Padabhyang (Foot Massage)

Ayurveda is an indispensable way of living that uses methodically crafted therapies to ensure smooth bodily function and restored wellness. Ayurveda stresses on life-long healing through therapies and procedures. The “mother” of all therapies is known as “Padabhyangam”.

Padabhyangam can be loosely translated as “foot massage “or “foot therapy”. This therapy holds a special place of importance in Ayurveda because our feet connect our body with the earth. Foot care is holistic and involves massaging the pressure points with herbal and medicinal oils. Applying the right massage techniques relieves the body of its ailments and restores the root of our body and soul through our feet.

Ayurveda illustrates that different parts of the feet correspond to different organs in the body. The feet have pressure points called “marma”. These are the energy centers that run throughout the body. When pressed, it triggers the circulatory energies in the liver, kidneys, stomach, neck, heart, head, and other organs.

In Ayurveda, five marmas (vital areas) out of 107 marmas are located in each foot and they also contain many nerve endings. Padabhyanga helps release all the negative energy from these marmas and contributes to good health and well-being.

It is safe to say that Padabhyanga directly influences the subconscious nature while simultaneously providing a psychological cleansing effect.

“Pada” in Sanskrit means “foot” and “abhyangam” means “massage using oils”. Together, this means foot massage. This Ayurvedic therapy considers our feet as the focal point of all energies that connect the body to the earth; just the way the roots of a tree connect its branches, trunk, and leaves to the mother earth. Nourishment of the root yields a good fruit, so nourishment through Padabhyangam yields wellness of the body.

This therapy begins with applying lukewarm oil or ghee to the feet, including soles, heels, ankle joints, and legs. Applying the oil liberally allows instant purgation for detoxification. Many organs in the body have nerves that terminate in the feet, so a therapy that focuses on treating these nerves proves quite beneficial for those experiencing general health and mind issues. Padabhyangam helps to strengthen these nerves and restores health to many parts of the body.

Here are multiple health benefits of this therapy:

• Padabhyanga relieves stiffness, dryness, and numbness of the leg and foot
• Offers sturdiness and stability to the foot and limbs
• Promotes healthy eyesight and hearing senses
• Prevents/cures sciatica through enhanced blood circulation and improved peripheral circulation
• Prevents foot ailments and relieves contraction of muscles, ligaments, and vessels of the feet
• Prevents cracks in the foot and leaves the feel looking healthier and attractive
• Padabhyanga reduces stress, calm the mind, and allows a rejuvenated mind and body
• Relaxes and revitalizes the central nervous system
• Removes fatigue from the lower limbs and improves quality of sleep
• Activates metabolism, cures headaches, and prevents onset of degeneration
• Helps to calm and maintain the “Vata Dosha” which in excess is considered the main cause of major illnesses
• Provides overall immunity to the body

Conditions that are holistically treated in Padabhyanga include:

• Hypertension
• Hemiplegia and paraplegia
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Anxiety
• Sprains, cramps, and numbness of the feet and legs
• Roughness and cracking of the feet