What is Kalari Yoga Marma Massage? It is an ancient massage practice rooted in the history of South India’s martial art called Kalarippayattu, Ayurveda and Hatha Yoga. Kalarippayattu is the mother of all martial arts worldwide. A living wisdom stream that founded a form of restorative care called Kalari Massage that was developed and administered by warriors to warriors in ancient times, a massage technique where both hands and the feet were used to massage the whole body in preparation for or post battle. Kalarippayattu martial artists and sage Agastya, a founder of Ayurveda, are credited with discovering the ways to enliven key energetic centres throughout the body called marma points which today this form of treatment goes by the name of Kalari Marma Massage Therapy.
Kalari Yoga Marma Massage brings together Kalari Massage, Kalari Marma Massage Therapy and Yogaāsana. As the massage is administered
while as a person enters and holds various yogic poses while the Kalari Massage therapist massages the different marma points, along with the whole body. It’s a profound energising and opening form of treatment. It radically helps to expand flexibility and mobility. It is excellent for yoga practitioners
Kalari Massage differs from Ayurveda Massage in that it uses not only the hands but also and mainly the feet while both use medicinal oils. Using ropes suspended from the ceiling or walls, the Kalari Massage therapist regulates their weight apply varying amounts of pressure on the marma points and body through gliding, flowing movements much like a martial artist. Slow, specific and controlled, the therapist utilises various specialised techniques using their feet to treat the whole body.
Another traditional name in Malayalam for Kalari Yoga Marma Massage is Chakrathirummu. It’s excellent for people who’ve lost a healthy balance of their internal organ functioning and overall equilibrium, causing a myriad of health conditions such as weight gain, stiffness, joint pain and more. When certain organs are no longer in balance, or there’s paralyses of their functioning, or issues related to the brain’s ability to function optimally, resulting in a loss of bodily equilibrium this type of massage assists the body and it’s functioning to regain balance again.
The Kalari Massage therapist will work with the patient to identify the reasons behind this disequilibrium such as an injury, past injuries, emotional distresses, unhealthy or no longer appropriate habits be they mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and overall lifestyle or all of these or a combination of these.
The therapist works with the patient to identify the
underlying issues and then a daily treatment program is developed specific to you. The therapist after performing preliminary massage to the head, shoulders, and back region in a seated position, will then have you come down to the floor on a mat and begin a warm up massage using the feet, and then guide you into various yogic pose such as Cakrāsana (wheel pose) or called Ūrdhvadhanurāsana (upward bow pose). In this position the therapist massages with the hands the whole body and focuses on specific marma points. The pose itself boosts energy, and can ease back pain, and naturally stretches and stimulates the body’s organs. It also stretches muscles and ligaments in the abdomen, chest, shoulders, front of the hips, and thighs. Plus, strengthening the back muscles, thighs and buttocks.
During this type of treatment, the patient will be asked to shift into different yogic positions to access all parts and activate various marma points. Thus, awakening, balancing and encouraging internal functions with the massage “hand assist”, while utilising and enabling the health and balancing benefits of different yogic poses.
In addition to the treatment, a specific diet will be prescribed, along with herbal medicines and certain types of activities to assist the body and it’s functioning to continue to find balance and assist to instill the overall reset. Also, the patient will be advised as to what needs to be seriously avoided or discontinued or shifted within their lifestyle and daily living routine.
The patient will then be advised to follow certain recommendations for a period of time post treatment while some of the advised lifestyle changes should be continued. By doing so, the patient will regain overall equilibrium and internal functioning, to return to a
healthy life or to begin one anew. This type of treatment is also recommended for certain people who already have a healthy balance but who’d like to improve their physical capabilities and strength. This treatment is ideal for yogins.
Another example, Bhujaṅgāsana (Cobra pose) is entered into on the floor mat then the therapist massages the marma points throughout the body to help perfect the posture and reap its full health benefits for body-mind- soul. This type of massage in this specific pose assists to optimise functioning of the stomach and organs of this region, the back, and the mūlādhāra, the base root cakra, meaning energy centre, and it assists the lungs and heart region.
This specialised and sophisticated ancient wisdom utilises Kalari Massage and Kalari Marma Therapy together to harness the full benefits of Hatha Yoga postures.
It’s a form of massage to assist Yogins to take their practice to a new level or recoup capacities and open to a larger energetic field. Together, the yogi and therapist collaborate to extend flexibility and capacity range to hold certain yoga postures, and optimise the health benefits of poses. The Kalari therapist assists a person to go deeper in poses. This type of massage is excellent if you’ve reached a plateau in your yoga practice or a certain pose or for whatever reason have lost the ability to get into certain positions. This type of massage can open contractions and stuck spots benefiting overall physiology. It’s excellent for blood circulation, opening blocks and getting past limitations. It is a deep massaging of the organs to stimulate optimal functioning, and the release toxins within the fascia and muscles.
Kalari Yoga Marma Massage is excellent for alleviating and curing many health issues and expanding yogic posture capacity thus harnessing and maximising the fullest benefits of āsanas. This type of massage can be done at any time of the year. Most commonly people receive treatments during the months fromOctober through the month of March. However,
the month called Karkidakam in Malayalam the language of the state of Kerala, usually falling in July and Augst is a special time for Kalari Massage treatments. Many people come to Kerala during these months to receive Kalari Massage at this time of year to improve their health. Undergoing treatments during the Karkidakam months helps to maintain good health throughout the rest of the year.
Kalari Massage in general is used and recommended in these three types of situations: 1) For elevating health issues; 2) For improving one’s immunity level and overall wellness; 3) For improving one’s flexibility for Hatha Yoga, martial
arts, dance, and all other sports. Kalari treatments are known to help awaken the chakra energy centres of the body. It’s effective for many health issues. For example, it reduces and alleviates overall bodily pain, it improves mobility of the whole body and hands, and improves breathing issues, along with relieving back and knee and leg pain and more. It’s highly effective for these types of issues along with reducing weight and water retention.
Again, treatments begin with a head massage, then the application of medicinal oil to the body, followed by a body massage done using the feet. After this, movements are done to awaken the ida and piṅgala and suṣumnā nāḍī energy channels.
Two types of medicinal oil are used. One is for head massage and the another for massaging the body. The oils are made in the traditional Kalari way by taking into consideration the health conditions of the person under treatment. Pure sesame oil is the main ingredient of most of the medicinal oils infused with a variety of medicinal plants. Also, herbal infused waters are used.
Kalari treatments can be received by anyone of almost all ages, as it takes into account each person’s specific health issues and conditions and is a specialised and tailored plan of treatment designed specific for each person. Only a few people are not recommended to receive these types of treatments, for example, in general children under the age fifteen it’s not recommended. Only if they are already practicing Hatha Yoga or Kalarippayattu. Once your condition and personal situation is known you will be advised as to what treatments best suits your particular needs.
Kalari Massage treatments finish with a hot steam in a steam box followed by a warm shower. Duration of the treatments varies depending on a person’s health condition and body structureTreatments are recommended for consecutive days and for the minimum of five days to be effective,
and two to three weeks for lasting results is highly advised. However, the exact time needed for treatment can only be determined once treatments have begun. The time may need to be extended or adjusted depending on a person’s unique and specific needs.
Complete rest is recommended during the time a person is receiving treatments and afterwards. Also, a lifestyle with an Ayurvedic diet that honors your specific constitution is also recommended after treatment. In addition, a marma nāḍī medicine should be taken after the treatments too, and depends on the illness or condition for which the treatment was undertaken.
Both general Kalari Massage, Kalari Marma Massage Therapy, and Kalari Marma Yoga Massage improves the body’s immunity. All forms strengthen neural, digestive, respiratory and psychological systems to function optionally. Also, they help to enhance and balance inner energy and to regulate the sensory and motor organs therefore assisting in harmonising body, mind and soul. All three of these forms also reduce pain and stress and alleviate contraction in the body.
Kalari Marma Yoga Massage is a yogins’ and meditators’ self-care support on and off the cushion or mat. Come to Kerala in the south of India to receive essential care for radical life-changing healing and vibrate wellbeing.
Sherin Sasi is a traditionally trained Kalari Massage Master and Ayurveda Therapist. Taught by his grandfather and he’s studied with various Vidyas, meaning wisdom holders, he continues this unbroken stream of healing and life-enhancing wisdom and expertise. He’s a, high-in-demand therapist who works and treats people in Ayurveda centres all over the world for the last 15 years. He’s a gifted Master of these traditions. For more information and treatments contact WhatsApp or phone: + 91 9539320250 email: sherin320250@gmail.com
Stephanie Renee dos Santos is a meditation and yoga teacher, teaching in the nondual Tantra Shaivism wisdom stream and steeped in Integrative Yoga Therapy. She’s known for facilitating deep meditative, creative- expressing and healing spaces. Teaching throughout the world she offers in-person retreats and backpacking meditation and yoga pilgrimages throughout the mountains of the world. She’s author of the forthcoming spiritual memoir “When She Wakes: A Woman’s Story of Kundalini Awakening”. www.mountainshakti. com , Instagram: stephanie.r.dos.santos, Facebook: Ashram of Arts, Substack: @tantrarts
Words: Sherin Sasi, Master Kalari Massage and Ayurveda Therapist & Yogini Stephanie Renee dos Santos
