What
is ayurveda, and what role does massage therapy play in it?
By Ragaia Belovarac
More than 5,000 years ago, in the area now known as India, the healing system
of ayurveda emerged. The term ayurveda mean the science of life. The science of ayurveda was brought into the world by ancient
seers, who were also known as the Rishis. It was written that these very wise individuals would remain in deep meditation
for long periods of time. During these extended meditations they received information, a kind of spiritual download, regarding
the divine structure of the universe, which is applicable to all forms of life and every imaginable combination of matter
on the planet. This deep insight became the basis for what has become known throughout the world today as ayurveda.
Over many years, this wisdom was handed down through oral transmission from master to student in the form of what is known
assutras. (The Sanskrit meaning of sutra is thread.) These sutras were eventually written down and woven together to create
the beautiful body of knowledge we know today as the wisdom of ayurveda.
As ayurveda emerged in the world, an entirely
new and clear vision of complete health care and preventive medicine was born. Ayurveda came to be recognized as an elemental
paradigm of health and healing because it acknowledges the five main elements found naturally occurring in nature; ether,
air, fire, water and Earth. From these elements three bodily humors, or constitutions, called doshas emerged.
The
three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. From this point forward, with this understanding, an ayurvedic practitioner was able
to assess each client personal constitution and pinpoint areas in which they were out of balance.
The practice
of ayurveda offers numerous modalities to guide us gently back to where we experience balance and peace of mind. Organic medicinal
herbs and proper food choices are matched to each personal constitution and utilized as medicine, and practices of meditation
and breath are incorporated to address imbalances of mind and emotions.
Specialized body therapies, including massage,
are a significant part of the practice of ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda has special protocols that utilize traditional blended
warm herbal oils that nurture the tissues and relax the entire body. In Ayurveda sesame oil is the primary oil that is found
in most traditional formulas used for body therapies. Sesame oil is thought to be one of the most nourishing oils on its own
and is found as the base oil used in most traditional ayurvedic herbal oil formulas created for massage therapy over the last
several thousand years. When working with a trained Ayurvedic practitioner an oil combination will be selected that best fits
the client’s physical and energetic needs. There are several factors that will be used to determine if a specific doshic
(vata/pitta/kapha) oil will be selected for therapy. These include; the clients specific constitution, current imbalance (dosha),
the season in which the client is receiving treatment and the clients current age.
Many scholars and practitioners
of Ayurveda also believe that the more subtle qualities of sesame oil help to release emotions in the muscles and connective
tissues by stimulating certain neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. This also speaks to another field of study
called Somatic Psychology. Somatic bodywork in particular seeks to understand and work with the phenomena of how emotional
states become physical states. Somatic work is not the focus of this article but let’s just say that in a somatic sense,
sesame oil has special qualities that convey its application during massage in ways that are highly effective in dissolving
unresolved emotions that may become lodged in the tissues. In a sense the sesame oil is highly effective at decrystallizing
that which the mind body may have crystallized in the form of muscle pain, tension, fatigue and so on.
From and
Ayurvedic perspective the primary role of massage is to add the most beneficial qualities of rich nourishing oils to the body.
This process is called snehana and literally means to add love through the process of administering oil massage. This can
be accomplished through simple self-massage techniques or massage administered by a trained practitioner. Because ayurveda
focuses on the individual’s unique constitution, the practitioner develops a very personal and individualized program
best suited for each client.
A traditionally ayurvedic style of massage called abhyanga includes many stroke variations
that affect muscle tissue, movement of lymphatic fluid and the movement of doshic energy throughout the body. Although we
cannot go into great detail in this short article the main focus is an almost always specialized warm, nourishing oil combination
specific to addressing muscle soreness, chronic pain, arthritis, and the like.
Another popular form of ayurvedic
massage is called marma abhyanga. Marmas are similar to the idea of acupuncture or acupressure points that are a part of the
Chinese Medicine system. However they are different in the sense that they are often in slightly different locations and they
are often different in size as compared to an acupuncture point. This type of massage also uses warm herbal oils and focuses
on activating or pacifying energy accessible through marma points on the body. There are 107 main marma points, which can
be worked with during a typical marma-massage session. Both abhyanga and marma abhyanga massage are highly effective in providing
relief from muscle tension and chronic pain. Also, the oils themselves are very pacifying and nurturing when applied directly
to the skin, and this alone provides relief from the hustle and stress of everyday life that we may all experience.
I would also like to mention that ayurvedic practitioners are often looking for trained massage therapists in their communities
to assist them with the physical therapies offered in their practice. Working with a trained ayurvedic practitioner from a
certified school is the best recommendation. The best scenario is when the two therapists can work as a team. The ayurvedic
practitioner would discuss with the massage therapist the style of massage most indicated for the client and which oils to
use. Over time the massage therapist will learn a lot about ayurvedic principle and develop a sense of the protocols through
their direct experience working in this way. If the massage therapist would like to go on to managing client care from an
ayurvedic perspective than it is always best to seek out proper education to achieve that level of expertise.
If
you choose to delve into the practice of ayurveda, you will naturally come to know that each choice toward balance and harmony
you make each day can lead you closer to your most balanced and healthy self. Over the years I have worked with many clients
and have witnessed many times over the benefits of ayurvedic medicine being applied in complementary ways helping to bring
balance to many people’s lives.
Ragaia Belovarac, M.A., C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T., is founder of the ayurvedic
practice Blue Sage Ayurveda and he is a primary practitioner as well as steward of their ayurvedic healing location Blue Sage
Sanctuary in Nevada City, California. He received his certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist
(P.K.S.) upon completion of his studies of ayurveda at the California College of Ayurveda and the American Institute of Vedic
Studies.
