MARMAS: KEY FASCIAL INTERSECTION POINTS FOR OUR BIOTENSEGRITY

I am fascinated by the way Ayurveda, a medical science as ancient as it is, described and understood the human body in such a visionary and modern way . They described the marmas as specific points on the body that provide access to prana (vitality and energy) and which are potentially dangerous if damaged. In fact, these are the areas used by practitioners of Kalaripayattu (an Indian martial art) to injure his opponent.
It is now becoming apparent that the “trigger points” used in modern medicine and physiotherapy have a great deal in common with Ayurvedic marmas and acupuncture points.
At AyurYoga®, we believe it is essential to practise yoga in a way that takes the marmas into account, as we consider them to be areas where fascial tissue converges, which are of paramount importance for the body’s biomechanics, alignment and energy flow. If the marmas are not properly stimulated, we cannot access the internal workings of energy, nor the movement of the Sub-Pranas. To achieve this, we must provide them with healthy tissue that has just the right degree of tension and elasticity.
In the illustration, you can see how, when performing Paripurna Navasana, we are stimulating the marmas on the front of the legs (Ani, Urvi) as well as those in the abdomen (Nabhi, Agra Patra). During this concentric toning, the marmas receive blood flow and increased muscle tone. In Uddiyana Bandha (exhalation retention exercise or Bahir Kumbhaka), it is important to direct our attention to the groins (lower Lohitaksha), Nabhi and Agra Patra, feeling how they activate and draw in slightly backwards and upwards.
As you can see, the marmas allow us to experience them as “focal points” of attention in asanas and other yogic practices. Isn’t that interesting?