Ayurvedic Massage: a guide to getting started

Ayurveda is the name of the Indian medicinal system, around 7000 years old, one of the oldest in the world. According to Ayurveda, each person is a unique combination of three energies, the doshas: Vata (movement), Pitta (transformation) and Kapha (structure). When this combination falls out of balance, body and mind suffer. When it returns, health is restored.

What sets Ayurvedic Massage apart

Unlike a Western massage focused on the muscle, Ayurvedic massage works with marmas, vital energy points, and uses warm oils chosen according to each person's dosha. The movements are long, rhythmic and enveloping. The goal is not only to relax: it is to rebalance the systems.

When to choose it

• Periods of exhaustion, accumulated tiredness, insomnia
• Anxiety and mental agitation (excess Vata)
• Irritability, inner heat, headaches (excess Pitta)
• Heaviness, lethargy, a feeling of being stuck (excess Kapha)
• Before or after seasonal changes, to help the body adapt

What you may feel the next day

After the session, it is common to feel a pleasant sleepiness, thirst, and a sense of lightness that deepens over the following 24 hours. Drink plenty of water, avoid heavy food and alcohol that day and, if possible, go to bed early. It is in that rest that the body integrates the work of the massage.

Recommended frequency

A one-off massage brings real benefits. For deeper work, such as restoring hormonal balance, sleeping better consistently or recovering from a period of exhaustion, a weekly session for four weeks is suggested.

Book your Ayurvedic Massage session in Cascais.