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Ayurveda Massage Methods
part of Karma Kerala Ayurveda Guide
Before entering into massage ensure the masseur and the beneficiary wear no jewellery or metal objects. Keep ready the oil blended as needed.
The Foot
1 Ask the beneficiary to lay down facing ground. Get little oil in one hand and rub the hands so as to have the oil distributed evenly. Lift one leg by one hand and begin with one hand sliding from heel to toe. This should be followed by other hand. Repeat the process 5 to 6 times. It reflexology is applied it will increase the benefits.
2 The soles should be massaged zig-zagingly. Start from the toe to heel. For this thumb is better. The process is to be repeated 4-5 times.
3 Rub the dorsum of the foot with thumbs. It should be started from angle joint and moved towards the toe. Repeat 3-4 times.
4 The thumbs should be gently circled around the ankles 3-4m times.
5 Rub the toes with circular movements 4-5 times.
6 Each toe to be rotated clockwise thrice. After clockwise make the rotation anti-clockwise three times. Thereafter a gentle tug is to be given to the toes as a finale.
7 Insert the fingers gently between the toes. Then engage in gentle massage by rubbing the fingers inserted between the toes.
8 Rub the foot, after enclosing it in the hand, in opposite direction. This is for creating friction.
9 With one hand hold the foot firmly. Use the other hand to support the ankle joint and rotate it very slowly clockwise followed by anticlockwise. This should be done 3 to 4 times.
Massaging the Lower Legs & Knees
1 Apply oil to the legs and employ Effleurage method starting from the ankles after keeping one hand behind the other. Repeat the stroke.
2 Bend the leg to the level of shoulder after supporting the leg at the ankle and knee. Clasp the hands around the back of the knee. While doing this the beneficiary should inhale deeply and masseur should pull the muscle towards himself. This position should remain for few seconds and during this time the beneficiary should exhale. While exhaling release the pull on the calf.
3 Massage around the knee-cap without pressure circularly and gently slide the thumb around the knee-cap.
Massaging the thighs/Upper Limbs
1 Apply oil and employ Effleurage method. Adopt upward sliding movements from knee to groin. For this use one hand behind the other. Continue the process 5 to 6 times.
2 Squeeze gently and release small muscles along the inner thigh stretching from knee to groin. Thereafter do the same along outer thigh. Do it thrice.
3 Gently twist the small muscles in opposite directions from knee to groin by following wringing movements. Then follow with large wringing movements. Repeat three times.
4 Engage the knuckle nake quickly from knee to the groin. The whole thigh area should come in the application.
5 For finishing the massage adopt Effleurage movements method from ankle to groin and commence the massage on the other leg the same way.
Massaging Hands & Arms
1 Get the beneficiary’s hand supported by the hand of the masseur. After that apply oil with the other and employ Effleurage movements.
2 Bend the arm with elbow. Massage around the wrist by both the thumbs.
3 Rotate and tug the fingers of the beneficiary with that of masseurs so as to touch both the palms. Thereafter support the hand with other hand. As next step rotate the wrist gently clockwise and anti-clockwise thrice.
4 Finish with wringing movements on the upper arm and start the same process as above on the other hand.
Massaging the Abdomen
1 Apply some oil evenly over the abdomen and put two hands on the centre of the abdomen one upon one.
2 Adopt mild circular movements . Repeat the same with other palm. It should be done 4-5 times. This process helps digestion and mitigates constipation.
3 Place at the rib cage the outer edge of the hand and sweep away on the line of ribs with long sweeping movement from the waist. As the first hand finishes the movement the second hand follows the same path. Do this on both sides 6 to 7 times. This process helps cleanse the stomach and spleen.
4 Wait Pulls: Have firm grip around the waist by one hand by standing in front of the beneficiary. The grip should be reinforced by placing the other hand over the first hand. Lift the waist by pulling the body-weight towards the masseur and gently release while sliding the hands around hip–bone. Finish the movements by sliding the hands across and around the pelvis draining towards the groin. Do this 5 to 6 times and then start the process on the other side.
Abdomen is a tender area and care should be taken not to dig with the fingers. This therapy is particularly beneficial to menopause complaints.
Massaging the Thorax/Chest
In the normal course only mild massage is needed for thorax/chest. If any problem is there mildness may be improved upon but not much. The massage should be started from chest bones. Get the palms moved from inside to outside back. The movements of the palms should be circular and upward.
Massaging the Neck Sweep
Apply with the flat of the hand a small quantity of facial oil from neck top till shoulder and upper chest. Move the hand gently from the side of the ear to the shoulder by sweeping stroke so as to cover the area. This should be repeated three times and then move to the other ear and shoulder and do the same movement.
Massaging the Face & Scalp
1 Sit at the head and ask the beneficiary to close the eyes. Apply facial oil on the face and employ upward and outward strokes. The stroke movement should start from each of the jaw line to the forehead. 4 to 5 times movements should be done.
2 The stroking on the forehead with the palms should be slow, starting from the brows to the hairline.
3 While the palms support the sides of the head the thumbs should rest on the center of the forehead as above the eyebrows.
4 Thereafter move the thumbs outward towards the temples and then to sides of the ears. This should be done 5-6 times.
5 As the next step gently pull along the brow-bone with the help of the index finger and thumb. Do this thrice.
6 Apply gentle stroke with ring finger from inner to the outer corner over the eyelids thrice.
7 Use index fingers for each side of the nose and massage circularly upward.
8 Apply gentle massage around the eyes in ‘figure of eight’ type movements. Ensure oil is not contacted with eyes. If at all contacted, do not wash the eyes with water. Instead, drip to the eyes few drops of pure almond oil.
9 Apply the stroke on cheeks across the cheek bones. Make upward and downward movements, starting from cheek bones to jaw. Along the laughter lines use ring finger.
10 Apply pinching movements along the jaw lines, starting from chin and ending at ears.
11 For chin massage put the thumb on the chin and let other fingers cradle the jaw with a light stroke. Move down and outward the alternate thumbs. This should be done 6-7 times.
12 Rub the ear lobes after placing between finger and thumb and pin gently all around the outer ear. Make the movement on ear lobes 3 times clockwise and 3 times anti-clockwise.
13 Sweep the hands on neck and cheek and hold on few seconds and release slowly. Repeat the process thrice.
Massaging the Scalp
1 With some pressure on scalp move the fingers through the hair without creating strain on hair.
2 Put the tips of fingers gently on the scalp. Make circular movements without detaching the tips. Then brush the tips behind in an area of 2 inches each time. This should be done firmly. The process should begin from the hair line and keep going in the entire scalp.
3 Tug small locks of hair. Do this with different locks of hair till the entire scalp is covered.
