Key Point

• Marma points can unlock a wealth of information about imbalances in the body; marma massage is the Ayurvedic tool practitioners can use to get there.

Ayurveda draws upon many sources and modalities to provide a holistic, therapeutic approach for clients. Nutrition and diet, lifestyle and routine, sleep hygiene, digestion, movement, and herbal allies all fall within the tapestry of everything that Ayurveda encompasses. Bodywork is yet another aspect of this 5,000-year-old medical system, and marma massage is an accessible, in-scope component of that work for MTs wanting to bring Ayurvedic principles into their treatment rooms.

Ayurveda’s Basic Principles

Before we can understand marma massage, we need to look at the system of Ayurveda in its totality. Ayurveda’s approach to healing is seeing what is out of balance in the client from a doshic (vata, pitta, kapha) perspective, understanding where that dosha has lodged, and planning what treatment is going to be the most effective for the individual at that point in time. The beauty of Ayurveda is that the treatment plan can change depending on what is happening with the client, where it is happening, and why it is happening. Once we understand the severity, intensity, and length of time the pathology has been manifesting, a treatment plan is created. 

From an Ayurvedic lens, there are two paths of healing a practitioner can take based on the information they’ve learned from the client. The first path is shamana or palliation; the second path is shodhana or detoxification. 

Shamana therapies include things like a balanced diet, healthy sleep habits, basic herbal formulations, and various types of exercise, yoga, and breathwork to support healthy digestion and other facets of healing that can bring a sense of balance for the client. Typically, we see these types of therapies being used by Ayurvedic practitioners in day-to-day management of doshic imbalances. 

Shodhana therapies include five specific types of treatments to support cleansing and balance on a much deeper level. These are conducted when a “disease process” is in process. In Ayurveda, this process is called panchakarma, which translates to “five acts or actions.” 

Regardless of which path a practitioner may take, bodywork plays a large role in the overall healing and balance of a client. There are several types of massage in the world of Ayurveda, including abhyanga or oil massage, steam therapy, and, our focus, marma massage or marma chikitsa. 

Marma Principles

The word marma translates to “vital energy point located on the surface of the body.”¹ Similar to the acupuncture points of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), marma points, or marmani, are accessed throughout the physical body using various anatomical landmarks. Although we can use these points in singularity, we often bring a sequence or a series of these points together in a pattern to support healing for whatever the main purpose the practitioner deems. 

Throughout the massage, the practitioner accesses the marma points, seeing what each tells them about the client: its associated dosha and subdosha; its associated element(s)—air, earth, ether, fire, water; and its associated benefits and actions that may or may not seem obvious. The key to properly using marma points in massage therapy is to first understand the various uses for marma therapy. 

Uses for Marma Therapy 

The function and use of marma therapy can be multifaceted. One of its main purposes is for pain management or soreness and tightness in a specific region in the musculoskeletal system. 

From an Ayurvedic perspective, when we view pain of any sort—whether it be acute, muscular, or related to a pathology—we first want to understand if there is pranic stagnation occurring, preventing healthy flow of our energy. Because of this, pain can be a by-product. 

The subtle science of marma therapy works on more than just the physical body, it also works on the subtle channels. Similar to yoga, Ayurveda says the body has 72,000 channels of flow and/or energy. Only some of these are physical channels, such as the systems of the body; most are subtle channels that support the larger aspect and sheaths of the human being. Prana, or our life force, manifests and works on both the physical and subtle channels. Thus, stagnation of prana can manifest in many ways.

Marma therapy can be used to identify imbalances of vata, pitta, and kapha. Each marma point is associated with subtypes of each of these energy principles. Because of this, when we press down on any certain point, if we understand which subtype of dosha it is related to, we can see where an imbalance may be occurring in an organ or tissue system (subtypes list page 45). 

In pressing painful marma points, we release any obstruction that is preventing healthy energy flow. Where there is pain, there is an imbalance. Thus, we can see there is balance that is needed. 

Another use for marma therapy is understanding weaknesses in the body (khavaigunya) that can be caused by genetic predisposition, health history, past disease, trauma, etc. In fact, we can use marma therapy to understand any tissue disturbances in Ayurveda’s seven main tissue systems: lymph, blood, muscle, fat, bone, nervous, and reproductive. After seeing which marmani are sensitive, we can use them to understand imbalances in those tissue systems. 

When using marma therapy to understand what sort of imbalance is happening, we are looking for pain, sensitivity, tenderness, or other physical indicators that something isn’t moving in the way we would want it to.

Marmani can also be incorporated for very specific actions and benefits to elicit healing and movement. For example, when pressing on the marma point directly at the top of the nose bridge, we can help release any sinus congestion or swelling in the nasal passage that might be preventing deep inhalations. By pressing a marma point at the notch below the nose and above the lips, we can prevent a sneeze from occurring if it’s a time where it may seem disruptive.

Finally, marma therapy is a great tool to induce relaxation and stress relief, similar to many other forms
of massage and bodywork. 

Activation of Marmani 

The most common way to activate various marmani is through touch and pressure. In Ayurveda, touch is touted as the greatest gift of love we can give ourselves or to others. This is why a hug can be so powerful—it releases endorphins into the system. Similarly, by pressing into the marma point, we are not only inducing balance and encouraging healthy pranic flow, but we are also supporting the client on deeper mental and emotional levels. 

One thing to note when pressing into marma points is that we are not looking to cause more pain for the individual by pressing too deeply or intensely. We can look at how much pressure to give based on doshic tendencies. For vata-type clients, use light pressure; for pitta-type, use medium pressure; and for kapha-type, use deep pressure. Of course, if you are unsure what level of pressure to use, its best to always work cautiously with a lighter touch. Also understand that the idea isn’t to stay on one point for a long period of time. Typically, 10–15 seconds is enough time to induce the benefits you are seeking.

Besides physical touch, marma points can be activated in several other ways:

• Nadi Swedan—The use of steam therapy through a small tube that directs the steam into specific areas on the body, thus activating the marma points in that region. This can be used in conjunction with various types of herbs or essential oils for added benefit. 

• Lepanam—The use of various types of herbal pastes to enhance the potency of the marma point. For example, if targeting the liver, the Ayurvedic practitioner would add an herbal paste of turmeric or neem to enhance the strength of the marma. Both turmeric and neem are herbs to support a healthy liver. 

• Agni Karma—The use of localized heat, similar to moxibustion in TCM, to create a deep and penetrating action within the marma point. 

Marma Massage in Practice

In its most traditional use, marma therapy employs the thumb, index finger, and middle finger to press into the points. A great companion tool to marma therapy is a Kansa wand, which has long been used in Ayurvedic esthetics and massage work to support healthy lymph flow. Similar to gua sha, the wand can be used to divert the pressure from the practitioner’s hands and fingers into the tool. 

You can also use various types of enhancements in your marma practice by incorporating essential oils that may be beneficial for the client, crystals and gems, or tuning forks. If using essential oils, a few drops on your hands are more than enough. Start by rubbing the oil into your hands and allowing the client to take a deep inhale of the aroma. From there, continue as you would by pressing into the marma points. The essence of the oil will be absorbed by the marma points to enhance the healing capacity. Crystals, gems, and tuning forks can be placed directly on marma points before or after the application of pressure to infuse the energy of the apparatus into the specific point. Tuning forks can be a great tool to use the power of vibration and sound frequency to shake up whatever may be stagnant, congested, or stuck. 

A subtler way to activate marmani is through simple awareness. It’s important to remember that although this bodywork is part of a physical science and treatment methodology, we cannot dismiss the immense amount of subtle activation marma therapy incorporates. Often, just sending our breath, attention, and awareness to sensitive and sore areas of the body can be enough to activate those marma points and create the same benefits as physical touch. 

A Deeper Connection to Our Emotional Health 

Marma points throughout the body can first be linked to connective tissue. This is the main reason marma points are so beneficial to physical health. On a deeper level, this connective tissue is related to the nervous system. In Ayurveda, the nervous system is intimately connected to our mind and the chakra system. For this reason, it is important to note the power marma therapy can have on our mental and emotional health. Ayurveda has long been seen as a science of the body, mind, and spirit. Thus, it is impossible to discount the impact suppressed emotions, our mental and emotional state, and a general imbalanced disposition have on our physical health. 

In Ayurveda, it’s believed that unprocessed emotions can turn into a physical pathology if not supported, treated, and released in a healthy way. For this reason, marma therapy plays a large role in mental and emotional well-being as a means to release any stuck emotion. For individuals who have unresolved trauma, using marma therapy to begin the release process may also have a direct impact on their physical health. 

Preparation for the Practice 

Marma therapy is a subtle art and science. For this reason, it is important that practitioners prepare themselves before jumping in and performing an entire sequence of marma treatments. Below are some ways to start. 

Calming the Mind

Whatever practice you already employ to relax and center is of crucial importance when giving or receiving marma therapy. Remember, we are working on both physical and energetic exchanges between practitioner and client. We want to ensure we are as close to equanimity as we can be. We want to be mindful of not exchanging our emotions and experiences from the day into our client. 

Breathwork

Using deep belly breathing or various breathing techniques can be a great way to tune into our prana flow. The breath creates a direct relationship to our pranic channels and connects us on a deeper level. 

Setting the Intention

Ask yourself what you want to either give or receive in this session. It is important to be very clear in our intentions, again to ensure that negative or awkward energy doesn’t pass between either individual. 

SoHum Meditation

A simple yet powerful meditation practice called SoHum can be a great way to ground your whole being. 

1. Sit on a chair with your back straight and feet firmly planted on the earth. 

2. Close your eyes and let your palms rest gently on
your lap. 

3. As you take your next inhale, repeat to yourself in your mind the word so. On the exhale, repeat to yourself in your mind the word hum. Continue repeating this cycle to ground your energy and feel a deep sense of stillness and preparedness. 

4. Once the marma treatment is complete, it is important to practice gentle auric cleansing. Shake your arms out after every 3–5 points to clear anything from your subtle channels. 

5. After the treatment is over, allow your client to remain still in a shavasana, or corpse pose position, and gently bring your hands a few feet over them to clear away anything from their auric field. This will ensure that the benefits of the treatment stay pure. 

Empowering Clients

Marma therapy is an incredible form of bodywork that works on all levels of our healing—physical, mental, and emotional. Plus, it gives us the opportunity to not only support others but also empower our clients to practice self-marma to continue the healing process on their own. Whether you are looking for a practice to offer or for your personal enrichment, marma therapy offers benefits on all facets of our healing. 

Vata Subtypes

Apana: colon/pelvic girdle

Prana: head, brain

Samana: navel, small intestine

Udana: neck/throat, diaphragm

Vyana: heart, circulation

Pitta Subtypes

Alochaka: eyes

Bhrajaka: skin

Pachaka: small intestine, stomach

Ranjaka: liver, spleen

Sadhaka: heart, brain

Kapha Subtypes

Avalambaka: lungs, heart, respiratory tract, spine

Bodhaka: oral cavity

Kledaka: stomach, GI tract

Shleshaka: joints

Tarpaka: brain, myelin sheath, cerebrospinal fluid  

Note

1. Vasant Lad and Anisha Durve, Marma Points of Ayurveda: The Energy Pathways for Healing Body, Mind, and Consciousness with a Comparison to Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Ayurvedic Press: 2015). 

Resources

Lad, V. Textbook of Ayurveda, Vol. 1: Fundamental Principles of Ayurveda (The Ayurvedic Press: 2002). 

Lad, V., and A. Durve. Marma Points of Ayurveda: The Energy Pathways for Healing Body, Mind, and Consciousness with a Comparison to Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Ayurvedic Press: 2015).

Ayurveda and Marma Therapy

A Conversation with Dr. Vasant Lad, founder of The Ayurvedic Institute 

Angie Parris is a student of Ayurveda, a tradition brought to the US largely as the result of one man’s journey—Dr. Vasant Lad. Parris, Massage & Bodywork’s director of advertising, had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Lad about Ayurveda and marma therapy specifically. 

Massage & Bodywork: You are one of the first people to bring the science of Ayurveda to the US. Can you tell us a little bit about your history and that journey?

Dr. Vasant Lad: My journey to the Western world is the mission of my guru, Hambir Baba, who saw something divine in my eyes, and his sparkling look penetrated into my consciousness. He told me, “You will go to the Western world to spread and propagate the ancient Vedic science and art of Ayurveda.” 

M&B: One of the things you’ve said that has deeply resonated with me is the importance of touch as the pathway to the inner pharmacy. Can you expand on that concept?

VL: Touch is a very spiritual energy. When you touch someone, don’t forget the “toucher” and pay attention to the thing to be touched. When the toucher and the touched become one, then you become the instrument in the hand of God and healing happens.

M&B: What does the spiritual value of touch mean to you?

VL: The spiritual value of touch is not only the physical touch but the touch of mind, the touch of thought, feelings, and emotions. Finally, [there] is the Divine touch of the lower consciousness into the higher consciousness . . . then you become Universe. This is the final touch.

M&B: Would you explain to our readers what marma chikitsa is and what the term means? 

VL: The term marma means secret, tender, delicate, tactile touch. This marma is the pathway of inner pharmacy, because at the site of marma [points] there are molecules of ojas, tejas, and prana (vitality, cellular intelligence, and life force). They convey the message through the touch receptor to unfold the inner pharmacy to heal the neuron. So, marma is a gateway of inner pure consciousness.

M&B: What are the mechanisms and functions of marma chikitsa—a diagnostic tool, treatment for physical/emotional/spiritual imbalance, a pathway to inner physiological healing?

VL: We use marma as a diagnostic tool; we can [also] apply marma as a therapy. So, marma is a multidimensional healing modality coming from Sushruta (the author of Sushruta Samhita, considered a major text of Ayurveda). Clinically, Sushruta was an Ayurvedic surgeon. He used the understanding and science of marma and these vital energy points to understand where to make the incision points and where to avoid.  

M&B: What sort of training does a massage therapist need to deliver marma? 

VL: Massage therapists are well acquainted with modern anatomy and physiology, but by and by, if they study Ayurvedic marma therapy, then it will bring completeness into their work.  

M&B: What is the benefit of marma chikitsa being applied within traditional massage sessions?

VL: The traditional massage session really helps to improve circulation, relax the muscles, and does wonderful pain management. It unfolds inner healing. If you add marma, then massage therapy can unfold cellular, spiritual awareness, and can bring balance of ojas, tejas, and prana at the RNA/DNA level.

M&B: How is marma chikitsa similar or different from Chinese acupressure?

VL: The arts of acupressure and acupuncture, as well as Indian Ayurvedic marma therapy, are concurrent and inherent based on the five basic elements, [and] based on yin and yang, purusha and prakruti [consciousness and matter], and shiva and shakti [masculine and feminine energy]. 

M&B: Can marma help with our emotional well-being? 

VL: Marma [points] are related to the organs, and all of our organs are related to the emotions. For example, lungs are the seat of grief, heart is the seat of sorrow, liver is for anger, spleen is attachment, kidney is fear, and colon is nervousness. There are similar marma points [to access when] working on these organs that will help to resolve unresolved emotions of grief and sorrow and to unfold into unconditional love.

M&B: Can marma be used as a self-treatment?

VL: You can use self-marma on the face, hand, and belly, based on where you are able to reach. We can also do auto-marma therapy over the surface of the body. 

M&B: If you were to share one immediate self-care marma treatment, what would it be? 

VL: The practice of marma is self-care. The practice of touch is self-care. Even spending just 30 seconds pressing one marma point can make a profound impact on your well-being. Don’t hesitate. Try it right now! See the beauty and magic of Ayurveda and marma therapy.