As stated earlier, oil is applied all over the body in the process of abhyanga. For therapeutic usage, either local/full body massage can be given depending upon conditions of patient & diseases itself. However, for use of massage as a preventive measure, it is advisable to have full body massage as advised in ‘Seasonal Regimen’ & ‘Daily Regimen.’ In India, there are many different traditions practiced for giving massage & accordingly a full body massage may be started either from abdominal region around navel or from head up to lower limbs etc. The most important thing while giving massage is the direction in which massage is given.

A) Direction of massage movements: -
Following guidelines help us to decide the direction in which massage should be performed -

  • ‘Bhavishya - Purana’ - a religious treatise in Indian culture mentions that massage should be given in the direction in which hairs over the skin are turned. This is with downward direction and it is the natural tendency of body part to grow in that direction. Thus, as per ‘Bhavishya Purana’ massage should be performed with downward direction.
  • Sushrut, the surgeon also suggests that during surgery Incision should be taken on skin along the direction of hairs. Massage is also performed on body covered with skin & therefore direction for administration of massage should be the same.
  • The other meaning of this action also suggests that it can be the direction from above to downwards. Energy also always flows from above downwards. Therefore massage should be performed in a direction from above downward especially on upper limb, lower limb, back region etc.
  • Just like direction of hairs is suggested for massage, direction of muscles originating from one place & inserting at other, direction of ligaments, tendons or underlying organs is also helpful in deciding the direction of massage movements.

Like for e.g.

  • Muscles in limbs are situated longitudinally with origin above & insertion below on lower bones, therefore direction of massage should be from above - down wards.
  • Joints are strengthened by muscle tendon & ligaments & are mostly ‘circular’ in nature. So massage with a circular action over joints is advisable.
  • In abdominal region, intestine is situated in circular fashion. Hence massage over abdominal region should be done in a circular way from left to right side in a clockwise direction

Thus as suggested in above guidelines, massage should be performed in downward direction.

B) Different positions of patient while giving massage:
Following positions are advisable for full body massage:

  1. Sleeping position:

    • In supine position - lying on back. Front portion of body like chest & front portion of upper & lower limbs is massaged.
    • Lying on back - Back portion of body from neck to lower back & back portion of upper & lower limbs is massaged.
    • If, required, left lateral & right lateral position may be tried for massaging flanks etc.
  2. Sitting Position:

    • Upper back portion of body from neck up to thoracic region is preferably massaged in sitting position.
    • Upper limb may be massaged in this position.
    • All the joints of body are massaged in this position.
    • Massage overhead face & front part of neck is done in this position.

Masseur should stand besides massage table, which is up to waist height of masseur. So that he can apply proper pressure by bending, while giving massage. If patient is lying down on floor instead of table, masseur may lie down on his knees or may give massage in sitting/other comfortable position.

C) Duration of massage:

Depending upon the period, oil takes to reach different parts of body like muscles, bones etc; full body massage should be given for approximately 40-45 min. in normal state of health. Massage for disease state will also depend upon involvement of various body parts in a disease and upon relief in symptoms of disease.

D) Signs & symptoms of proper massage:

  1. Skin looks shiny (oily) & unctuous as compared to over other part of body or before commencing massage.
  2. After a certain period, oil applied over skin doesn’t get absorbed & can be collected back from skin.
  3. The part of body where massage is given will be soft to touch & slightly warm as compared to other body parts.
  4. Relief from symptoms like ‘Pain’ etc for which massage is being given, indicates administration of proper massage.

When these signs are observed by the masseur, the administration of the massage process should be stopped.