Home » Health & Wellness  » Alternative healing » What an Ayurvedic massage can do for you Are you one of those young overworked IT or BPO professionals who can hardly distinguish night from day? Aha! What you need to do is to have a regular recharge done to your body in order to ward off the ill effects of your long and irregular work hours.

A super way to recharge your system and to rejuvenate your body is with a typical Kerala oil massage which is known as Abhyanga. This massage leaves the body relaxed and healed and gives a general feeling of good health and well being.

You must make time for a full body massage at least once a week as the benefits are tremendous. A total rejuvenation of mind and body takes place - you get relief from fatigue and your stamina shows marked improvement. Another benefit is sound sleep which is a natural result of the oil massage. The nourishment provided by the natural oils serves to improve the complexion, and with the total body relaxation and nourishment, longevity is also promoted.

If you can fit in an hour of Ayurvedic massage every day into your routine you can experience the following obvious benefits

• Increased blood circulation
• Calming effect on the nerves
• All the joints get well lubricated
• Muscles get perfectly toned
• You will find yourself mentally more alert
• Elimination of toxins from the body
• Improvement in skin texture
• Sound sleep at night
• General increase in stamina

When and how to have an Ayurvedic massage

It is advisable to have the massage before your morning shower. You can use Aromatherapy oils or herbal massage oils, or even the time-worn sesame oil used by generations before us.

• It is important to slightly warm the oil before applying it on the body.
• Pour the oil generously on the body and rub lightly with your fingertips. Allow the oil to penetrate into the body for best results.
• If you have a masseuse to do the massage, she will begin by putting pressure with her whole palm and then applying lighter pressure on some sensitive areas of the body.
• A good masseuse will pay special attention to nerve endings in the body.
• It is important to use movements that suit the body - circular movements for the head and the joints in the body and straight movement and pressure on the legs and arms. Thus the entire body gets stimulated with the massage.
• Once the body gets soaked in the oil, allow for it to penetrate and start having beneficial effects. Be totally relaxed for at least 15 - 20 minutes before you get into the shower for a warm bath.

It's back to basics again with Ayurveda gaining in importance as a highly successful alternative therapy with no side effects. Spas and Health resorts offering holistic Ayurvedic treatment have become popular as their efficacy is being recognized the world over.