SYNOPSIS

This 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 and its origin in the natural instincts of animals, handed over to the conscious 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 disease.

The book serves not only as a guide to novice practitioners 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 who faithfully apply them in their daily lives.

CONTENTS

	Dedication	5
	Foreword	9
	Introduction	11
I	THE BACKGROUND
	History of Massage	13
	Human Physiology	17
	Science of Marma (Vital Areas)	23
II	WHAT IS AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
	What is Ayurveda ?	29
	Benefits and General Guidelines of Massage	35
	Cold Massage	60
	Beauty Massage for Women and Men	60
	Auto Massage	66
	Massage Movements	67
	Oils, Pastes and Essences	71
	Colors and their Effects	77
	Urine Therapy Massage	80
	Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage	83
	Ayurvedic Massages of Kerala: Pizhichil, Navarakkizhi, Dhara	85
	Doing Massage with Legs	88
III	HEALING THROUGH MASSAGE
	Case Study Summaries	89
	Healing through Massage	90
	Ayurvedic Herbs and Food Combinations	95
IV	SPIRITUAL ENERGY MASSAGE
	Kundalini	103
	Chakras	104
	Chakras and the Endocrine Glands	109
	Techniques of Spiritual Energy Massage	112
	Appendix A:
	Acupressure	121
	Reflexology (Zone Therapy)	126
	Appendix B	133
	Bibliography	159
	Index	160

 

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