In this modern world, everywhere we go, there are devices collecting and using sensors and data. Take a car, for example. Maybe your windshield wipers turn on when they detect the rain. Or your lights snap on when the sunlight drops. Maybe a light on your mirror flashes as you get close to a nearby object. Or your car pops its trunk when your foot passes beneath a sensor. Perhaps the stereo volume corresponds to the ambient or engine noise and increases as you drive. Or your tires may send messages that they need more air. At a deeper level, you can even plug in your OBD2 sensor to get codes to detect problems under the hood.

How great would it be if we had a similar set of sensors for our bodies?

“Hydration is low. Please refill!”

“Congestion building in sinus area! Alert!”

“Muscles experiencing low response time. Please refuel.”

“Blood pressure increasing. Check levels!”

“Emotional regulation waning. Please adjust!”

So, here’s the fun, futuristic, science-fiction news: We do.

Of course, we are already aware of the body’s intelligence, but did you know that the body is mapped with calibration points—mini minds—that inform us if we listen and allow input from the user to change the output? Okay, enough of the data analogy, for now.

A marma point is literally a point of vulnerability. Like anything vulnerable, it has great risk of harm: injury, damage, or even death—as well as great potential for benefit: love, healing, and positivity. Because of this dual nature, we have an opportunity to tap into this point and make tweaks, adjustments, calibrations that help people to feel better physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually.

Marma is the wisdom of sacred geometry of the human body revolving around 108 points of light. These energy points are intelligently positioned through the body: in the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, the joints, and in the nerves, veins, and arteries. Sushruta, considered to be the Father of Surgery, believed it was essential to know and understand these points as damage to one of these points could impair one’s vitality through the leakage of prana and consciousness.

As we begin to unfold the complexity of these powerful points, their incredible knowledge is revealed. We learn to discern the vikruti, or imbalance of the bodily constitution and assess the significance of the imbalance through the marmani. Through proper chikitsa, or therapy, whether using mantra (sound), touch-lepana (application of paste, learn how here), a marma stick or another therapy, we can affect these marma points, balance dosha (constitution), and restore vitality.

By studying Marma, we become aware of the three divine wisdoms of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra. We discover how prana (life force), tejas (internal fire), and ojas (deep vitality) can be cultivated to regulate and support agni (digestive fire) for optimal health through the knowledge and application of 108 marmani.

The study of marma is essential for an aspiring Yogin, Yoga Therapist, and Ayurvedic practitioner to deepen their understanding of the very subject to bring insight and depth to their own practice.

SWADHYAYA RESOURCES

READ: Self Care essentials in SOMA 100 Heritage Recipes for Self Care. Order the hard copy or eBook

STUDY: Marma Points in Yoga Training begins April 2024. Details Here

Listen: Podcast Episode on Marma Points Here

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