Marma points are an integral part of Ayuveda and are the subtle pressure points, similar to points used in acupressure, that stimulate the life force or pranic flow. The marmas are anatomical places on the body, mostly composed of flesh and bones.
There are a total of 107 marmas in the body:
I 37 in the head and neck I 12 in the front of the body I 22 in the upper limbs I 14 in the back of the body I 22 in the lower limbs.
Marma points are naturally sensitive points, measured by finger widths known as anguli. The finger width is the finger of the person being treated and not the therapist’s own finger. The location of marmas are given in this way because each person is made differently and has a different size and proportion. The location of marmas may vary from one to eight finger widths, and often relate to regions of the body and not a point.
In Indian Head Massage the marmas may be used to:
I treat the pranas
I treat a specific organ or system of the
body
I treat a specific dosha imbalance.
Marma points relating to the head and neck
Marma point Location Helps with
1. Adhipati at the crown of the head and the calming the mind, heightening midline (11 finger widths above perception, assisting with spinal the eyebrows) alignment and mental clarity 2. Brahma randra over the anterior fontanelle insomnia, elevation of mood, easing
headaches
3. Shiva andra over posterior fontanelle lowering of high blood pressure, relieving dizziness, improving the memory and sense of alertness 4. Vidhura behind and slightly below the congestion in the ears, relief of
mastoid process (bony bump tension in the jaw and facial muscles, behind the ear lobe) mental tension and anxiety
5. Krikatika either side of spine, where the releasing neck and shoulder tension, neck meets the skull relaxing the body, improving posture 6. Simanta bony joints at the top of the skull whole body relaxation, aids sleep 7. Arshak on top surface of the collar bone stimulates energy to the liver and
in the L made with the large neck spleen, aiding digestion, stabilising muscles you feel as you turn the blood sugar levels
head from side to side
8. Manya side of the neck, four finger improves circulation to the face, widths below the ear lobe stimulates lymph drainage, helps ease
a sore throat or upper chest congestion
9. Sira matrika either side of the windpipe on the helps improve circulation and upper half of the neck improves the voice
10. Nila either side of the windpipe on the helps the voice and helps ease a lower half of the neck sore throat
11. Kantha in the middle of the neck at the healthy functioning of the thyroid level you feel your voice vibrate gland and expression of inner
Marma point Location Helps with
12. Kathanadi behind the top of the sternum helps sore throats and upper respiratory congestion
13. Hanu in the middle of the chin increases circulation to the face and helps your head connect with your heart feelings
14. Oshta in the middle of the upper lip mental clarity and improves sexual desire
15. Phana either side of the nose, just above helps clear lung energy, clears the the flare of your nostrils sinuses and helps to balance
functioning of right and left sides of brain enabling us to feel more able to cope with stress
16. Gandu either side of the nose, just clears the sinuses and brightens above Phana the eyes
17. Apanga in the corner of the eye, slightly relieves puffiness around the eyes on the inner surface of the bony and eye strain, clears the upper orbit of the eye sinuses
18. Bhruh either side of the very top of the eases eye strain and headaches nose where you can feel little
bumps just above the eyes
19. Avarta in the middle (above) of each brings energy to the head, helps eyebrow you feel more centred
20. Shankha in the hollow of the temples calms and nourishes the brain and the mind
21. Sthapani just above the eyebrows, in the brings peace and harmony to centre of the forehead (third eye the mind
Sthapani Bhruh Bhruh Apanga Apanga Gandu Gandu Phana Phana Hanu Oshta Sira Sira Kantha Nila Nila Arshak Arshak Kathanadi Avarta Avarta Shiva Randra Adhipati Brahma Randra Vidhura Simanta Manya Kritatika Shankha Shankha Matrika Matrika
Treatment methods of marma points
Marma points may be treated with pressure, circular massage, heat and with oils. Pressure is used on the marmas in the same way as any other form of pressure therapy. The marma is first found and located by the practitioner finding a hard, tender or sensitive point. Pressure is then increasingly applied with conscious breathing, in the knowledge that prana is going out from the fingers and into the client. When enough pressure has been applied, small counterclockwise massage movements may be used to break up the tension from the point.
In general, clockwise movements stimulate or energise a marma point and a counterclockwise movement dispels and liberates blocked or stagnant prana.
The key to using pressure therapy on a marma point is to go slowly and deeply and to work within the comfort zone of the client. It is essential to avoid pushing forcibly through a marma, as this can go against the internal harmony and interfere with the healing process.
Health and safety note
Although the treatment of marma points is part of traditional Ayurvedic massage, it is essential that practitioners undergo additional professional training and study in order to promote safe and effective use of them, as any injury to these subtle energy points may cause danger to life.
Compression
This is a form of petrissage in which the muscles are gently pressed against a surface such as the scalp, top of the shoulders or the upper arms, with the palms of both hands, and then slowly released.