Massage (Abhyanga) is a type of passive exercise. It is especially good for weak people, who are unable to exercise. Regular massage is the key to good health, and is necessary both for prevention and cure of diseases. Ayurvedic massage is an important part of daily life in India. A traditional technique used for balancing body and mind, it dates back 3,000 years and is used to promote to all generations within the family, but especially to the younger members, the importance of health and well-being. Hippocrates (around 400 BCE) described massage as an important addition to healing. Medical studies continue to emphasize the importance of this therapy to good health. Massage promotes rapid recovery from workouts with less soreness, and delivers some of the benefits of exercise. It tones muscles, increases circulation, relieves blockage that interferes with nutrition to tissues, stimulates capillaries, releases endorphins and eases tension.

Ayurvedic massage incorporates warm oils and herbs along with specific energy points to help restore balance to the body. Massage strokes, oils and herbs are selected based on each individual client`s need. A benefit of ayurvedic massage includes increased vitality (liveliness), reduces stress and relaxes the body. Ayurvedic treatments involves in establishing an individual`s foundation and the nature of the imbalance and then seeking to return the individuals body to a state of healthy balance. The treatments consist of the use of herbal remedies, specialist ayurvedic massages using herb-infused ayurvedic massage oils, and nutritional advice adapted to bring balance to a person`s individual constitution and specially selected yoga exercises.

An ayurvedic massage is one part of the traditional detoxification and rejuvenation program of India called panchakarma, in which the entire body is energetically massaged with large amounts of warm oil and herbs to remove toxins from the system. With the client`s permission, oil is also poured into the ears, between the eyebrows and at specific chakras, or energy points, during techniques known respectively as karna purana, shirodhara, and marma chikitsa. These treatments have been modified to meet the needs of the West and have been powerful in their effects upon the mind and nervous system - calming, balancing, and bringing both a heightened sense of awareness and deep inner peace. The techniques can be done either as stand-alone treatments or in conjunction with the ayurvedic body massage.

The basis for effectively performing all of the various ayurvedic massage techniques is a thorough understanding of the primordial energies of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth) and of vata, pitta, and kapha - the three basic constitutional types (similar to the ancient Greek method of mind/body classification). This knowledge allows the therapist to determine not only which ayurvedic massage techniques to use, but also how to customize treatments by selecting the proper oils and herbs and the rate and pressure of massage strokes to maximize the benefits for each client.

Techniques, Methods, Benefits of Massaging.
Oil massage is the most common type of massage. Oil should be chosen according to the season and the personal formation. Sesame oil is the best for massaging according to Ayurveda. In the winter one can also use mustard oil, though it should not be used in summer. However, those in the habit of constant internal use of mustard oil can massage with it in all seasons. Coconut oil and sunflower oil are also good for massaging in hot climate. Olive oil can be used in the winter as it is heating in nature. People with a vata type of body should use warming oils, and those with pitta type will benefit from cooling oils. The kapha types should have dry massage or should use mustard oil after warming.

Massage Oils for Vata
All oils are good for Vata, especially sesame and hazelnut oil used in combination with any of the Vata-reducing oils found, but especially angelica, basil, calamus, camphor, cardamon, chamomile, clary sage, coriander, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, lemongrass, sandalwood, vetiver and jatamansi.

Massage Oils for Pitta
Essential oils for Pitta are best mixed with cooling oils such as olive and coconut, and would include Pitta -reducing oils especially chamomile, coriander, cumin, fennel, jasmine, jatamansi, lemon balm, lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, spearmint, vetiver and yarrow.

Massage Oils for Kapha
Kaphas are best treated with heating vegetable oils such as almond, mustard and canola, although Ayurvedically, Kaphas do well with oils in general, and often, massage is done with alcohol, powders or silk gloves to avoid adding too much oil to the Kapha metabolism. Essential oils, which are effective for Kapha, would include angelica, basil, camphor, cardamon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, ginger, myrrh, orange peel, and yarrow, and other oils found.