The discussion for today was about Massage therapy and whether or not it helps keep you fit.
The special guests on were Dr. Deepa jayaram, who runs an Ayurvedic treatment center and Dr. Karpagam Raghunathan, an expert in the field of Physical Therapy.

Dr. Deepa tells us that Massages can improve skin texture, stimulates nervous system and circulation. Ayurveda actually teaches that one must apply oil on the skin everyday to stay healthy
Some of the benefits of Massage therapy are that it’s great for the skin, acts as an anti ageing catalyst and is a stress reliever.

A regular massage should soothe the body, and any variations must depend on the person, their body type and physical condition.

Dr. Karpagam specializes in Urinary incontinence and vertigo treatment via massage therapy. Urinary incontinence can be caused by multiple or tough pregnancies or any abdominal surgery, and is quite prevalent in women. She says that it is important to go for massages as often as you can as It is medically beneficial. Removes the stress causing cortisol from your system.

When asked how customers should evaluate whether massage centers are legitimate or not, Dr.Deepa says that professional centers should be run by a doctor, have corporation license, and certification to give treatment.
Dr. Karpagam advices customers to do their homework on what their massage should be like and whether they’re going to a legitimate place
Dr. Deepa adds that you should make sure the Ayurvedic oils used are good and authentic and find out if there are any chemicals being used? The best way to validate these things is through word of mouth or referring the centers website, customer reviews, etc.
A caller, Mr. Prabhu describes his first massage experience in Kerala, He was nervous and shy at first, when it started he was in a different world. He calls it a very serene experience.

Dr. Karpagam adds that ladies should start exercising and going for specific massage therapy 6 weeks post pregnancy if they want any hope of getting back their flat stomach. If it is a C Section, they would have to wait until the sutures have healed completely.

Dr. Deepa says that one of the best ways to reduce the post partem weight is a full body abhayangam massage and steam plus an abdomen belt, and it can revert their stomach back to normal.

They both feel that since Massage Therapy is a treatment, it should be accessible to all. So the ideal pricing for a full body massage should be around Rs. 500-Rs. 1000 and not any more.

In conclusion, both doctors advice us to exercise have a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy and stay healthy.