A Comparative Approach To Health and Healing and the Role of Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork

 

Ayurveda, in Sanskrit terms, means the “science of life,” and is both, a first and second person approach to healing, that is personalized and a holistic. 

Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork is a second person approach, which means health and healing arise from the activity or energy of a practitioner in synchrony with the receptivity, energy and activity of the client- “WE”, that creates the conditions for the client to also experience the powerful benefits of first person approaches, where the health and healing arise directly from a person’s inner experience, and tend to naturally cultivate and include the effects of second and third person approaches-“I”. 

In Western medicine, treatment is a third person approach, meaning health and healing arise from the knowledge, skills and technology of the practitioner. The passive patient only needs an open and receptive attitude. The assessments and treatments are typically fragmented and individuals are treated for parts of the body, managing their disease symptoms rather than getting to the root cause of the problem, keeping them in a cycle of disconnect- “You They”. 

Traditional western medicine may tend to overlook a person’s lifestyle, past experiences, conditioning and belief system as contributing factors to their symptoms. However, in Ayurveda, we focus on the person as a whole, in relationship to their environment and nature, balancing the “Five Great Elements” of nature to keep our mind and body healthy and in harmony, and through this, come to see ourselves and our relationship to life in a new and improved way to support our highest potential. 

Health and illness exist at physical, energetic, psycho-emotional, intuitive and spiritual levels. The human being is multifaceted, and unity and separation occur at many levels. Deep awareness and listening at all levels of being is a key to health. Lack of awareness and its subsequent disconnection and fragmentation are primary factors in illness.

 

Regular Massage	Ayurvedic Massage
Third person approach- You They	First and Second person approaches- I, WE
Fragmented, focusing on parts of the body	Wholeness, focusing on the whole person
Body Focused	Body/Mind Integration and the practitioner considers the mind, body, spirit connection
Practitioner centered, adaptations according to the practitioners training	Client centered, adaptations according to  constitution and needs of the client
Practitioner is trained in and focuses on the physical body and addresses physical symptoms	Practitioner is trained in and focuses on all levels of being and integration
Focus on relieving physical tension and injuries	Focus on integration, reducing emotional stress, balancing the mind and nervous system and either removing toxins or adding nourishment and rejuvenation, according to the client’s needs, resulting in alleviating physical tension, healing injuries and creating the space for the client to gain self-awareness into their own healing mechanism
Oil acts as a tool or aid	Oils, herbs or other substances are part of the therapy
Price range can vary from $ to $$$ and	Price range is usually higher due to the cost of equipment, products and specialized training of the practitioner $$-$$$
Duration of treatment may vary according to the client’s schedule and budget, usually from 30 to 90 minutes	Duration of the treatment may vary according to the actual needs of the client usually from 60 to 150 minutes

 

Physical health naturally corresponds to personal integration. Healing is not always synonymous with physical health or curing, but is always synonymous with the experience of unity. Therefore, the focus of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Massage and Yoga Therapy is to focus on creating the conditions for unity and integration and allowing physical health to be a natural reflection of integration and evolution. 

Why become an ChayaVeda Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork Specialist?

As a ChayaVeda Ayurvedic Massage & Bodywork Specialist, you will be equipped to offer your clients treatments in eleven modalities and learn how to adapt each modality to best support the individuality of each client. Each modality is different and will provide your client with a uniquely beneficial experience. 

For example, Pinda Swedana focuses on the balance of bodily doshas by the use of heat along with a specific substance suitable for the client’s condition. The heat causes vasodilation, which contributes to the overall movement of returning the excess doshas to their respective domains. Pinda Swedana is especially useful for clients who have asthma, arthritis, sinusitis, or Vata or Kapha disorders, though may be used for Pitta conditions in some instances. Specific procedures are dependent on the client and their current state and condition. 

After an ayurvedic massage or bodywork treatment, the client will experience a transformation of rejuvenated mind, body and spirit, with a reduction of stress, and improved overall well-being. This, in turn, will help support the re-balancing of all the systems of the body, including their immune system and reduce most medical problems. 

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Ayurvedic Massage and Bodywork Specialist, we offer six modules to teach you eleven ayurvedic modalities. We offer a promotion that allows you to take five modules and get one day free! We offer the flexibility to start any time and to complete any sequence of modules in 6 to 12 months! If you don’t want to take all the modules, you can register for as many or as little as you would like. All courses include handouts, certificate of completion and CEUs where applicable. We are CEU providers for NCBTMB #1192 for LMT and PACE for NAMA. 

Modalities include:

Garshana, Abhyanga, Vishesh, Shirodhara, Udhvartana, Nadi Swedana, Pinda Swedana-3 types, Dry, Leaves and Wet, Basti-3 types: Kati Basti, Uro/Hridaya Basti, Janu Basti, Full Body Steam, and Sinus/Sans including Pranayama.

For our schedule, to learn more about each modality, detailed information, pricing, and registration, click here.

We are offering our classes live online with excellent reviews and student feedback. 

“Solid 5! This was a full day of learning through handouts, visual guidance and hands on application. It was a well put together training that allowed all participants to interact, well-paced with plenty of time for questions and was presented in a way that made us leave wanting to learn and know more. I learned the types of Pinda to use for each dosha, how to make them, as well as massage techniques.” Kelsey Shuler, Ayurveda Practitioner Student, Lexington, KY 

I feel there is such a plethora of information it is so hard to narrow it down. Chaya is so knowledgeable I enjoy her sharing her knowledge with us and try to soak it all like a sponge . I enjoyed learning different aspects of Ayurveda and the benefits of Basti. 5 stars!! Feel very blessed to have this opportunity. Kristen Tyree. LMT, RYT-200, Fremont. OH 

“Lovely, educational and interesting. I am confident that I could successfully choose which basti for which client, run on time and use this during a massage. For acute joint issues or low back issues, I can add this to beginning of massage to nourish the tissue before I do my treatment. Chaya is wonderful, knowledgeable, encouraging.” Heather Welch, LMT, NMT, YT20, Sarasota FL