Ayurvedic Massage

Ayurvedic massage is one of the many techniques used in Ayurveda for both treatment and prevention of disease. Originating in India, Ayurveda is one of the oldest, most comprehensive medicine systems in the world.

Ayurvedic massage involves the application of warm herbalised oils to rejuvenate and balance your body. The herbal oil is selected according to your condition and is applied with sweeping flowing strokes. The correct choice of oil is what determines the effectiveness of a traditional Ayurvedic massage.

In Ayurvedic massage, the emphasis is on the benefits of the herbal oil application rather than deep pressure massage.

For conditions requiring deep tissue massage, Kalari Marma Massage is recommended as it combines specialised massage techniques with kalari herbal oil, marma kizhi (herbal poultices) and marma applications.

Ayurvedic massage involves the application of warm herbalised oils with sweeping flowing strokes. Kizhi (Pinda Sweda) application is also combined with the massage when required.

The external application of warm herbalised oil plays a major role in Ayurvedic treatment. Herbal oil is a transport mechanism for delivering herbs into the deeper tissues. When the warmed herbal oils are applied in a treatment, the pores of the skin are opened due to the warmth. This allows the healing properties of the herbs to more deeply penetrate the affected tissues. When herbs are used in this manner, they also help to pull impurities out of the body.

Ayurvedic herbal oils are made by cooking selected herbs into a base oil, such as black sesame or coconut oil. It is the particular combination of herbs used and their ratio that determines the specific actions of the herbal oil.

All our Ayurvedic herbal oils are made in Kerala, in Southern India. They strictly follow the recipes in the classical Ayurvedic texts such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridayam, Sahasra Yogam, etc.

Kizhi means poultice in Malayalam (the language of Kerala in South India). In Sanskrit, it is known as Pinda Sweda.

A Kizhi is a poultice that is densely packed with herbal ingredients and heated in warm herbal oil throughout the treatment. The Kizhi is massaged over the affected area or the whole body as required.

The warmth of the poultices, combined with the active ingredients of the herbs and oils, improves circulation and reduces body stiffness and pain.

The Kizhi ingredients, herbalised oils and massage techniques are all selected according to the type and cause of your pain.

There are many varieties of Kizhi and the name is given based on the ingredients tied within the poultice. The type of Kizhi used is chosen according to what is most suitable for your particular condition. Some of the Kizhis applied during an Ayurvedic massage are:

This Kizhi contains fresh leaves of medicinal plants that are fried with other herbal ingredients. The Kizhi is then dipped into warm herbalised oil and applied to the affected body parts.

The main ingredient in this Kizhi is lime which is cut and fried in herbal oil with herbal powders. The Kizhi is then dipped into warm herbalised oil and applied to the affected areas of the body.

Unlike the other Kizhi varieties, this one can be applied with or without oil. The Kizhi contains herbs that have been dried and then pounded with a mortar and pestle into a fine powder. The Kizhi can be warmed in medicated oil throughout the massage, or can be applied without oil when a dry heat is required.

Udvartana is a treatment in Ayurveda in which specially prepared herbal paste or herbal powder is massaged over the body. It is a treatment used to support weight loss or detoxification programs.