A Bhakti Massage can be classified as holistic, spiritual, intuitive, relaxing, and soothing. The word Bhakti is Sanskrit for Devotion to or Love of God/Goddess. A therapist trained in this massage modality combines the relaxing techniques of a typical Swedish massage with energy work. This allows the practitioner to deeply penetrate the muscle and facilitate the release of any holding patterns in the tissue on a physical, emotional, and mental level. In this way, it restores the well-being of the patient, improves vitality, and calms the spirit.
How does Bhakti Massage differ from other massage styles?
It is based on “four Constants”:
- Constant attention allows the practitioner to be in the moment, thus being in a meditative mode while in deep contact with the self and the client.
- While many other massage styles focus on constant touch, Bhakti Massage emphasizes constant movement. Once the practitioner has started the massage, she will move continuously with long, slow, gentle, yet deep flowing strokes across the surface of the body. Thus, it takes the therapist one to three minutes or longer to move up or down the full length of the body.
- Constant pace: This rhythm doesn’t change during the whole massage.
- Constant pressure means that the therapist is not changing rapidly from deep to light and back to deep pressure as it is frequently used in other massage styles. Instead, the pressure is reasonably constant throughout the massage and relative to the pace.
The “four Constants” build the foundation of Bhakti Massage and allow the client to deeply relax and get in touch with the core of his being. In this unguarded state of being the energy will flow freely to where it is needed, and penetrate the physical body and the energy field. Therefore, the treatment gives the recipient the opportunity to let go of muscle tension and other stresses, like fears, grief, pent-up emotions, or any ideas that no longer serve one, but also to touch a deep joy and ecstasy inside.
Ideally, the draping is kept to a minimum, as the goal is to not break the rhythm or flow of the massage. If the temperature allows and the client feels safe with this draping style, only the genitals remain covered for much of the massage.
Benefits of Bhakti Massage
- This massage approach is holistic.
- It is very pleasurable as it furthers the release of endorphins. This allows the client to relax deeply, and it plays an important part in relieving pain on all levels of the human energy field: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level.
- The treatment facilitates the increase of consciousness.