This text is an approximate translation of the original article which was published in the Estonian health magazine “Kodutohter” in October, written by Siiri Lelumees. Photos: Pauline Hegner
Yogamassage combines useful and pleasant: Ayurveda massage relaxes and assisted stretch help the body be relieved from tensions in the muscles.
Certified yogamassage therapist and yoga teacher Kairi Ilison says that the roots of yogamassage are in yoga and Ayurveda – the ancient art of healing which treats the body as whole. Yogamassage enables the body to relax and the stretches assisted by the therapist release the body from muscular tensions. The third important component is breathing.
Forward looking
The yogamassage technique has been created by Kusum Modak from Pune who was inspired by Iyengar yoga (B.S.K Iyengar lived also in Pune) and massage. Yoga is quite masculine but yogamassage has many feminine features – balancing, avoiding sharp pain and extreme stretching and this combination is good for both men and women. The technique is carefully thought through and very contemporary. Kusum Modak has used the best and most modern parts of yoga and Ayurveda. “This technique is forward looking and this is what I like about it,” says yogamassage therapist Kairi Ilison.
In Scandinavia yogamassage has been taught for 14 years and more than 400 people have been trained. Although yogamassage is not yet very widely known in Sweden and not at all in Estonia, Kairi Ilison hopes that this technique has a great future because it is based on sound principles.
A union of old and new
Yogamassage combines ancient knowledge and contemporary science, it respects anatomical structure of human body and latest scientific evidence on how to handle different health problems. With some stretches the massage therapist works with big bodily regions to be able to really influence fascia – the connective tissue – which is difficult to stretch when focusing only on muscles.
But the most important principle of yogamassage is its holistic approach – massage and stretches are always applied to the whole body during the course of the treatment. Only by massaging the whole body one can address the causes of different tensions. Assisted stretches enable the body to stretch without compensation patterns which otherwise are very common. Our bodies are often likely to adopt different poses in a way which is not always beneficial. People who have had an operation which has led to an overexploitation of one limb, know what it means when this limb is compensating for the work of the other. The same problem can occur when we stretch and therefore assisted stretches are good as they teach the body to let go of compensation patterns.
Relaxing massage prevents health problems, produces feel-good hormone oxytocin and energises. Yogamassage can also complement yoga practice, reduce or avoid muscle tensions. “Massage is done with sesame oil containing antioxidants and producing a warming and antiseptic effect on the tissue”, says Kairi Ilison.
Yogamassage has a well thought-through sequence
Yogamassage consists of three main components:
- Breathing – to induce relaxation and the effect of stretches
- Stretch – to make joints and the body more elastic
- Massage – to improve blood circulation, lymphatic system and nerve impulses.
Yogamassage has a good effect to the overall well-being of the body – muscles, fascia and the nervous system. To create this positive effect, the massage therapist is using her/his hands and feet adjusting the pressure to individual needs.
This massage has a well thought-trough sequence:
First a warming-up massage is done to be able to do stretches. The therapist is starting from the spine because the health of our spinal column gives the therapist lot of valuable information about the condition of the body. After warming up the back, arms and neck one receives assisted stretches to the upper part of the body in a seated position. This is followed by massaging the legs from the back and the front and then working with the front of the upper body. The massage session is completed by massaging the neck, face and head. Assisted stretches are important because one cannot take those positions without the help of the massage therapist.
One interesting element in this massage is opening the shoulder blades. When there is tightness in this area, the whole back is affected.
The most important thing for the author of this article (Siiri Lelumees) seemed to be massaging the area next to the spine. Our spinal column is literally our column which holds us upright with the help of muscles and is at the same time is elastic enough to enable us bend and rotate. The spine protects our internal organs and is a communication channel between the brain and the rest of the body. Between vertebrae there are nerves sending signals to different organs and muscles. When the spine is not sufficiently elastic, this will affect the balance and well-being of the body.
Yogamassage is also encouraging co-operation between the therapist and the person receiving the treatment – they need to work together during the session. The person receiving the massage is required to be present and breathe deeply throughout the treatment according to the instructions of the massage therapist.
“Yogamassage can relieve back, neck, hip problems and sciatic nerve problems. This method suits well to people who are not very bendy as it improves their flexibility”, Kairi Ilison explains.
Yogamassage benefits
- Improves breathing
- Stimulates blood circulation
- Improves flexibility
- Improves the posture
- Teaches the body to relax better
- Boost the immune system, speed up healing
- Balances the mind and body
- Energises
This massage has been helpful to treat people with sleeping problems and relieve stress and headaches.
“This massage does not have many contraindications. It is done to people with different diagnoses, for example to cancer patients or to people with attention deficit order. The only thing to consider are acute states of medical conditions or injuries, and age – it is not advised to be done full-scale (the full treatment is ca 1,5 hours) to children because their bodies are still developing and too receptive to certain stretches.
Hopefully yogamassage will also find its way to Estonia – it is one of the most unique massage forms which combines massage, stretch and relaxation and improves the wellbeing of the person. In addition, yogamassage teaches to breathe and to be a better receiver – these skills are handy in all situations in life.
This is an approximate translation of the article published in “Kodutohter”
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