Ayurvedic body therapy is not a luxury — it is medicine. Classical treatments designed to calm the nervous system, nourish deep tissues, and restore the innate intelligence of a body that has been carrying too much for too long.
In Ayurveda, the body is not a container for the mind — it is the mind’s direct expression. Every unprocessed emotion, every season of chronic stress, every period of poor sleep or irregular eating leaves an imprint in the tissues. Ayurvedic body therapy works directly with the body to release these patterns at the source.
Amita’s body therapy sessions draw on the classical Bahya Chikitsa — the external therapies of Ayurveda — using warm medicinal oils, precise technique, and deep knowledge of the body’s marma (energetic) points to create sessions that go far beyond ordinary relaxation.
Each session is customized to your dosha, the current season, and your specific therapeutic goals. You will leave feeling not just rested — but genuinely different.
"I've never felt anything like the Abhyanga session with Amita. My nervous system just settled in a way it never has. I walked out feeling like I finally came home to my own body."
Each treatment is a distinct therapeutic modality with specific effects on the body and mind. Amita will recommend the right treatment — or combination — based on your assessment.
The cornerstone of Ayurvedic body care. Abhyanga is a full-body warm oil application performed with rhythmic, intention-led strokes synchronized to the breath. The warm medicated oil penetrates the seven tissue layers, nourishing deeply while calming the nervous system and moving lymph.
Unlike other body therapies, Abhyanga is not primarily about muscular tension — it is about nourishing the tissues, lubricating joints, grounding Vata, and restoring the body’s natural intelligence through contact, warmth, and medicated oils.
One of the most profound treatments in Ayurvedic medicine. A continuous, gentle stream of warm medicated oil is poured over the Ajna point (third eye) in a specific rhythm. The effect on the nervous system is unlike anything else — clients describe a deep stillness, a dissolution of mental chatter, and a quality of rest that goes far beyond sleep.
Shirodhara is particularly indicated for insomnia, anxiety, overthinking, stress-related headaches, and any condition driven by an overactivated nervous system.
Marma points are the 107 vital energy intersections mapped by Ayurvedic texts — junctions where prana (life force), tissues, and channels converge. Skilled work on these points releases blocked energy, harmonizes organ function, and produces powerful shifts in both physical and emotional experience.
Marma therapy can be combined with Abhyanga or offered as a standalone focused session, particularly for clients with specific chronic conditions or energetic blockages.
Where Abhyanga nourishes and grounds, Udvartana stimulates and invigorates. A vigorous application of dry or paste-form herbal powders — applied in upward, friction-generating strokes — breaks down Kapha accumulation, stimulates lymphatic and venous circulation, and leaves the skin radiant and the body feeling profoundly awake.
Udvartana is indicated for sluggishness, congestion, skin concerns, Kapha imbalance, and anyone seeking a more stimulating, activating therapy.
Your first session begins long before you arrive on the table.
Every session begins with a brief intake — reviewing your constitution, current concerns, and goals. This determines which treatment and oils are right for you today.
Oils are warmed and selected for your specific needs. The right herbal oil is not incidental — it is therapeutic. Each oil carries distinct properties that support your healing.
60–90 minutes of skilled, intentional body therapy. You are held in warmth, presence, and deep professional care throughout the full session.
After the session, you rest for 10–15 minutes wrapped in warmth. Post-session guidance is shared — what to eat, what to avoid, and how to extend the therapeutic benefit.
Ayurvedic body therapy is not only for people who are unwell. It is equally valuable as a regular practice for those who are well and want to stay that way — and for those who simply want to feel alive in their body again.
Book a session today — in-person at our El Cerrito office. Experience what it feels like to be truly cared for, from the outside in.