Restorative Yoga Massage-Marma Magic
/Restorative Yoga Marma Massage (“Yoga Massage” in my Services menu) is a combination of several different relaxation techniques that I’ve learned over my decades in practice. Your session is personalized to your needs in the moment. It may include any of the following techniques and tools:
Marma point therapy (similar to reflexology and acupressure), is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves gentle pressure to specific energy points on the legs, hands, arms, torso, neck, face and head)
Yogic breathing
Restorative yoga postures (gentle, static positions)
Traction and rotation of the joints
Passive stretches (your limbs are moved into an extension and held in place for 30 seconds to a couple minutes to allow the muscle to release tension)
Hot Stone roller (used to warm up the muscles prior to stretching)
Essential oils
Meditation/visualization using Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks and/or Yantra stones
What You May Experience
While Restorative Yoga Marma Massage uses a combination of techniques, marma points are the primary focus. The way marma point therapy works is outlined below. Used in combination with the other techniques and tools in this unique service, it is a powerful relaxation therapy.
Induces the Parasympathetic Nervous System – Gentle pressure on marma points calms the nervous system, shifting the body into the relaxation response.
Relaxes Muscles and Reduces Physical Tension – Many marma points are located near nerve endings, muscle insertion points, blood vessels, ligaments and joints. Applying gentle pressure relieves muscle tightness, easing discomfort related to muscle tension.
Supports Hormonal Balance – Marma therapy can help regulate cortisol (the stress hormone) and support the production of feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.
Improves Circulation and Detoxification – By stimulating these points, blood circulation improves, which helps detoxify the body and remove stress-related toxins.
Enhances Sleep Quality – By calming the mind and body, marma therapy promotes deeper, more restorative sleep, which is essential for good health.
Balances Energy Flow – According to ancient healing traditions, marma points are believed to be intersections of vital life force (prana). Stimulating them helps restore overall balance, reducing stress and tension.
Releases Emotional Blockages – Ayurveda believes disease manifests first at the subtle, energetic/emotional level forming blockages in the flow of prana/life force. Marma therapy helps release trapped emotions, leading to mental clarity, emotional stability and improved physical health.
Studies on the Benefits of Marma Point Therapy
While there are gaps in scientific studies on marma point therapy, it is hard to dispute the relaxing effect of this ancient healing tradition. Reducing stress is widely accepted in Western science to be highly beneficial, if not essential for good health. Below are a few examples of studies specifically on marma point therapy.
A recent review (2025) titled “The Role of Marma Chikitsa in Mental Health: A Comprehensive Review”reports that many clinical studies and traditional texts indicate marma stimulation can improve mental clarity, reduce anxiety and depression, and lower perceived stress. Ayurline+1
A 2025 peer-reviewed article — “The Psychological Benefits of Marma Therapy: Stress Relief and Emotional Healing” — describes reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression; improved emotional balance and psychological resilience in individuals receiving marma treatments. ResearchGate
Broader scholarly discussion about the physical and energetic basis of marma points argues that marma stimulation has structural/anatomical foundations: marma points are where muscles, vessels, ligaments, joints converge — theoretically making them meaningful for affecting the nervous system or energy flow, which may underlie calming effects. ResearchGate+1
