It’s hard to get a good nights rest when you’re carrying tension in your mind and body. A soothing massage just before bed can help to ease any stress you might be carrying from the day. What better way to ease tension and relax and unwind? We all love a good massage, but unfortunately, just one session can cost you a pretty penny – but not if you know how to do it yourself.
If you’ve never heard of marma massage, prepare to have your mind blown. Marma massage is a technique used in Ayurveda, the Indian sister science of yoga. Marma, similar to acupuncture or acupressure, is based on a map of certain points on the body, which can be massaged to facilitate healing. In Ayurveda, marma is used to heal the body and mind on different levels, just as acupressure or acupuncture is used in traditional Chinese Medicine.
Some marma points:
According to Ayurveda, self-massage is an integral part of personal self-care and overall health. There are many self-massage techniques used to detoxify the organs, calm the mind, and stimulate proper functioning of the body’s systems. When it comes to sleep, marma points can also be used to help calm the nervous system and promote healthy, rejuvenating rest.
Theoretically, marma points in the head (pictured above) are neurolymphatic points, and massaging them helps to move the lymph in the head and neck region that could be causing (or resulting from) discomfort or stress. To give yourself this soothing massage for a deep sleep, give these two marma points some attention.
- The center of the top of your head: To find the exact point, put your index fingers at the top points of your ears and trace your head up to the very top, meeting at the center. Apply pressure and massage this point for at least two minutes.
- The point where your neck and the base of your scull meet: Use your index finger to find the indent where the top of the neck vertebrae meets the bottom of your scull. Massage this point in a clockwise motion for at least two minutes.
Buona notte.
That’s it for now; see you all the next time.
