 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
| > AYURVEDIC MASSAGE > PANCHA KARMA | ||
| "Ayam
me hasto bhagavan Ayam me bhagavattarah Ayam me visvabheshajah Ayam shivabhimarshanah" | My
hand is the lord. Boundlessly blissful is my hand. This hand holds all healing secrets. Which make whole with its gentle touch. | |
| -Rig
Veda |
| AYURVEDIC MASSAGE Ayurvedic massage is based on the knowledge of the marma points or reflex anatomical sites of the body where structures pulsate and pain exists. These are locations where flesh, veins, arteries, tendons, bones and joints meet. |  | |
| These points are connected like a rosary by a common
thread or subtle channel, nadi. Marmas are vitalized by the pranic energy carried
to them via these subtle channels. Most nadis exist deep within the tissues of
the body, occasionally traveling towards the body surface. Knowledge of marma points was gathered in ancient India from the Atharva Veda. During vedic times, knowledge of these vital points was widely used to fatally wound opponents in war. It was also used to save lives through surgery, to revitalize the body through massage, to strengthen the body through the practice of martial arts, and to stimulate repair and healing of the vital points using Ayurvedic acupuncture. |  | |
There are three types of massage: 1) Sukha Thirummu (Rejuvenation Massage) This is a common massage given to people with normal health, different types of oil can be used for this but the particular type has to be decided by the therapist after analyzing the general constitution of the person. This, according to the ayurvedic principle of deciding the body structure, disease proneness etc. The duration also based on this analysis but generally this is 7 days or 14 days or 21 days. This massage increases the efficiency of the auto immune system of the body as a result one feels more relaxed, alert and efficient. This is given to Kalaripayattu students during that time of their learning to increase the flexibility of the body; massage is given in hatha Yoga postures. | | |
2) Raksha Thirummu (Therapeutic Massage) This massage is always done as a part of a treatment. The pressure, applied medicones used etc., has to be decided with the perception of the therapist about the intensity of the disease, assessment of the efficiency of the immune system. This requires a meditative mind and a capacity to observe and learn from experience. Here, along with the massage, manipulating the vital points does pulsing the nerve. This is a very delicate technique, which requires a long experience of working on the body. This massage is found to be very effective in curing chronic diseases like arthritis, asthma, migraines, back-pain etc. |  | |
3) Kaccha Thirummu (Flexibility Massage) This massage is a special massage meant to increase the flexibility, suppleness, and general efficiency for the body for doing strenuous job. This is mainly done on Kalaripayattu students, before they start the actual practice of the training. And also to dancers who have to work on the body more than usual. A deep massage is given with the leg and also done on selected Yoga postures. Since the pressure applied in this type of massage is high, certain type of bodies shows reaction, in such case the therapist has to give a remedy for the patient. |  | |
Advantages of Massage: Massage acts directly on blood, nerves, and the lymphatic circulatory system. The lymphatic system, operating through ducts, nodes and passages, does not have capillaries to carry its fluid independently, like the blood system. There are several functions performed by the lymph system. It acts as a reservoir for muscles to float in and lymph nodes assist blood circulation by draining excess fluids from the blood streams thus easing the labors of the heart. They also provide the body with its direct line of defense against disease. In massage therapy, the stimulation of lymph nodes, especially when performed with warm oil, serves to cleanse and revitalize the body. |  | |
PANCHA KARMA | | |
| Today we find that there is a major resurgence of
this unique genre of healing therapies, not only in India but also throughout
the world. Pancha karma is considered the font whose essence makes us fully alive
again. An infinite number of healing practices accompany this central science
of rejuvenation. |  | |
| The practice of Pancha Karma requires a proper knowledge of timing, application technique and procedure for eliminating the body's excesses and toxins. The five phases of Pancha Karma are designed to penetrate vital tissue of the body in order to uproot the source of aggravation and dislodge unwanted accumulation. The primary intention of pancha karma- to restore the body natural processes through the vital forces whose task it is to rid the body of its wastes- must be kept in mind at all times. The body must be first be nourished with preparatory procedures, such massage and fomentation, so that its flow of natural "valium" may be activated. Essentially, the body is cajoled, by panchakarma therapies, into simultaneously letting go of its excesses and retrieving its essences. |
 | |
Pancha karma belongs to the shodhana group of therapies comprising five essential parts: vammana, emesis; virechana, purgation; basti (medicated enema), masya (nasal administration of substance) and raktamoksha (blood letting). | | |
| | ||
| ©
This site was desighned and built by Galit Sivan : galit@auroville.org.in | ||
| © Photography by Adil Writer
adil@auroville.org.in |