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“The secret of youth and beauty is
the proper circulation of vital life fluids and the regular discharge
of waste materials.” Harish Johari
Not anything helps the body to do just what Harish
Johari says as much as massage. Infact., in the Ayurvedic tradition,
massage is considered just as essential to health and beauty as good
diet and other lifestyle habits. For many Indian people, massage is a
normal part of a daily routine from their first day of life until their
last. Bodies are massaged every day until three years or so, then at
least twice a week until six years of age. At six, they are confident
to massage older members of their family is swap for receiving massage.
I am truly a family matter. Massage is given to both bride and groom
before their wedding, after which they massage each other at least
weekly to help shed the stress of everyday life. Women and their
newborns are given daily massage for forty days after delivery. And so
the circle of nurturing touch carries on. What a wonderful tradition!
No wonder Indian women are known for their natural grace and charm.
Most of us in today’s modern Westernized world do not
have a simple way of life with the benefits of an extended family.
Still, we can help ourselves using massage. It is chiefly beneficial in
cool climates and for those people who work more with their minds than
their bodies.
Other than the obvious benefits of feeling good and being very calming, what else can a good massage do?
- Massage gives a beautiful luster to the skin.
- Massage tones and relaxes the underlying muscle tissue, nourishing the skin and giving the body pleasant curves
- Massage increases body heat and improves circulation
- Massage increases the flow of life-giving oxygen to the tissues.
- Massage flushes out waste products throughout the body.
- Massage increases the body’s resistance to disease by improving immune responses.
- Massage makes the body feel light, active, and energetic .
- Massage removes stiffness from the joints, improving posture and grace of movement.
- Massage makes the spine supple, improving nerve supply to the organs and all parts of the body.
- Massage increases stamina and sexual vitality.
- Massage corrects the flow of electromagnetic energy throughout the body.
- Massage improves concentration and intelligence.
- Massage builds body awareness, self-confidence, and will power.
- Massage is rejuvenating and preserves youthful qualities.
In short, massage can help keep you feeling young,
vital, beautiful, and healthy. So try to get a massage as often as you
can. If you can not take delivery of a massage for the whole body, then
at least try to massage your feet on a daily basis and the head every 3
days or so. You can follow the instructions for a general massage of
these areas as found in the overall body self – massage. At the end of
this chapter, though, you will find instructions for in-depth massage
procedures for the feet and, if you work a lot with your hands, a full
in – depth massage for the hands.
Here follows a traditional full-body Ayurvedic
massage that you can do for yourself. Try them all and fit them into
your daily schedule as best you can. The payback of such practices come
quickly, so you’ll be inspired and have the energy to keep going.
Read More on......
Ayurvedic Self Massage Techniques
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