Marma Therapy
Marma is a Sanskrit word meaning hidden, or secret. By definition, a marma point is a juncture on the body where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints. Yet marma points are much more than a causal connection of tissue and fluids; they ar intersections of the vital life force and prana, or breath.
Physically, marma point locations are where tendons, bones, muscles, joints, veins, nerves, and other tissues meet anatomically. Energetically, marmas are extremely subtle points where the physical and divine energetic realms intersect in the human body. They are where vata, pitta and kapha doshas come together.
Marmas are points in the body where concentrated life force energy is located. They are part of the chakra, nadi, srota system of Yoga. This balancing treatment focused on releasing energy blocks in the body and mind. Using essential oils or and transdermal herbal pastes, marma points are gently massaged to balance the flow of energy. Marma therapy is tailored to your individual dosha balancing needs. Prana is simply the vibrational electromagnetic energy of nature. Prana is what sustains us. There is nothing mystical about this energy. We see it all around us.
Classification of Marma
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SADYAH PRANAHARA MARMA : When a Marma point is injured, due to the spontaneous loss of Prana vayu , death is certain.
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KALANTARA PRANAHARA MARMA : These Marmas result in kalanthara (gradual) loss of life ( pranahara), after lapse of some time.
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VISHALYAGHNA : The word shalya refers to a foreign body. When a foreign body pierces these varieties of Marma, the injured person survives as long as the foreign body remains at the place of injury. But on removal, it results in death of the individual.
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VAIKALYAKARA : These varieties of Marma when subjected to injury, cause deformity of those organs which are dependent on that particular Marma for their energy distribution. The word Vikalya or Vaikalya means deformity.
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RUJAKARA MARMA : These Marmas neither result in deformity nor cause death, but results in excruciating pain (ruja), when injured.
Tradditional Marma Recognises three categories
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Shakha Marma(Legs&Feet)
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Madhyamanga Marma(Trunk)
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Jatrudhara Marma(Neck&Head)
ROLE OF MARMA
There are four basic purposes of Marma:
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It remove blocks in energy channels called shrotas.
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It pacifies vata dosha, (air and space elements ), bringing it to its normal path— especially vyana vata, (a sub-dosha which controls the autonomic nervous system.)
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It creates physical, mental and emotional flexibility. Because of ama (toxins) and because of vata, human beings after 35 or 40 years of age become rigid — and this happens to animals and plants as well. As vata increases in body, it leads to degeneration. This rigidity means becoming fixed in ideas, emotions and physical movements.
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This gentle treatment creates an opportunity to experience powerful and dynamic transformation at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level by building a positive link with the unconscious mind. Many a times, people are not able to go outside their ‘comfort zone’. They think they have absolute limitations. After Marma is done, they can start taking positive risks.
Marma is beneficial for many conditions, including the following:
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Muscular and joint pain
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Frozen joints
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Muscular strain
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Respiratory conditions
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Digestion and elimination problems
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Nervous system disorders
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Headaches and migraines
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General aging problems
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Glandular tissues
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Anxiety and depression
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Stress response, fears and phobias
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Confusion, memory loss and mental focus
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Low energy and fatigue
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Breaking through limited belief systems
Diseases Curable & Manageable By Marma Therapy
To name a few diseases in which Marma chikitsa is highly appreciated in giving cure are :
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Paralysis
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Sciatic pain
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Migraine
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Tremors
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Diabetic neuropathy
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Muscular twitching & cramps
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
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Facial or Bell's palsy
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Urinary incontinence
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Lumbar Spondilitis
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Lumbar Spondilolisthesis (Disc bulge or prolapse)
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Cervical Spondilitis
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Cervical Spondilolisthesis (Disc bulge or prolapse)
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Frozen shoulder (periarthritis)
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Carpal tunnel syndrome
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Muscular and joint pain
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Frozen joints
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Muscular strain
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Respiratory conditions
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Digestion and elimination problems
Marma Chikitsa is an important aspect of Ayurvedic treatment where the application of pressure on these Marma points induces the flow of vital energy (prana) along a complex system of subtle channels called (nadis). Based on the knowledge enumerated in Dhanurveda ( dealing with knowledge of bow and arrow fights), therapeutic Marma points are recognised by Ayurveda. Massage is widely applied in the treatment of Marmas.
Marma Therapy Today
In summary, stimulating or massaging Marma points give benefits to the area of their location and improves the function of the connecting organs. The Marma massage is approximately of 60 to 90 minutes of duration, followed by steam bath or warm shower. Given above is only a brief outline of Marma massage . Ideally, Marma massage should be performed by experienced therapists, in consultation of a qualified ayurvedic physician. The Marma massage can be used as a part of a rejuvenation therapy or it could be used as preventive measure from unwanted conditions. Either way, Marma massage is really useful to help improve or maintain a healthy balance.
Thus healing through Marma abhayangam affects the chakras, Physical health and doshas. The purpose of Marma Abhayangam is to stimulate the various body organs and systems.
Marma therapy focuses on energizing the body to relieve occupational illness and stress related diseases. Often, it helps the couples to re-establish harmony in marital life.