The Indian Massage in Bangalore

Are you ok with this madam? The little lady says as she is smacking my head. Bap bap bap bap bap, it’s very rhythmic and somehow kind of soothing. I’m not the biggest fan of head massages, but then again there wasn’t much massage in anything that’d been done so far.

Bap bap bap, This will make you smarter. Increase your memory. Awesome. Maybe tomorrow I will be able to finish my experience report, teach a session on TW values, and produce session notes for other classes that I’ve been slowly putting together. I’ve been procrastinating.

You may have guessed by now that I’m getting my first ayurvedic massage; and, it’s not like what I’m typically used to. The woman giving it seemed really old but looked young. Her hands were strong and wizened. I’m not sure why, but I envisioned her as a tiny bent-over 90-year old woman. She seemed very old and very small but at the same time strong and precise.

I started out in a chair where she covered my head in oil and ayurvedic powder. After the smacking, I was moved to a polished wooden trough. I would quickly learn the significance of the shape — it keeps you from sliding off the side. As she started the massage and drizzled me with oil and powder, I felt a bit like I was being basted on a Wet Banana. When it was time to move she had to help me so I wouldn’t hurt myself.

It all started with my belly button, with circles that felt like she was pulling bits of my life force out through my umbilicus. Then came full-body movements and very quick but precise point pressure. And, somehow by pushing points on my feet, she managed to make the pain in my shoulders go away. There was a lot of this pressure, pinching, hitting, and heat that seemed to just fire out of her hands. Where is this coming from? I kept wondering.

Throughout the entire massage, there was no modesty. No one seemed to care so I didn’t. India is such a dichotomy sometimes.

After about an hour of this, I was put into a tiny steam room where I sat and released every single toxin in my body through free-flowing sweat rivulets. At first, it was rather nice, then soothing, and finally I had to add another Where is this coming from? as it felt like I was being sucked out through my pores.

How do I feel? Exhausted. For some reason, it was an incredibly exhausting experience. And, as an added bonus, I went into the massage with Delhi Belly and came out with everything as it should be.