Ayurvedic Massage is the first book on the subject, and the first new massage therapy introduced to the West since shiatsu. One of the oldest systems of medicine in the world, Ayurveda views the human being as intimately connected with the environment and all other life forms. Ayurvedic massage works on both the physical and mental levels, transmitting a life-giving energy that assists all systems of the body to repair and renew themselves. Practitioners concentrate on the marmas, subtle energy points that respond to gentle physical manipulation, and work with the needs of the different body types. The author guides both the novice and experienced practitioner through each step in the full body massage and explains which oils work best for particular body types. • Includes massage techniques for expectant mothers and their babies. • Outlines techniques and natural remedies for treating specific disorders, including arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, and insomnia. • Offers a complete guide to the traditional forty-day beauty treatment as practiced in India, and includes recipes for massage oils, facial creams, and beautifying clay baths.

Illustrations: 26 B/w Illustrations Description: Massage, done according to the natural laws of human anatomy and energy flow, offers the most pleasurable benefit of all daily practices. Regular massage vibrates and energizes the skin, muscles and nerves simultaneously and helps the body become light, active and full of vitality. Body heart and vitality increase as the heart and circulatory system open up to provide fresh oxygen and energy to all parts of the system while simultaneously flushing out waste gases and chemicals. Ancient Indian scriptures which deal with health and massage say: Diseases do not go near one who massages his feet before sleeping, just as snakes do not approach eagles. There is new acceptance of massage nowadays. In the West people are especially interested in this art as a rejuvenator and vitalizer. There is much literature available on various kinds of massage from different parts of the world, but there is no book about the ancient Indian system of massage where the art is ever popular. In India you can find people massaging people on beaches, on the banks of rivers, and in market places-apart from the privacy of homes and wrestling places (akharas). Massage of children is widespread in India practically every child and the mother of each new born infant gets regular massage, as one gets foods. Massage is part of inherent rituals in Indian life and in many states it becomes a significant ritual before marriage. The purpose of this publication is to portray simply and factually some of the principles, techniques, beauty and benefits of massage. Special formulae have been incorporated to enhance various therapeutic values.

Five thousand years old, Ayurvedic massage has been shown to still the mind and body by lowering metabolic rates and inspiring feelings of peace and calm. Often administered as a part of a three-, five-, or seven-day program, these treatments are an integral part of deep cleansing, rejuvenation, and life-extension Ayurvedic programs called panchakarma or kya kalpa. This book by a noted practitioner features more than 15 of these treatments, each described in step-by-step detail and some synchronized with two therapists for up to two hours in length. It provides the reader with all the tools necessary to begin Ayurvedic treatments as a part of a spa menu or massage therapy program.

The readers of this text will gain a background in ayurvedic theory, as well as applied therapy. Ayurvedic massage can be seen as a therapeutic tool in its own right as well as a predecessor to panchakarma treatment. For the first time the important concept of marma massage has been explained and described. This technique is extremely valuable and is becoming quite popular among practitioners of ayurveda both in India and abroad.

In Ayruveda Marmas Are Mentioned. Susruta Samhita Deals With Marmas Elaborately. Those Who Practise Ayurvedic Massage Should Have The General Knowledge About Marmas. Now A Days The Acharyas Of Kalari Payattu (Martial Art) Know The Marmas And The Marma Treatment.In The Olden Days The Ayurvedic Doctors Had The Knowledge Of Some Marma Points Where They Used To Press And The Patient Became Unconscious And The Surgery Was Done. After The Operation Another Marma Point Was Pressed And The Patient Regained This Consciousness.If Any Marma Is Damaged The Body Gets Some Trouble. If Marmas Are Well Activated Some Diseases Can Be Cured. It Is Well Mentioned In This Book.

The book on "Massage for Health and Healing: The Ayurvedic and Spiritual Energy Approach" is a commendable guide to a very important medical aid which reigned with dignity in the past. Though it was neglected for many years, the art of massage has recaptured its central place amongst the forms of healing, prevention of disease, and promoting health. Massage is the oldest of all techniques for relieving pain, shaping the organs, regenerating tissues, and correcting almost all internal malfunctions. Massage has its origin in the natural instincts of animals, handed over to the concious man with a mandate to improve it as far as possible with his old wisdom. Despite advancements in knowledge and complex techniques, massage retains its usefulness and significance even as a method to save a person from immediate death, as in heart failure, breathlessness, and several other fatal ailments. In all kinds of therapeutic approaches, massage alone can maintain certain links. Any method of treatment with a holistic approach cannot leave out massage. Ayurveda upholds its psychosomatic benefits. Sushruta and other texts explain it, classifying various types of massages and instructions on their manipulations and effects. In Ayurveda, the human body constitutes three functional entities, the balance of which maintains health; an upset in this balance increases diseases. The book serves not only as a guide to novice practioners but also as a manual and refresher guide for those who are experienced ayurvedic masseurs. The contents (techniques) of this book will bring relief and better health to those faithfully apply them in their daily lives.

This book puts a finger on the nerve of culture by delving into the social life of touch, our most elusive yet most vital sense. From the tortures of the Inquisition to the corporeal comforts of modernity, and from the tactile therapies of Asian medicine to the virtual tactility of cyberspace, The Book of Touch offers excursions into a sensory territory both foreign and familiar. How are masculine and feminine identities shaped by touch? What are the tactile experiences of the blind, or the autistic? How is touch developed differently across cultures? What are the boundaries of pain and pleasure? Is there a politics of touch? Bringing together classic writings and new work, this is an essential guide for anyone interested in the body, the senses and the experiential world.