What is the difference between the various Ayurvedic massages?

Abhyanga is the basic warm oil massage, Marma Tchikitsa stimulates vital points, Udvarthanam is a detoxifying scrub, Shirodhara pours oil on the forehead to calm the mind, and Kansu is foot reflexology with a metal bowl.

Are Ayurvedic massages suitable for everyone?

Yes, massages can be adapted to each constitution (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and condition. However, some contraindications exist: fever, acute infections, certain pregnancy conditions. Diego evaluates each case individually.

How long should I plan for an Ayurvedic massage?

Important: always plan more time than the announced massage duration. A 60-minute massage requires 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes consultation, 60 minutes massage, and 15 minutes of personalised advice.

How often can I receive Ayurvedic massages?

For general maintenance: once a month. For specific treatment: 1-2 times per week for 4-6 weeks. For a detox cure: frequent sessions according to the established protocol.

What should I bring for a massage?

Wear comfortable clothing and bring underwear you can keep on. Oils can stain, so avoid delicate clothing. A shower is available at the practice if needed.

Ayurveda: A Holistic Vision of Health

Ayurveda, literally "science of life" in Sanskrit, is the traditional Indian medicine that is over 5,000 years old.

This holistic approach considers the human being as an inseparable body-mind-environment unit, where health results from a dynamic balance rather than the absence of disease.

The Foundations: The Three Doshas

The Ayurvedic system is based on three vital energies or "doshas", born from the combination of the five universal elements (ether, air, fire, water, earth):

Vata

Air + Ether

Governs movement and all bodily functions

Energy of movement, circulation, breathing

Pitta

Fire + Water

Regulates digestion, metabolism and temperature

Energy of transformation, digestion, intelligence

Kapha

Earth + Water

Ensures hydration and strengthens natural immunity

Energy of structure, stability, hydration

Unique Constitution ("Prakriti")

Each individual has a unique constitution ("Prakriti") determined by the specific proportion of these three doshas. This energetic signature influences morphology, temperament, predispositions and individual needs.

A Particular Understanding of Disease

Traditional Indian ceiling with colourful patterns representing harmony and balance

Traditional Indian art symbolising the harmony and balance of energies

In the Ayurvedic vision, disease does not exist as an independent entity. It rather represents a diminishing or absence of life, resulting from an imbalance of the doshas ("Vikriti").

When natural harmony is disturbed by a lifestyle unsuited to constitutional needs, vital energies accumulate, shift and manifest as symptoms.

This approach therefore favours the restoration of energetic balance and the maintenance of vitality rather than fighting specific pathologies. The main objective remains the preservation and optimisation of each individual's natural vital force.

Therapeutic Application

Personalised Approach

The Ayurvedic practitioner first identifies the patient's dominant constitution (Vata, Pitta or Kapha type) to adapt recommendations. Treatment aims to rebalance the doshas through dietary changes, body practices such as massage, and lifestyle adjustments in harmony with natural rhythms and individual constitutional needs.

Holistic Dimension

The Ayurvedic approach also integrates the emotional and spiritual dimension of being. Imbalances can have present origins linked to current emotions or deeper roots, sometimes karmic, inherited from past experiences.

This understanding allows psycho-emotional disorders to be addressed from a global perspective, where healing involves becoming aware of one's life condition and repetitive patterns. The therapeutic process then becomes a path of awareness enabling the individual to understand the links between their current imbalances and their multidimensional origins.