MARMA

Kalari and Marma - Pressure Points

There are total 107 Marma in the body. In Tamil traditions they are 108 Marma points, and in Kalari tradition there are 365 Marma points. The points were mapped out in detail centuries ago in the Sushruta Samhita, a classic Ayurvedic text. Major marma points correspond to the seven chakras, or energy centers of the body, while minor points radiate out along the torso and limbs. The points cover both the front and back body, including 22 on the lower extremities, 22 on the arms, 12 on the chest and stomach, 14 on the back, and 37 on the head and neck. (The mind is considered the 108th marma.)

Kalari marma massage is a traditional Ayurvedic massage for stimulating vital points. This is a traditional Kerala ayurvedic massage using herb infused ayurvedic oils, performed by the therapist using his hand and feet, applying appropriate pressure to specific vital points/parts of the body. Marma abhyanga not only relieves back pain, stiffness and sports injuries but also stimulates various bodily organs and systems.

Marma are certain vital areas of the body. The word marma comes from Sanskrit origin mru or marr. The Sanskrit phrase, Marayate Iti Marmani, means there is likelihood of death or serious damage to health after infliction to these places and hence these areas are called marma.

Marma is also thought to be a Sanskrit word meaning hidden or secret. By definition, a marma point is a juncture on the body where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints.

Yet marma points are much more than a casual connection of tissue and fluids; they are intersections of the vital life force and prana, or breath. The word marma can also be associated with terms such as tenderness, secretion or vital places.

Marma therapy is an important part of ayurveda, as it involves the conditioning of these vital areas. Effective conditioning of these areas can improve and maintain a good health balance.

Prana is a form of vital energy. Prana pervades each and every corner of the body, and it nourishes, guides and controls the functioning of the cell and systems. When these marma (junctions) are affected or ruptured, the organs linked with prana channels become starved with lack of prana and some organ becomes diseased, crippled or paralysed or depending upon the quantum is of prana being lost, it may lead to slow or sudden death.

The idea behind massaging the marma points is to cleanse blocked energy, also called chi, by either arousing or calming the doshas. Like a television with three channels, each marma point has three receptors that align with the three doshas. During a marma-point massage, the points are stroked in a deliberate sequence using specific essential oils.