
The word marma in Sanskrit means " secret" or "hidden". As humans, we exist simultaneously in multidimensional planes on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Located at the junctures in the human body where muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints intersect, marmani ( pl. for marma) are portals that channel energy between the physical and energetic bodies. There are 107 marmani on the body and the mind is said to be the 108th marma. The marmani were mapped out in detail centuries ago by Sushruta Samhita (6th Century founding father of Ayurvedic medicine) in his classic Ayurvedic texts.) The marmani are like locks on a dam situated along the nadis of which there are 72,000 that channel prana through the body . When illness occurs, one or more of these energy pathways may become congested and interrupt the flow of prana to the body parts and systems it feeds. Applying physical pressure to the marmani through marma massage & asana practice and psychically through meditation, yoga nidra and chanting of the bija mantra has a multitude of benefits:
- Sensitivity or pain of the marma points can indicate an imbalance
- Therapeutic applications:
- Calming & pacifying the mind and emotions
- Enhanced awareness
- Preventative Care & Rejuvenation