Get beaten up with a broom or have a few snakes slither over your body, giving you a perfect massage. Well, if that creeps you out, let the Ashiatsu massage walk all over your body. Yes, you heard that right… walk over your body. The treatment involves a practitioner walking over your body, using a bar for balance, and applying pressure to relive pain and relax body muscles. It sounds quite similar to the Chavutti Thirumal practice of Kerala that involves a trainer using his bare feet to relax body muscles.
If you crave for a deep tissue workout, then Ashiatsu is the best way to go. Someone walking on your body might sound uncomfortable, but Ramamurthy, a practitioner in popular spas in Kerala and Mysore, clears the air saying, “Practitioners of these therapies are trained professionals. They are aware of their weight and the pressure they apply on the body parts — so they will not concentrate pressure on one particular area and cause damage.”
The trainers use a rope in case of Chavutti Thirumal and a bar in case of Ashiatsu. Do these help balance body pressure? Ramamurthy says, “Chavutti Thirumal is a very ancient form of massage in India and Ashiatsu is just another version of it. However, it is very important for the practitioners to balance themselves, otherwise it could result in severe muscle pull for the patients,” he cautions.
Mohan Selvan, president of Sujok Academy of India, does not support this treatment. Ask him why and he replies, “As a medical doctor, I am not in favour of this treatment. Such treatments focus more on the trigger points to relieve pain, forgetting the fact that it might result in severe injuries.” Applying an entire body’s pressure onto areas like the spine might cause further problems, cautions Mohan. “Applying body pressure on your spine might not give you immediate problems; but after a point of time, there is a possibility of trauma.”
Will using a bar help distribute weight? Ramamurthy says, “Usage of the bar is the most important part of the treatment. It is very important to distribute weight, and the trainers are professionals. Secondly, we use lubricants (ayurvedic oil) for meticulous strokes over the body, resulting in pain relief.” But Mohan questions this, saying, “Such treatments might help people who have severe pain. If done properly by a professional, the treatment might help in relaxing the body muscles. But, there is still the possibility of injuries.”