Advanced therapeutic massage
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Ayurvedic massage (abhyanga)
In Ayurveda, the body comprises three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha – which ideally should be in balance. When individual doshas are out of balance, maladies such as pain, stiffness, tiredness, low energy, stress, headache, and insomnia are common.
Ayurvedic massage plays a major role in balancing the doshas, regulating the flow of prana (life force) and unblocking charkra channels and mamas (energy points).
This specialised massage uses
- warm, medicated oil to lubricate the skin and soften muscles, ligaments and tendons
- kizzi bolusm where fresh and dried herbs are dipped in medicated oil and placed on marmas
- rhythmic stroking and massage actions to repair blockages in chakras, opening tissueand drainage channels.
In this way, over time a skilled practitioner will resolve the balance in the doshas, restoring
cellular intelligence and help the ama (toxins) move out of the system.
Indian head massage is often added to relax, calm and ground the nervous system for mental and physical alertness/consciousness.
Therapeutic remedial massage
Remedial massage is one of the most common treatments requested, particularly when a firm massage is preferred. The process uses very deep, firm strokes combined with trigger points, manipulation, heat therapy, therapeutic stretching, cupping, dry needling and myofascial techniques. In addition, we use warm medicated oil as a lubrication which is pushed deep into the muscle tissue, ligaments and tendons needing treatments.
It targets specific problem areas using an optimum level of pressure according to individual pain tolerance.
It suits conditions such as muscle tightness and knots, chronic musculoskeletal pain, discomfort, restricted movement, injury prevention and recovery. It is very useful to flush out lactic acid and metabolic waste.
Udwarthanam (herbal powder massage)
Udwarthanam is a therapeutic massage using herbal powder with vigorous strokes in opposing directions to break stagnation resulting from a kapha blockage. Two therapists work together in synchronised massage.
It stimulates a sluggish circulation, improves skin complexion, and can help in obesity, itching and bad body odour, as well as countering heaviness in the body.
Sirodhara
In Sanskrit, siro means head and dhara means continuous flow.
In this treatment a continuous stream of warm medicated oil flows to the forehead, focusing on the third eye chakra, lasting for at least 30 minutes. This is an extremely relaxing therapy. It is followed by a head massage where medicated oil is massaged into the scalp which will add to relaxation and nourish the hair and scalp. Over time, nourished hair follicles will stop hair fall and premature greying of hair.
It is the most profound drug-free treatment for mental health issues in ayurveda, bringing the body and mind into alignment.
It is a go-to approach for stress, anxiety, insomnia, mental fatigue and tiredness, nervousness, panic attack, memory issues, mental imbalance, ADD, ADHD and other similar concerns.
Basti treatment
This is a therapeutic treatment for the spine and knee area for chronic pain, stiffness, bulging disc, degeneration, disc prolapse, ruptured disc, sciatica, cramp, and period pain.
One problem area is targeted, and a dough ring is set over the affected area. Temperature-controlled medicated oil is introduced and retained in the area for around half an hour.
It is followed by bashpa swedana (herbal steam) therapy.
Bapsa swedana (steaming)
The word swedana is derived from the sanskrit ‘to sweat or perspire’. Swedana karma or sudation is a group of procedures used to induce sweating. According to Ayurveda, such treatments are instrumental in helping to take the medicated oils deep into the tissues, liquefy ama (toxins) and by opening the channels and skin pores, allow the body to expel these toxic accumulations.
In swedana karma, sweat is produced by the application of heat. It may be applied wet or dry to the entire body, or just to a particular area and with varying levels of intensity, depending on the illness being treated and the strength of the client. It is always combined with the massage.
Nasya karma (sinus treatment)
Nasya is one treatment considered during a detox program (panchakarma), administered by inserting medicated oil into each nostril, combined with face stem and sinus massage. It rectifies
unbalanced doshas in the head and neck areas.
It is also an independent treatment recommended for conditions such as sinusitis, blocked nose, tonsillitis, kapha imbalance, vata-dominant headache, migraine, stiff head/neck/shoulder, facial palsy, hormonal imbalance, hair fall, snoring and other ailments.
Netra basti (eye treatment)
Netra basti is a unique treatment where the eye is bathed in an oily substance, usually medicated ghee. It is beneficial for everybody.
For a healthy person it is done to protect against eye degeneration due to the ageing process and to improve eyesight.
For therapeutic purposes it is highly beneficial for conditions such as stiffness and dryness of the eyes, blurring vision, vata/pitta aggravation of eyes, watering/swollen/painful eyes, glaucoma, difficulties in closing and opening of eyes and other eye conditions.
Karna purana (ear treatment)
In this treatment, warm oil is placed in the ear canal to treat a range of vata-related problems. Our ears are directly exposed to the air and ether elements, and any existing vata imbalance is easily aggravated by dry wind, cold, irregular stimulus from electronic gadgets, transportation vehicles and more.
Ossicle, the small bone of the inner ear, vibrates when hit by sound waves. This bone stimulates nerve endings that transmit a signal to the brain to be interpreted. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this function is compromised by excessive vata disorder and warm oil application is the best therapy.
It is highly beneficial for conditions such as tinnitus, to liquify ear wax, lubricate the ear canal, for relief of ear pain and headache, to calm the entire nervous system and relieve neck/ jaw stiffness.
