Yoga and Massage Therapy
Releasing energy blocks, bodywork, Indian Head Massage

The ancient warriors of Southern India used massage as a way to revive the tired muscles and body after battle.

The Greeks and Romans created spas and massage parlours to allow the aristocracy and warrior class to relax and benefit from the healing power of deep tissue massage.

The shamanic way of the warrior has always known that massage was integral to health fitness in mind and body. (See Altai Massage - an ancient Siberian shamanic massage and body work)

Today massage therapy is both a thriving industry and holistic treatment that is popular not so much for healing war wounds as relieving the stresses of the modern battle in everyday life! It's healing powers are also being embraced by those natural healer practitioners who are gifted with healing hands.

Yoga and Massage Therapy

Massage has been an important part of yoga since its beginnings. The Ayurvedic tradition of healing and medicine has always held great store to the therapeutic powers of massage.

As an Eastern holistic approach to healing and well being Ayurveda has been practised for thousands of years. Its Western sibling, homoeopathy brought the interest of natural medicine and health to the fore as late as the early twentieth century.

The massage of the ancient warriors of Southern India originated in Kerala. It formed an essential part of the martial art Kalari. As an Ayurvedic massage solution it was known as Chavutti Thirumal (literally - massage by the foot).

Used by practitioners to remove pain and swellings in joints, muscles and ligaments, it was used by the Kathakali dancers, who found it excellent to relax and rejuvenate muscles after performances and ceremonies.

It is practised by using the foot as the massage instrument. As the foot passes along acupuncture meridians it affects the internal organs on a subtle level as well as physical. Using particular techniques it is possible to stimulate and sedate particular organs connected to these meridians.

For the yogi this enables the subtle energy body to be cleansed and cleared of blocks, revitalised and allow prana (lifeforce) to move freely through the energy body system (the chakras).

---

Some useful connections:

---

What exactly is Chavutti Thirumal?

As previously stated it is a form of massage therapy with its origins in Ayurveda.

As a full body massage, it uses foot to direct the strokes and make contact with the body. This is what makes it so unique.

The masseu(se)r utilises a strong rope, supported above her(him) from wall to wall. The rope is used to balance and afford support to the practitioner so as to move and deliver through long continuous strokes, along the whole body of the client, the healing massage. The strokes are sweeping, flowing movements creating and building vigorous stimulation of the body's muscles, nervous and lymphatic systems. It accelerates the movement of venous blood flow and helps to re-inegrate isolated tissues. This in turn stimulates circulation and helps remove toxins from the blood.

By using the foot, body and breath correctly, the practitioner is able to direct and effect healing of great depth and precision. The use of pranayama (yoga breathing) enables the practitioner to be highly focused and present.

Because the client is encouraged also to breathe through the work, it enables them to not only learn proper breathing techniques but to utilise the breath for conscious and therapeutic healing.

massage therapy - back to top

The use of oils on the body and the rope as support, allow the long flowing movement of the practitioner's foot to cover the complete body from toes to head in one smooth movement. The accumulated effect of these long, and also directed short movements, are that the client's physical and energetic body is thoroughly treated and they come away feeling stimulated in body mind and spirit.

How often is it good to have a massage treatment?

Massage is excellent at any time and there is really no limit as to how often one has treatment.

In the case of Chavutti Thirumal a recommended commitment is for a ten session treatment plan. If one can organise it, a once a day for ten days plan makes an extraordinarily effective cleansing, energising and revitalising regime and if combined with appropriate diet can feel as if you have just returned from a month's holiday in paradise!

In this case massage offers never too much of a good thing.

How do I find a good therapist for massage therapy?

The most important element in massage as in yoga, is to find a therapist that is qualified and trained appropriately.

Bodywork needs knowledge and that is especially true with massage therapy. Where there is manipulation involved it is doubly true. Gentle therapeutic massage that does not involve manipulation does not have to be so rigorously certified, although in this litigious age it is highly recommended to be properly qualified and insured as a practitioner.

There are many gifted individuals whose healing hands make them natural massage practitioners. However, the majority of these will seek out a qualification of some degree or other to further their skills base and to be able to work in the wider environment.

For a list of organisations that offer training and a list of qualified massage therapy practitioners click here.

If you are interested in a Chavutti Thirumal Ayurvedic massage practitioner click here.

If you are interested in a Altai Massage practitioner click here.