Did You Know…that this ancient style of massage from Southern India is five times deeper than a traditional massage by hand?
Chavutti thirumal means, literally, foot pressure in the Malayalam language. In this ancient Indian healing treatment, a trained practitioner delivers a very deep massage by applying pressure with the soles of his or her feet in addition to hand pressure.
This type of massage, which was first developed as an Ayurvedic healing modality—helps detoxify the body by stimulating the flow of lymph, a watery version of blood plasma. The lymphatic system is crucial to immune function and overall health, because it is a primary means by which our bodies remove waste toxins and nourish tissues.
A Healing Treatment for Ancient Athletes
Chavutti has its origins in ancient India, where it emerged from Kalarippayattu—a martial art popular in Kerala in Southern India. Kalari embodies elements of dance, yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. This extraordinary massage was developed to promote physical healing and to enhance suppleness and flexibility. The technique is said to be 5 times deeper than a traditional massage by hand.
How Chavutti is Performed
In a typical chavutti session—which lasts an hour and a half—you can expect to lie face down on a mattress or futon. The practitioner stands up massaging the length of your entire body with his or her foot.
To create a deep and safe pressure, chavutti therapists hold onto a rope. The rope helps with balance while allowing the therapist to distribute pressure evenly across your body and to massage with a smoother, longer stroke, sweeping from the fingertips to the toes.
Sessions end with an all-over hand massage. This is to make sure that your entire body has been worked, for ultimate relaxation.
Spinal Alignment and Deep Breathing
Back problems respond well to chavutti, because it works on the muscular and the skeletal systems simultaneously. Chavutti can even correct mild postural problems by gently elongating and re-aligning the spine. This is because the weight of the therapist’s body helps to open up space between your vertebrae—which are the many small bones that form your backbone. As a result, you may find you are able to breathe more deeply for several days afterwards.
Chavutti also works on the nerves in your spine, which can offer profound physical and emotional well-being. Chuvatti is said to help with many ailments and health issues, including…
- Back pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Joint and muscle problems
- Emotional problems
- Low energy
- General stiffness
- Cellulite
- Deep relaxation
- Overall well-being
- Lymph drainage
- Tissue oxygenation
Chavutti certainly helps loosen contracted muscles, but interestingly, it can help tone muscles and improve muscular weakness.
Until recently, chavutti massage in the West has been mainly limited to Europe. However, the technique is also available in the United States, and online directories can point you to practitioners trained in this powerful technique. |
