In the modern era, a massive number of people are leading a sedentary lifestyle of a couch-potato. Placing them in an increased risk of bacterial, viral infection and chronic health ailments such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, high blood cholesterol as well as mental health conditions like stress, anxiety and depression.
In addition, obesity also leads to decreased immunity, makes the person feel overly tired, and promotes excessive daytime sleepiness at the workplace. All this results in a hidden cost burden due to reduced productivity while at work, a greater number of sick leaves and slows down economic growth. A study found that obese individuals take significantly more short term and long-term sickness leaves compared to employees with healthy and normal body weight.
Obese individuals having a BMI of >30 kg/m2 typically took 4 more sick days leave every year. Also, according to WHO, being overweight and obesity are linked to more global deaths worldwide than underweight. 2016 alone seemed like an epidemic of obesity with over 650 million adults suffering from obesity the count today is much higher.
Furthermore, we are well aware of how the pandemic has changed the entire work culture and in most organizations, it might continue to remain so even after the pandemic. As a result of this, our jobs have become more sedentary, long hours sitting and working within the confines of the home in our own comfort zone. This is worsened by technology which is significantly taking over physical labour both at work and at home. Due to all these reasons, the calories burned are minuscule which makes you more susceptible to weight gain and a higher BMI. According to WHO, a higher BMI significantly increases the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases which are one of the leading causes of death.
If you are suffering from obesity right now and looking for weight loss options, don't fret. Udvarthanam massage therapy could just turn out to be life-changing for your weight loss goals. It is a special therapeutic deep tissue massage performed by an Ayurvedic expert using herbal powders. Being a holistic treatment and based on the recipient’s body constitutions (doshas), it is highly effective in reducing fat tissues and weight in obese individuals. All you need to do is add it to your weight-loss regime and enjoy the benefits.
What is Udvarthana or Udvarthanam?
Udvarthana massage therapy is one of the most effective and promising treatments in Ayurveda for weight loss and detoxification. Udvarthanam involves an invigorating full body massage in an upward direction using specially prepared herbal paste or herbal powder. The brisk upward strokes combined with the penetrating medicated herbs significantly help promote the reduction of excess fat and cellulite stored in the body. In addition to this, Udvarthana a full body Ayurvedic massage helps improve muscle tone, stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems, eliminate wastes and toxins, nourish the skin and improve skin complexion.
Udvarthana means to elevate or promote. The full body Ayurvedic massage therapy uses upward strokes to improve the body condition, hence it has been rightly named Udvarthana or Udvarthanam. In this invigorating full body massage therapy, the powder or the paste prepared is briskly rubbed into the entire body for a period of 30-45 minutes. The absorptive properties of the powder have long appealed to people to help eliminate the excess fat and cellulite deposits from the body. As the excess fat from the body gets effortlessly dissolved, the recipient starts to shed weight and get back into the desired tip-top shape. The massage is followed by a soothing herbal sauna (dried herbs are infused in this sauna) and a shower to remove the powder/paste.
How is Udvarthana for weight loss done (process and technique)?
In today's sedentary lifestyle, cutting calories is not enough for shedding kilos. Udvarthana Ayurvedic massage therapy comes to your rescue when you are caught up in a vicious cycle of being overweight and can help you speed up weight loss. Udvarthana powder or paste massage involves special techniques and specific massage directions. It is performed by an experienced Ayurvedic massage expert only who masters the right techniques and massage directions to break down cellulite under the skin.
In order to effectively stimulate the metabolic processes and reduce fat and cellulite beneath the skin, the ayurvedic massage is performed in seven different body positions for about 15-45 minutes. Depending on the body of the recipient, a warm dry herbal powder or herbal paste prepared with medicated oils is carefully applied and scrupulously massaged over the body using upward strokes with pressure. The unique thing about the Udvarthana massage technique is that the massage is performed in the opposite direction to that of the hair growth by the Udvarthana therapists.
In Udvarthana for weight loss, the warm herbal oil massage begins from the head, and then proceeds to the face, back, chest, abdomen, arms, thighs, legs and feet. The herbal powders and oils are rubbed in specific directions like from hands to shoulders, lower back to neck, feet to thighs and thighs to buttocks to create friction and melt away the fat. On buttocks the massage performed also involves left to right and right to left strokes. Furthermore, the Ayurvedic expert makes small circles initially and soon after starts making large circles covering the whole abdomen around the umbilicus.
The Udvarthana massage procedure is a good way to evacuate toxins through the skin and reduce the excess deposits of fat and cellulite under the skin. It can help keep the metabolism healthy and in good working order which accelerates weight loss and fat loss and thus can be the perfect sidekick.
Once the paste is rubbed on the body and the Udvarthana massage is over, the recipient is asked to sit in a steam filled room for a herbal sauna. During this time period, the body sweats a lot and loses lots of excess water (kapha). It enables cleansing and the pores start to open which allows the herbs and oils in the sauna bath to penetrate deeper into the skin and liquefy the fat.
Different types of Udvarthana
There are two types of Udvarthana namely Snigdha Udvarthana massage and Ruksha Udvarthana massage. Both the Snigdha and the Ruksha Udvaratna massage treatments customarily follow the same steps. The only difference is that while in Snigdha therapy, the massage is performed using a herbal paste containing medicated oils, in Ruksha Udvarthana therapy, the massage is performed using a fine powdered mix of herbs instead of a paste.
Both the types of Udvarthana massage are deeply invogatoring and involve fast upward massage strokes to remove toxins through the skin and break down the excess cellulite and fat accumulated under the skin. Made from various herbs, the dry herbal powder used in Ruksha Udvarthana is highly beneficial in decreasing surplus Kapha of the body and melting away the fat and cellulite deposits under the skin.
After the procedure has been completed, the excess powder is wiped off using a clean towel. This is followed by a steam bath at the Ayurvedic clinic itself.
The type of Udvarthana massage therapy used by the Ayurvedic practitioner shall depend on the body of the recipient and the result the recipient desires to achieve.
Herbs and Agents used in the making of Udvarthana massage powder
Udvarthana massage powder comprises nerve stimulating and nourishing herbs such as amla, bibhitaki, haritaki, harad, deodar, sena, kulthi and more. These herbs are not only full of nutrients but offer special benefits such as weight reduction and fat-burning properties. Due to this, they are infused together to prepare the Udvarthana powder for weight loss. However, the herbs selected by the Ayurvedic expert are appropriate to your body type such as Kapha body type or Pitta body type.
Udvarthana massage powder for Kapha body type
Kapha individuals have a typically large body frame and a stocky body. They usually have an oily and lustrous skin with large pores. Massaging the body with Ayurvedic dry and herbal Udvarthana powder can help mitigate the kapha dosha, reduce the cellulite and promote weight loss. Below are the herbs that go well for kapha type people
- Emblica officinalis – Amalaki
- Terminalia Bellirica – Bibhitaki
- Terminalia Chebula – Haritaki
- Sapindus Mukorossi – Soap Nut – Reetha
- Inula Racemosa – Pushkarmool
- Zingiber officinale – Dried Ginger – Sonth
- Acorus Calamus – Vacha
- Piper Nigrum – Black Pepper
- Piper Longum – Long pepper
- Barley – Yava churna
All these ingredients are first turned into a powder form and then mixed together in appropriate proportions by Ayurvedic massage experts to prepare the Udvarthana massage powder for Kapha body type people.
Udvarthana massage powder for Pitta body type
People with a Pitta type body have a moderate and athletic physique. They have soft, lustrous, warm skin and gain weight evenly or on the bottom half. If your body is Pitta type, your massage expert may use the following ingredients to prepare the massage powder.
- Cyperus Rotundus – Nutgrass – Nagarmotha
- Barley – Yava churna
- Emblica officinalis – Amalaki (Amla or Indian Gooseberry)
- Valeriana wallichii – Indian Valerian – Tagara
- Terminalia Chebula – Haritaki
- Centella Asiatica – Gotu Kola – Mandukaparni
Important Note
Factors like excessive moisture and pollution sometimes cause a lot of damage to the skin. Dried crushed rose petals, neem, haldi, white sandalwood and red sandalwood are also infused in the herbal massage powder for fresh and glowing skin. Hence the Udvarthana massage therapy typically kills two birds with one stone.
It is of utmost importance that you select an Experienced Ayurvedic Massage centre that has access to high-quality herbs and Ayurvedic formulations so as to give you the results you desire.
Medicated oils used in Udvarthana Massage Paste
The medicated oils used to prepare Udvarthana herbal massage paste depend on the body type or the prominent doshas of the recipient. Mostly sesame oil is used for the preparation of the paste, because it is hot in potency and packed with nourishing minerals and vitamins.
Apart from sesame oil, below medicated oils are used in Udvarthana for weight loss.
- Triphala Oil
- Kottamchukkadi Thailam
- Dhanwantharam Thailam
- Karpasasthyadi Thailam
- Lavana Oil
All the medicated oils in the Udvarthana paste help to create lightness, rescue your body from excess fat tissues with their liquefying action and stimulate fat metabolism.
Note
Chandanadi oil, Kumkumadi Oil and Sandalwood Massage Oil are also infused along with the medicated oils in the Udvarthana massage paste to improve the glow of the skin.
Benefits of Udwarthanam Massage Therapy
Although Specifically designed for weight loss, cellulite reduction & reduction in water retention, Udwarthanam has a variety of other special benefits. It is also highly beneficial in toning and exfoliating the skin, improving skin complexion, enhancing the glow, removing toxins and cleansing the skin. Let us take a look at some of its benefits in detail.
Reduces Cellulite and Fat
Udvarthanam (Udvarthana) massage therapy is very effective in melting excess fat and cellulite stored in the body and treating obesity. By helping reduce cellulite and fat accumulation, it helps control the body weight and promotes weight loss.
Manages of Rheumatoid Arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, AMA is the main factor that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. By helping reduce KAPHA and AMA, Udvarthana powder massage helps relieve stiffness, joint tenderness and inflammation.
Reduces Body Stiffness Reduction
Udvarthana massage can help open uptight and rigid muscles and thus helps remove body stiffness. It helps remove blockages in vessels and thus helps increase mobility.
Gives a healthy glow to the skin
Udvarthana massage therapy is very beneficial for the skin and helps improve skin glow and complexion. Opposite direction strokes that are performed in Udwarthanam help to soften and exfoliate the skin and remove the dead cells from the skin thus bringing a natural glow.
Removes Toxins
Udvarthanam is one of the best detoxification ayurvedic massage therapies. It helps remove toxins through the skin, cleanses the body and thus helps grant better health. The herbs used in the Udvarthana massage powder or paste effectively permeate through the pores to help remove lymphatic toxins. Furthermore, as they help eliminate the toxins, they prevent the occurrence of many chronic diseases, which are caused by the accumulation of toxins.
Improves Blood Circulation
Udvarthanam Ayurvedic powder massage is also apt for improving peripheral blood circulation. It helps open up the blocked blood vessels and enables both blood circulation and free circulation of nutrients in the body.
Reduces stress
Udwarthanam is also highly beneficial in stress reduction and rejuvenation. It thus helps prevent various mental disorders caused due to stress.
Udvarthanam and Panchakarma
Udvarthanam is one of the best therapies in Ayurvedic Panchakarma to support weight loss and detoxification. In addition to being an effective treatment, it is a unique massage therapy that involves a full body massage in an upward direction which is different from the conventional massage techniques as followed in Abhyanga in which strokes are performed from above to downwards. So Udvarthana is a panchakarma procedure that basically involves elevation. The massage is done in a direction opposite to that of the growth of the hair follicles (our hair follicles face downwards).
Just like all Panchakarma therapies aim at detoxification, Udvarthana also involves detoxification. It helps in reducing the excess fat and cellulite accumulated in the skin with the help of upward massage strokes. When a specially prepared herbal paste or herbal powder is massaged in upward directions, it helps create friction and produces certain heat energy which melts away and liquefies the fat and ultimately helps eliminate it along with the lymphatic toxins.
Udvarthana is a very unique and specialized therapy that not just supports weight loss and detoxification but helps improve blood circulation, exfoliates and cleanses the skin, and adds to the glow of the skin. It helps rejuvenate the body on deeper levels and helps relieve stress and induce relaxation.
Key takeaways
- The prevalence of obesity is growing at an alarming rate and affects millions of people around the world. It is mainly fueled by urbanization and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Furthermore, the pandemic has brought in a sudden and abrupt transformation in our daily work routine confining us to work from our homes. This is also one of the main causes of the staggering burden of obesity. Due to all these reasons, it has become difficult to avoid being overweight and lose weight.
- In a world where waste lines have been expanding at a considerable rate, Udvarthanam therapy comes to the rescue with its unique approach and massage procedures. In the present times when we are caught in a rut and a vicious circle of obesity and weight gain, Udvarthana is a special therapeutic deep tissue massage and the need of the hour to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit and help get rid of excess fat and cellulite under the skin.
- Udvarthana treatment involves fast upward massage strokes. The main and the best thing about Udvarthana treatment is that it is based on the individual’s doshas and prakriti and thus is a highly trusted and popular Ayurvedic treatment for weight loss. The rubbing all over the body is done in the opposite direction to that of the hair follicles. It helps create friction, melt excess fat and cellulite accumulated under the skin and remove toxins through the skin.
- The choice of the herbs and the medicated oils used to prepare the Udvarthana massage powder or paste depends on the individual’s body type such as Kapha type or pitta type. A custom preparation of the massage powder or the paste helps the Ayurvedic expert achieve effective outcomes.
- Udvarthana has multiple benefits that go beyond weight loss and detoxification. It can also help you regain what you have lost over time such as a radiant and glowing skin, improved skin complexion and a calm mind (as it helps reduce stress). It also helps revitalize the touch sense and flow of emotions, tones and exfoliates the skin, removes bad body odor, and cleanses the skin. Udvarthana massage therapy helps address rheumatoid arthritis, body and joints stiffness and helps enhance blood circulation.
- Get Udvarthana massage only at reputed ayurvedic centres that have access to high quality herbs and formulations and a team of experienced, trained and certified Ayurvedic experts. Choosing the right Ayurvedic centers and experts can help you attain optimum weight loss results and overall well being.
Frequently asked questions about Udvarthana massage therapy
What is an Udvarthana massage?
Udvarthana is an invigorating full body massage performed using warm medicated herbal powder or paste. It not just does the trick of rejuvenating the recipient but significantly helps promote weight loss, stimulates fat metabolism and eliminates the excess kapha and vata to bring them into the right balance. While performing this massage, Ayurvedic physicians use fast upward massage strokes to eliminate toxins through the skin.
Which powder is used in Udvarthana?
Udvarthana is an important Panchakarma therapy in Ayurveda for weight loss and detoxification. What makes it effective is the use of herbs which have special weight reducing properties. Some of the herbs and ingredients used to prepare Udvarthana powder are Amalaki, Bibhitaki, Haritaki, Reetha, Pushkarmool, Sonth, Vacha, Piper Nigrum or black pepper, Piper Kongum or long pepper, Yava Churna, Nagarmotha etc. However, each body has a different psychosomatic constitution (prakriti). Hence the selected herbs and medicated oils to prepare the Udvarthana massage powder or the paste depend on the body type such as kapha body type or pitta body type. A custom preparation of the Udvarthana massage powder or the paste helps the Ayurvedic expert promote weight loss and maintain overall weight.
What is Udvarthana powder?
There are two ways to perform the Udvarthana massage. The Ayurvedic practitioners either use a dry herbal powder or herbal paste prepared with medicated oils to rub over the body. The dry herbal powder prepared to perform body massage during Udvarthana therapy is typically a finely powdered mix of herbs and is known as the Udvarthana powder.
Can Ayurvedic massage reduce weight?
Ayurvedic massages are one of the most sought after treatments for weight loss. Some of them like Udvarthanam enable the Ayurvedic experts to penetrate the tissues deeply using herbal powders and help melt excess fat stored in the body. During an Ayurvedic massages like Udvarthana, the body is coated with herbal oils or herbal powders and then rubbed using upward massage strokes to reach deep beneath the skin, eliminate the toxins and the accumulated excess cellulite and fat deposits.
Does massage reduce body fat?
In general, a full body massage is a wonderful way to energize the body, get rid of stress, relieve sore muscles, and promote weight loss. A good and invigorating massage can have a stimulating effect on your digestive organs and boost your metabolism. Combining Ayurvedic body massage with a healthy and custom diet plan prepared by an Ayurvedic expert can do wonders in reducing body fat and weight loss.
Does ayurvedic massage help in weight loss?
Ayurvedic massage powders like in Udvarthana therapies are all made up of natural ingredients and herbs with special weight loss properties. Scrubbing the body with these herbal powders during the Ayurvedic massage sessions can help break down the excess fat and cellulite cells beneath the skin aid in weight loss. However, it is important to select the right Ayurvedic massage therapy according to your body type or body’s doshas. Ayurvedic massage therapy like Udvarthana is deeply invigorating and energizing and one of the best Ayurvedic treatments for busting the cellulite and fat. The choice of the herbs and the ingredients to prepare the massage powder or the paste is made according to the Prakriti (constitution) of the recipient.
Who can do Udvarthana?
Udvarthana massage therapy should always be performed under the supervision of a Panchakarma expert. Look for Ayurveda centers who have well equipped and state of the art Panchakarma facilities as well as well trained and certified Panchakarma experts. Also they must follow the required hygiene standards while maintaining the quality of treatment throughout the massage therapy. While Udvarthana is highly beneficial in rejuvenating the body, it is not recommended for people who have dry and overly sensitive skin. Also, it is not recommended for people with high blood pressure, children under 10 years, pregnant women, and those suffering from skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema. The Udvarthana massage involves the rubbing of dry herbal powder on the body. In case you are suffering from open wounds, cuts and burns, Udvarthanam therapy should be avoided.
What are the Side Effects of Udvarthana?
One of the most common side effects of rubbing the dry powder against the skin is rashes accompanied with redness, itching and cuts. Until they start to heal, they may cause pain and a burning sensation. If the skin is very sensitive, Udvarthana massage may cause skin inflammation. In case the skin has a dry texture, it may lead to excess and further dry skin. Sure, Udvaratana ayurveda massage is great and invigorating. But it is important to discuss with your Ayurvedic therapist about your skin type. Professional and certified therapists know that skin types can vary. They closely observe your skin type and dosha characteristics and then figure out the most suitable Udvarthana massage type and the herbal powder or paste ingredients for optimal results.
**The benefits of Ayurveda vary from person to person and the results may vary immensely based on the quality of the herbs, oil concoctions and medicines. BalanceBoat.com is not responsible or liable for the effectiveness and outcome of the Ayurvedic treatments. The information above is shareable purely for educational purpose it is not to be considered as a replacement for medical advice. Please always consult a certified specialist/Doctor before you embark upon a treatment.
