6 Marma Points to Calm the Mind and Emotions
After that heavy read yesterday let me offer some relief :)
Marma Points are points in the body that have been utilized for thousands of years for healing.
Marma Therapy originated in India and is the grandparent to many modalities including reflexology, acupressure and different types of martial arts.
Here is a lovely practice for calming the mind and emotions through massaging certain Marma Points on the head. Massage each point with a pressure that feels good to you for 1-2 minutes if possible, longer if it feels right in a certain spot. Always use clockwise movements. From the perspective of your eye balls it will look counterclockwise, but it’s not. Another visual that might help; imagine looking at your own face from in front of you and imagining that your face was the face of a clock and that might help you figure out clockwise a bit easier.
Another important element is to move slowly. Almost painfully slow. The nervous system responds most favorably to slow movements. Watch for the involuntary sigh and releasing exhale. Watch for your tummy gurgling which is a sign that you’re activating the parasympathetic nervous system - the rest and digest mode. That’s a good sign that you’re doing it right because you are relaxing.
Let’s go…
- Simanta Marma - located along the top ridge of the skull 4 finger widths long (notice all four of my fingers are placed).
Can help with; headaches, psychological disease, and deeply connected to the nervous system.
- Kapala Marma - located at centre on the hairline.
Can help with; stimulating the pituitary gland to counter stress hormone and bringing sense of calm.
- Sthapani Marma - this Marma point can be a bit tricky to find so I pull my finger down from the Kapala until my finger bumps up against a slight bone ridge. It’s subtle. That’s the sweet spot of Sthapani. It might take a few tries to find it, but don't give up!
Can help with; influencing the pituitary gland, the mind and helps control the senses. It encourages intuition and insight.
- Nasa Mula Marma - located right between the eyebrows.
Can help with; calming the mind, balancing the emotions and relieving headaches.
- Shanka Marma - Shanka is actually 2 points; one located in each temple. My third arm was on holidays for this photo shoot so you get what you get and you don’t get upset.
Note: when doing your circular motions in these points you want to be thinking faceLIFT (up). You don’t want to be circling downward.
Can help with; pacifying fiery feelings, regulating the colon and influencing speech. Cool connection; I discovered the lobe responsible for speech is the frontal lobe (specifically Broca’s Area) which is right near this location. I love it when things check out.
- Adhipati Marma - where the hair gathers in a swirl at the back of the head (but not always!). Plus you can’t always see the back of your own head. So how I consistently find mine is by feeling around at the centre of the crown of my head and feeling for a small indent there. It will sometimes be a bit sensitive especially for anyone who wears high buns or pony tails regularly.
Can help with; influencing the nervous system as it is deeply connected to it and enhancing awareness.
Let me know how you do or if you have questions.
Enjoy :)
