marma: pathways to the inner pharmacy
Ayurveda offers a myriad of hands-on therapies to maximize doshic balance and wellness. In my experience, one of the most profound of these techniques is Marma Therapy.
What is it?
Marma Therapy is an Ayurvedic acupressure-energy treatment. A marma point is a point of vital life force, or energy point. These are junctures on the body where two or more types of tissue meet and act as the external facing access points of the subtle energy body. When imbalances block the movement of free-flowing prana/energy in the body, the resulting stagnation leads to physical and mental discomfort and disease. This science is based on the manipulation of these points to access shifts in body, mind, and consciousness. Marma therapy is used in cases of: pain, bodily or mental stress, tension, energetic or emotional issues, balancing digestion, hormonal imbalance, clearing toxicity, and calming the mind.
What does a session look like?
Ayurvedic Pulse diagnosis may be taken at the start of a session to guide the therapeutic direction of a session. My Marma sessions are typically conducted on a massage table, with the client undressed to their level of comfort and fully draped. Marma points may be accessed by gentle or deep pressure, by application of medicated oils, or by holding. Your job as a client during marma is simply to relax deeply, be guided by your breath, and allow any deep energetic unfolding and release to occur organically. This work allows a deep digestion on the physical, energetic, and mental levels to occur in a very short amount of time.
Old tensions, patterns, stories, and beliefs are loosened from the places they reside, and are released. You will often feel extremely relaxed after a session, and I suggest clients give themselves some time to reground after an appointment before they need to be at their next obligation. It's also important to stay well-hydrated after a session.
How should it be used?
Marma can be done as part of an existing Ayurvedic protocol, or as a stand alone therapy. I recommend Marma to Ayurvedic clients for a variety of physical, energetic, and mental/emotional reasons, and I also have clients who partake in Marma as a regular self-care practice much as one would with massage. Whether physical, energetic, or mental/emotional, Marma provides a reset to the system that brings relief and realignment. If you're interested in experiencing this beautiful therapy for yourself, you can book a Marma session with me via my online calendar. Please contact me with any questions.
My training in Marma Therapy comes from my teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM. He is also the author of the book, Marma Points of Ayurveda
