A unique and highly effective system of massage developed in India by Ayurvedic master and Iyengar yogi, Dr Kusum Modak.
AYM practitioners combine the ancient Indian well-being system of Ayurveda with physical lengthening, traction and manipulation of the body – not unlike physiotherapy. The effect is to relax and release tensions and to feel very well rested and peaceful.
During the massage, we combine a deep-tissue oil massage with passive yoga stretches, where I use my 22 years of yoga practice to intuit the best way to work with each client.
AYM is a thorough and mindful system of massage which works to harmonize all the bodily systems, reduce the effects of stress and powerfully ease knots and restrictions.
It also re-connects you to a feeling of wholeness and well-being, which cannot be described – only experienced.
Every treatment is unique, tailored to your individual needs on any day.
Your priority might be, for example, releasing tightness and tension in the neck, upper back and shoulders after a lot of work at the computer, or driving.
Or maybe you are wanting to de-stress, in which case we may do a whole-body massage in order to relax away tensions and allow energy to flow more freely.
Likewise there are other options and I will always talk with you beforehand about what you need.
• deep breathing techniques during your massage encourage you into profound relaxation, re-engaging the parasympathetic nervous system - the restorative part of your nervous system which re-builds and heals.
• circulation improves through use of deep tissue massage using ayurvedic oils and acorus calamus powder - which creates a mildly exfoliating effect, refreshing the skin
• you will experience improved energy flow within the whole body
• For chronic (long term) restrictions/pain/stiffness, a series of several treatments at regular intervals is recommended to allow the body time to adapt and for the deep tissues to release tensions gradually.
AYM practitioners will always take time during the treatment to find your ‘edges’ and limits so that you decide if you want more intensity of pressure or stretch, or less. In this way, Ayurvedic Yoga Massage is collaborative.
The system treats your whole being, the mind, body and nervous systems. Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol will reduce and dopamine increase.
Deep breathing techniques during your massage encourage you into profound relaxation, re-engaging the parasympathetic nervous system - the restorative part of your nervous system which re-builds and heals.
• you will experience improved energy flow within the whole body
• For chronic (long term) restrictions/pain/stiffness, a series of several treatments at regular intervals is recommended to allow the body time to adapt and for the deep tissues to release tensions gradually.
Circulation improves through the use of deep tissue massage using ayurvedic oils and acorus calamus powder - which creates a mildly exfoliating effect, refreshing the skin.
You will experience improved energy flow within the whole body.
For chronic (long term) restrictions/pain/stiffness, a series of several treatments at regular intervals is recommended to allow the body time to adapt and for the deep tissues to release tensions gradually.
At the time of booking, you will choose from the menu of 60 minutes, 90 minutes or 120 minutes.
The treatment takes place in my beautiful therapy room, looking out onto a mature country garden, with a peaceful Buddha statue and beautiful acer trees directly outside.
If this is your first time having AYM, you will complete a health check questionnaire so that I can accurately look after your needs. Even if it is not your first time, we will check whether anything has changed health-wise since the last session.
You will be invited to lie down on a comfortable futon especially designed for Ayurvedic Yoga massage.
As an AYM client, you remove everything apart from your pants. You will at all times be fully covered with a large cotton sarong save for the parts of the body being worked on – for example your back, legs or arms. We do each side separately so for example, your right leg will remain covered while I work on the left and vice versa. The room will be warm.
Typically a treatment begins with a slow, mindful, deep-tissue massage where I use a light amount of oil (usually sesame* but other oils can also used) and an ayurvedic preparation called ‘acorus calamus’ powder (also called “sweet flag”) which is rubbed into the skin, improving your circulation and blood flow, as well as gently removing dead skin cells to give a refreshed feeling.
As it hails from ancient Indian origins, Ayurvedic Yoga Massage is a very meditative practice for both the recipient and the therapist.
If you take a look at some of the images and videos of an Ayurvedic Yoga Massage in progress, you will see that for the therapist it is a very physical discipline which (like yoga) requires us to have a lot of strength, flexibility, mindful movement, keen body awareness, perfect balance and a connection at all times to breath. This is why over two decades of yoga practice helps me to better serve my clients.
It is, in essence like a meditation in which the therapist shares their energy through powerful touch with the client. And I absolutely love it : )
Back, neck and shoulders ending with a facial massage
- or -
Whole back, hips, legs and feet ending with a facial massage
Full body treatment
Back, neck, shoulders, arms, hips, legs and feet
Ending with deeply relaxing scalp and facial massage.
The full body treatment
Spending longer for a deeper result
Additionally using traditional Keralan Ayurvedic massage techniques using the practitioner’s feet on the body.
Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Therapist, yoga teacher and long term yoga practitioner.
07784 301499
hello@jacquelinegodfreyyoga.co.uk