Fall 2013 Continued on page 2 Ayurvedic Body Treatments An overview Anne Williams Oil is incorporated into many ayurvedic treatments. Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation. -Stephen C Paul Office Hours and Contact Karen Renee 856-266-1233 Tuesday 6pm-8pm Thursday 6pm-8pm Sunday 10am- 6pm In this Issue Ayurvedic Body Treatments Happiness is Contagious The Art of Aromatherapy Looking for a massage and bodywork experience influenced by Eastern cultures? Look no further than Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old healing system from India that is both a traditional medical system and a philosophy that creates harmony and balance in life. Many spas and massage clinics adopt elements of ayurveda that focus on positive life choices, general detoxification, relaxation, enhanced spiritual awareness, and gentle exercise. Ayurvedic body treatments might be viewed as an intervention to shift awareness, restore vital energy, and promote mental harmony. The foundation of traditional ayurveda is the belief that everything in the universe is composed of five elements: air, fire, earth, water, and ether. These elements intermix to form three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) that govern a person's body type, mental and emotional characteristics, and personality. In most spa and massage settings, a questionnaire is used to gather general data about clients' dosha states before their ayurvedic-inspired body treatment. To find out your personal dosha makeup, log on to www.massagetherapy.com and download the dosha questionnaire, then compare your findings to the dosha profiles described below. Vata Profile People with vata as their dominant dosha are influenced by the elements of space and air. The word vata means to move or to enthuse, and so it is not surprising that vata is the dosha most likely to become unbalanced, as vatas tend to move quickly and often. Vatas are highly active and have difficulty gaining weight despite the fact that they are fond of sweet foods. The vata mind is restless, sensitive, and flexible, and a balanced vata is creative, filled with enthusiasm, artistic, and open-minded. This sensitivity of mind however often causes the unbalanced vata to experience conditions like emotional insecurity, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Transcript
Fall 2013
Continued on page 2
Ayurvedic Body TreatmentsAn overviewAnne Williams
Oil is incorporated into many ayurvedic treatments.
Everything youdo can be donebetter from aplace ofrelaxation.-Stephen C Paul
Ayurvedic Body TreatmentsHappiness is ContagiousThe Art of Aromatherapy
Looking for a massage and bodyworkexperience influenced by Easterncultures? Look no further thanAyurveda, a 5,000-year-old healingsystem from India that is both atraditional medical system and aphilosophy that creates harmony andbalance in life. Many spas and massageclinics adopt elements of ayurveda thatfocus on positive life choices, generaldetoxification, relaxation, enhancedspiritual awareness, and gentle exercise.
Ayurvedic body treatments might beviewed as an intervention to shiftawareness, restore vital energy, andpromote mental harmony. Thefoundation of traditional ayurveda is thebelief that everything in the universe is
composed of five elements: air, fire,earth, water, and ether. These elementsintermix to form three doshas (vata,pitta, and kapha) that govern a person'sbody type, mental and emotionalcharacteristics, and personality.
In most spa and massage settings, aquestionnaire is used to gather generaldata about clients' dosha states before
their ayurvedic-inspired bodytreatment. To find out your personaldosha makeup, log on towww.massagetherapy.com and downloadthe dosha questionnaire, then compareyour findings to the dosha profilesdescribed below.
Vata ProfilePeople with vata as their dominant doshaare influenced by the elements of spaceand air. The word vata means to move orto enthuse, and so it is not surprisingthat vata is the dosha most likely tobecome unbalanced, as vatas tend tomove quickly and often. Vatas are highlyactive and have difficulty gaining weightdespite the fact that they are fond of
sweet foods. The vata mind is restless,sensitive, and flexible, and a balancedvata is creative, filled with enthusiasm,artistic, and open-minded. Thissensitivity of mind however often causesthe unbalanced vata to experienceconditions like emotional insecurity,anxiety, and panic attacks.
Discover your dominant dosha type at massagetherapy.com.
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Vatas are easily aggravated by situationsthat are overstimulating and shouldminimize their exposure to noisy socialgatherings, overindulgence in TV orInternet surfing, confrontationalsituations, and intense or stressedfriendships. If vata is your dominantdosha, seek quiet calming music, peoplewho talk gently, warming foods, and astructured routine.
In the spa or massage clinic, a vata istreated with firm, slow massage strokesthat calm the body's energy. A classictreatment for vata is the shirodharatreatment, which pulls the mind's eye toone point, promoting calm, clearthought. The purpose of the treatmentis to center the mind and body, toincrease relaxation and inner peace, andto settle vata disorders like anxiety andinsomnia. Shirodhara leaves the clientfeeling open, clear, grounded, andfocused, but a period of quiet rest isrequired after the session.
Pitta ProfileIn Sanskrit, pitta means to heat or toburn, so pitta is considered the dosha oftransformation and is composed of theelements fire and water. The pitta mindis aggressively sharp with a clear memoryand the ability to precisely articulatethoughts and ideas. Pittas are ambitious,organized, and focused, with a tendencytoward emotional intensity, irritability,and jealous behavior. When pittas are inbalance, they are confident, bold, andbrilliant. When they are out of balance,they are irritable, aggressive, impatient,and critical. Pittas tend to drivethemselves and those around them,sometimes to overexertion, and so timefor relaxation must be planned.
If pitta is your dominant dosha, avoidoverheated rooms, overexposure to thesun, and warm, restrictive clothing. Eatsmall but regular meals (every twohours), drink plenty of cool water, andbalance mental activity with outdoortime in shady cooling environments.While pittas are strong and determinedin an argument, too muchconfrontation leads to imbalance.
At the spa or massage clinic, a pitta willrespond to the soothing aromas ofjasmine, lemongrass, sandalwood, andgardenia. A classic ayurvedic treatmentfor the dominant pitta is pinda, wheremuslin bags full of rice, herbs, and milk
are used to massage the client. The heatfrom the mixture warms the muscles andstimulates local circulation, therebydecreasing muscle and joint pain. Theunique and unmistakable scent of theherbal mixture is soothing for the mindand senses.
Kapha ProfileKapha means to keep together, toembrace, and also phlegm. Kapha is themost stable of the doshas and thisstability functions as both physiologicaland psychological strength in the humanbody. Kaphas speak slowly and preciselyafter carefully considering their positionon a topic. They are the most loyal,patient, and compassionate of the doshatypes, with a loving and emotionallysecure nature. The stability andgrounded nature that gives kaphas theirreserves of strength and their steadinessof personality also makes them reluctantto change or release possessions. When
kaphas are out of balance, they sleep toomuch, overindulge in food, have apredisposition to laziness, and mayexhibit greedy, possessive behavior.
If you have a dominant kapha dosha, getplenty of vigorous exercise, paint yourrooms in bright colors, and play upbeatmusic. Overeating, oversleeping, andeating very salty or very sugary foodsaggravate kapha and lead to boredomand listlessness.
In a spa or massage clinic, kaphasrespond to vigorous massage techniquesand stimulating body treatments. Aclassic treatment for kaphas is udvartana,in which herbal powders or pastes arerubbed into the body to stimulatecirculation and cell renewal, smooth theskin, tone the body's tissues, supportdetoxification, and relax the body. Afterthe session, the client is likely to feelinvigorated and energized.
Surrounding yourself with happy people is healthy!
Happiness is Contagious
The Art of AromatherapyEssential Oils Provide Healing and Balance
Maybe mom was right. Research suggeststhat surrounding yourself with friendsand family who are happy can actuallyincrease your own happiness.
Scientists at Harvard University and theUniversity of California, San Diego,found that emotions, particularlyhappiness, have a viral effect in how theyspread from one person to another. Forevery happy person in your physicalsocial network, you have a 9 percentchance of increasing your ownhappiness. The effect is morepronounced the closer someone is toyou geographically, and it does not seemto include electronic communications.The study, "Dynamic Spread ofHappiness in a Large Social Network,"can be found online in the BritishMedical Journal (www.bmj.com).
This is especially good news consideringthe potential health benefits ofhappiness and positivity. A studypublished in Stroke magazine hasindicated a "significant association"
between optimism and a reduced risk ofstroke. This is in addition to studies thathave linked optimism to a healthierimmune system, faster wound healing,and a lower risk of heart disease. Whilethe exact cause of the benefits is notclear, one theory is that optimisticpeople are more likely to take care oftheir health. In addition, there is hopethat teaching optimism could becomepart of a preventative program forvarious conditions.
What's one way to get happy? Trymassage! Exposure to stress, acontributing factor to unhappiness, overa long period of time can increase therate of neural degeneration and increasethe risk for Alzheimer's disease. Luckily,a study from Umea University in Swedenhas shown that just five minutes ofmassage has the potential to lower stress,and 80 minutes of massage has atremendously positive effect on stresslevels. Get massage, get happy, and cheerup your friends and family!
Aromatic essential oils extracted fromherbs, flowers, resin, wood and rootshave long been a source of healing,aiding in relaxation, circulation andwound healing. However, the use ofthese medicinal oils declined as themodern pharmaceutical industrydeveloped. In 1928, French chemistRene Maurice Gattefosse revived the useof essential oils and developed the artand science of utilizing naturallyextracted aromatic essences frombotanicals to balance and harmonize thehealth of body, mind, and spirit.Gattefosse coined the practicearomatherapy.
Because of aromatherapy's affect onemotional health, many practitionersincorporate this noninvasive treatmentinto their practices. Dispensers ordiffusers filled with aromatic essences
may be used to scent the room, andspecific essential oils are used on theclient's skin during massage. Becauseeach oil has unique characteristics andbenefits, the choice of oil or oils can becustomized to the client's needs andemotional state. Whether inhaled orapplied topically, aromatherapy requiresan understanding of how each essentialoil interacts with the body, as well as themind. Many pure essential oils need tobe diluted, as they can cause irritationwhen applied directly to the skin, andtraining is necessary to guarantee safeand correct usage.
The emotions listed below can be gentlyeased by one or a combination of thefollowing essential oils:
Those who bringsunshine into thelives of others,cannot keep itfrom themselves.-James M Barrie
MASSAGE THERAPY CAN A VALUABLE COMPLIMENTTO HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY MEDICAL DOCTORS,CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS, NATUROPATHICPHYSICIANS, PRACTITIONERS OF TRADITIONALCHINESE MEDICINE, AND PSYCHIATRISTS ANDPSYCHOLOGISTS. SCHEDULE A MASSAGE THERAPYSESSION WITH ME AND THROUGH MY HEALINGHANDS, I WILL BE THE MEANS TO ALL THAT SEEKWELLNESS AND RELAXATION.
