Traditionally, Thai massages have been a dominant way of rebirth for time challenged workaholics but over the past couple of years, an ancient form of massage has been gaining a strong foothold in the spa industry.
I am talking about ayurvedic massages, the hottest trend in today’s spa industry. Ayurvedic massages are a soothing regimen of massage, meditation, herbal medication and yoga that originated in India. And what gives them an edge is their mystique; these are based on the teachings of ancient sages who invented ayurvedic medicine almost three millenniums back.
While you can find ayurvedic spas all around the world, nothing is quite the same as experiencing it in its birthplace. Today, India is rampant with such spas – from the northern hill stations in the Himalayas to the southern most states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu- all have become hotspots for offering such services. In these areas — where ayurveda is the main form of medical treatment — hotels, resorts and hospitals offer packages ranging from a weekend to a month, designed to introduce Americans, Europeans and East Asians to ancient Indian massage, medication and yoga.
The world ayurveda has its origins in Sanskrit and is a combination of two words - “ayur” meaning “life,” and “veda” meaning “science of life.” Ayurvedic spa treatments focus on one of the primary concepts in ayurveda; bringing together the mind, body, and spirit by balancing the three energies, or ‘doshas,’ to work in synergy. The literal meaning of dosha is ‘fault’ because these three humours are the three ways in which the body tends to move out of balance. The specific names for the doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
The doshas are the three main combinations of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth). When any of these elements are present in the environment, they will in turn have an influence on us. The foods we eat and the weather are examples of the presence of these elements. These five elements in the body can be balanced through diet and herbs that possess the essence of these elements. Each person’s constitution is made up of a unique combination of these doshas and the ratios of the doshas vary in each individual and because of this, ayurveda sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity. These energies are determined by the physical characteristics of an individual, including height and weight, pulse, clarity of the eyes, as well as by their lifestyle choices, dietary habits, and medical history.
Ayurvedic spa treatments usually include a combination of ayurvedic herbs and tonics. Sometimes as many as 46 herbs are mixed with special oils which are applied externally to the body. Many people describe the feel as if a chicken is about to be put in a rotisserie! The body is then kneaded by masseuses to achieve the desired level of spirit and health. Whether your goal is just to feel better or to treat a particular ailment, ayurvedic massages may be your treatment of choice.
There are many techniques of an ayurvedic massage. In Abhyanga massage, for instance, the full body is massaged using long, smooth strokes, as if the therapist’s hands are surfing over the body. This increases blood flow to the brain and is believed to help create focus and enhance memory.
Another popular treatment is Shirodhara. In this spa treatment, warm herbal ayurvedic oils drips in a slow, steady stream on the “third eye” or center of the forehead, while the therapist performs ayurvedic massage of the scalp, hands, and feet. The result is an intense calm over the entire body.
Chakra or Marma Basti is another popular ayurvedic treatment and uses medicated oils or ghee placed over the various energy points of the body. Within the treatment, there are variations that target the physical heart and balance emotions, treat the spine for back pain and disk problems, and nourish and soothe chronic stress and burnout.
Some other treatments include Swedana, which is a herbal steam therapy that stimulates the sweat glands and the lymphatic system and increases circulation, eliminates toxins and strengthens the immune system; Nasya, a face, neck and scalp massage followed by a therapeutic oil treatment that treats toxins, sinus, allergies, and tension; Netra Basti that incorporates medicated ghee and herbal infusions to relive dryness, redness, tension, and eyestrain and is also popular as a treatment for glaucoma.
Besides these there are many other treatment forms so whether your goal is overall health and well-being, or full body relaxation, you are in for the ultimate relaxation of mind, body, and spirit with ayurevedic spa treatments.
by their lifestyle choices, dietary habits, and medical history.
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