constitution (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and the nature of the imbalance and then seeking to return the individual's body to a state of healthy balance.
 
The treatments consist of the use of:
1. Specialist massages using herb-infused massage oils
2. Nutritional advice tailored to bring balance to a person's individual constitution
3. Advice on lifestyle habits
4. Specially selected yoga exercises
5. Ayurvedic herbs and herbal remedies
 
Ayurveda says "Don't put anything on your skin that you cannot put on your tongue because just the way everything that you put on your tongue gets absorbed and reaches different parts of your body so will everything that you put on your skin get absorbed to the deepest tissues, such as the bones"
 
This can be very well explained according to modern medical view. As we all know, the body is made up of cells, including all organs and the skin. There exists an inter-cellular space between cells, including those of the skin. Any substance, for example oil, applied to the skin gets absorbed through these inter-cellular spaces and reaches the deepest tissues, including the bones.
 
Hence Ayurveda gives a lot of importance to massages (also called Abhyanga). There are various kinds of massages in Ayurveda:
1. Abhyanga (general whole body massage)
2. Mukhabhyanga (Ayurvedic face massage)
3. Padabhyanga (Ayurvedic foot massage)
4. Pristhabhyanga (Ayurvedic back massage)
5. Shirobhyanga (Ayurvedic head massage)
 
There is also a specialist massage technique called Marma - Abhyanga or the Marma Point Massage.
 
Definition:
Marmas are certain points in a person's body that relate to energy centres. The word "Marma" means hidden or secret. The various definitions of a Marma point are a follows:
1. Marma points are energy centres of the body.
2. Marma points are points of connections between the physical body and the subtle energetic bodies.
3. Marmas are points on the body that can give life or death.
4. Marmas are anatomical places on the body that are mostly composed of flesh and bones.
5. Marmas are similar to the pressure points of reflexology and acupressure.
6. They can be seen as points where Vata, Pitta and Kapha Doshas come together.
7. It is at these points where massage can most effectively restructure and rebalance the system to function most healthily.
8. Marmas are specific anatomical junctions where various tissues are unified. These points are more sensitive to any injury than any other part of the body because the vital life force is supposed to reside in these points. Any injury to these points may prove dangerous as these points hold the Prana.
9. Marma points are also divided according to a dominant tissue. For example: Nerves, Muscles, Blood vessels, Ligaments, Tendons, Bones.
 
Marmas and Martial arts:
1. Knowledge of Marma points was a vital part of a warrior's life for both defence and attack purposes.
2. It was important to know the different Marma points in order to be able to attack and injure the enemy.
3. At the same time the same knowledge was important so that he could defend himself from similar attacks from his enemy.
 
Marma points and healing:
Marma points are also important from a treatment point of view. As each point on the body corresponds to a specific organ or system, treatment of this point through various methods helps to cure the particular disease or condition. For example, the left knee corresponds to the spleen and the right knee corresponds to the liver. Therefore, any ailments related to liver or spleen can be attended to by treating these particular Marma Points.
There are 107 Marma points all over the body and each point relates to a specific organ and function of the body. Treating the related Marma point helps to treat the related organ too.
 
Marma Massage and stress relief:
Marma points are connected with each other by energy channels called Nadis. Under normal circumstances, energy should flow uninterrupted through the Nadis while passing through the Marma points. Due to external influences like stress, tension, lack of rest and so on, energy tends to get blocked in Marma points. This results in symptoms of stress and strain. The most common complaint given by your client is: "Although I sleep very well at nights, I still feel very tired in the mornings." The reason for this is blocked energy. Marma massage is a very good treatment to help release this blocked energy and aid stress relief.
This massage also helps to restore and repair worn out tissues, prevent premature ageing and prevents greying of hair. Hence Marma massage is also viewed as a rejuvenation therapy.
 
Marma points and Doshas:
According to Ayurveda, Doshas make up a person's constitution. They include Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth). Everyone is born in a state of balance, or Prakriti (basic body constitution). During the life process, external factors such as overwork, incompatible diet, poor sleep, and irregular lifestyle cause disharmony among the Doshas. This Doshic imbalance begins to block the movement of free-flowing energy in the body. Eventually, stagnation of this vital energy takes place, which leads to both physical and mental illness and disease.
Marma points can also be divided into Vata, Pitta or Kapha points where one, two or all three Doshas can dominate.
 
1. Sthapani or the area between the eyebrows where the 6th Chakra resides is an important Marma point for the Vata Dosha.
2. Hridaya, the area where the 4th Chakra (near the heart) resides is an important Marma point for Pitta Dosha.
3. Basti or the area around the 2nd Chakra (area related to the bladder) is an important Marma point for Kapha Dosha.
Similarly, all Marma points are divided according to Dosha dominance. Therefore, a person with a dominating Vata constitution or a Vata imbalance can be treated by concentrating on major and minor Vata Marma points on the body.
 
Marma Massage and Oils:
Herb infused Ayurvedic massage oils play a very important role in Ayurvedic treatments including Marma massage. It is vital to use a massage oil that would suit a person's ayurvedic constitution. For example, using a Pitta pacifying massage oil (which contains herbs that pacify the Pitta Dosha) on Pitta marma points in a Pitta dominating person will help pacify the related Dosha and hence bring back balance as it helps cool down the excess fire element of Pitta Dosha.
 
Before commencing an ayurvedic marma massage it is vital to assess not only the client's basic body constitution (Prakriti) but also the imbalance (Vikriti). One also needs to assess the presence of Ama (undigested intermediate metabolic products) in the body. Thereafter a massage given according to the Dosha type, using the appropriate Dosha oil by concentrating on related Marma points is the secret to a successful and beneficial Marma Massage.
 
In short, Marma points are the key energy points spread out over a person's body. Ayurvedic Marma Massage is a relaxing and energising massage which focuses on these Marma points using special Ayurvedic oils and massage techniques and helps in releasing blocked energy (both physical and emotional) from these points. The resulting effect is a phenomenal improvement in the energy levels throughout the body. It also acts to harmonise and stimulate all organ functions in the body, strengthens the immune system and activates healthy cell metabolism.
 
Dr Deepa Apté is a fully qualified Indian medical doctor (Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery, India), a qualified Yoga teacher and an experienced Ayurvedic physician. She lectures widely on Ayurveda and Yoga (both in the UK and Germany) and regularly has articles published in the press. After having run successful practices in India and Germany, she now runs her practice from London. She also teaches courses to trained therapists on various treatment techniques in Ayurveda.
 
For further details on Ayurvedic Dosha Massage Oils and to buy them or to find more about Ayurvedic Marma Massage Courses
please contact us:
Ayurveda Pura Ltd,
PO Box 45220, London, SE10 OWW.
Tel: 0208 858 0300
Email: info@ayurvedapura.com
www.ayurvedapura.com.
 
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