Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for centuries. An important component is the Ayurvedic massage and spa. Also known as Abhyanga, the practice promotes wellness and balanced health in an individual by creating lifestyle changes. The Ayurvedic approach to being healthy is meant to be lifelong, encompasses all aspects of life and is rooted in it.

• Understanding Ayurveda and its historical use

In plain and simple words, Ayurveda means the science of life. The origin of Ayurveda is ancient, and historians believe that medical experts began recording Ayurveda practices, in writing, only about 2,500 years ago. Before that, it was practiced verbally, making it one of the oldest healing methods in the world. Even today, in some parts of the world it is the first approach to treating ailments. In other parts, such as the US, massage and Ayurvedic medicine are used in conjunction with modern medical techniques.

Today, the effectiveness of the approach has made it extremely popular in Western countries. Thousands upon thousands of citizens of the developed world are incorporating Ayurvedic practices into their health care regimen instead of treating it as an alternative technique.

• Understand its usefulness through an experiment

Researchers, in recent years, began to study the traditional practice of Ayurvedic massage to better understand it. In a particular study, carried out on 20 people, three factors were observed before and after a 60-minute Abhyanga:

1. heart rate
2. blood pressure
3. stress level

The result of traditional Ayurvedic oil massage therapy showed that people’s stress level and heart rate were reduced to a significant degree. But there was a surprising observation. Only the blood pressure levels of participants with prehypertension changed. The experiment was proof positive that Ayurvedic massage has only positive results. It can restore balance in bodies that are afflicted with ailment, but it does not create problems in people who are already in excellent health.

An Ayurvedic spa is an element of the Ayurvedic lifestyle. Ayurvedic massage is said to be able to remove toxic chemicals that build up in the body. Known as ama, high levels of it lead to weight gain and other adverse effects on the body. Through the diligent use of Ayurvedic massage and the lifestyle that goes with it, almost half of the toxins in the body can be eliminated. Through traditional massage therapy, people can improve in:

1. Relaxation
2. Nutrition
3. sleepwear
4. exercise regimen
5. weightloss

• Individuals Division for Ayurvedic Massage Therapy

Ayurveda has been practiced effectively for centuries and centuries because it organizes people into three categories. This division is based on the four elements of life: water, earth, fire and air.

1. Vata – All forms that have a thin, skinny frame are associated with the air element and tend to have problems related to absorbing nutrients.
2. Kapha: All bodies that have a large frame and suffer from some form of obesity are linked to the element of water or earth.
3. Pitta: All figures that have a medium sized frame are connected to the fire element and tend to suffer from digestion problems.

There are some types of bodies that can be made up of more than one element. When a person has excess energy in one or more components, he can greatly benefit from abhyanga. Ayurvedic massage helps to balance the extra element and any problems that arise from that imbalance.

• Ayurvedic therapy and its integrity

A professional spa offering Ayurvedic massage would be most beneficial for people who want to make long-term lifestyle changes that lead to weight loss and a healthier body. It should be noted that abhyanga is a holistic approach to bringing a body into harmony. It sometimes requires many changes in a person’s daily habits. These modifications concern the vikruti or imbalances that a body has. Some of the adjustments one might have to make might be:

1. Dietary
2. sleep schedule
3. Meditation
4. Yoga
5. Stress management
6. herbal treatments

A succinct summary

Ayurvedic massage is a full body massage in which an expert therapist works the head, neck, torso, arms, hands, legs and feet with a specific oil. The oil that is usually infused with herbal mixtures penetrates the skin and reaches the molecules that cause the changes. This results in a slower heart rate and stress relief. Ayurvedic therapy is useful for all body types with particular treatments focused on specific needs. In addition to regular massages, it also requires the participant’s commitment to other areas of life such as eating, exercise and sleep.