Massage is an energy interaction between two people who are also electromagnetic forces.When we give or receive massage we don’t merely touch muscles, skin and bones but also work with both physical and mental energies.
Traditional Ayurvedic Massage (Level II) – Complete System for Therapists and Professionals

Massage is an energy interaction between two people who are also electromagnetic forces.When we give or receive massage we don’t merely touch muscles, skin and bones but also work with both physical and mental energies.There’s a clear interaction between the minds of both the giver and the receiver of the massage. To understand this we must recall a very simple law: energy flows from the fuller to the emptier organism, from the stronger to the weaker organism in the interaction. Therefore, at this level the student is brought to a deeper awareness of the energetic and subtle processes occurring during massage. To achieve this deeper awareness, the topics previously studied in the first level of this course are revised both theoretically and in the massage practice. Afterwards the training is completed with further theoretical instruction and the massage is then studied in detail, step by step.

OBJECTIVES
To acquaint therapists and professionals who began this course at Level I a whole therapeutic massage.
For the 2nd Level of this course the student is intended to achieve the following objectives:
- To learn how to perform a full massage in a precise and creative way, from head to toe, using both the hands and the feet and stretching and elongating specific areas of the body.
- To understand the electromagnetic field which composes and sustains the physical body and the changes that may come from correcting bodily posture and releasing tension from muscles and tendons.
- To become more aware of the changes he might bring to the patient’s body.
- To feel and experiment in his or her own body the effects of the massage performed with the feet and of being properly stretched and elongated.
- To continue and broaden the theoretical studies started in Level I related to the Vedic tradition and ayurvedic medicine.
- To continue the ayurvedic therapy studies and its wide theoretical field.- To be able to discern between different cases of patients asking for the massage and to know how to perform and adequate massage using the therapist’s feet and doing the stretching.

BENEFITS OF THE MASSAGE
The same as stated for  Level I, plus the positive effects of being elongated and stretched and a deeper tension release as a consequence of the massage performed with the feet. The energy flow is even more intensely revitalized throughout the body and relaxation increases.

THE PROGRAMME OF THE FULL COURSE IS DIVIDED IN TWO LEVELS (FOR ALL THERAPISTS AIMING TO USE IT PROFESSIONALLY)

The 1st Level described in the programme for Relaxation can be consulted on the website.The 2nd Level is also composed of theory and practice of massage:

Theory:
Deepening explanations about Ayurveda: concepts, characteristics, action and functions;
Continuing the studies on general Ayurvedic Medicine concepts;
Furthering explanation on the fundamental precepts of ayurvedic therapy: theory of the five elements, their relation to the five senses, the Tridosha system of observing nature and patients, the three gunas or mental qualities, Ayurvedic Therapy and massage systems;
Completing the studies on anatomy and physiology for the massage performed with the feet and the new manipulations taught on this Level;
The seven bodily sheaths – sapta dhatus and the seven subtle bodies;
Natural and non-natural Dosha altering factors;
Basic notions of subtle anatomy – broadening studies about the chakra and subtle channels system. Ayurvedic Massage and realigning the chakras. The 21 minor chakras and the auxiliary chakras.
Chakras and their reflex spots upon the body surface
The subtle fields and health – the transference of energy and vibrationAyurvedic Massage and the dissolution of energetic obstructions in the physical and etheric bodies – types of energy obstruction and their effects upon the physical and subtle bodies;
The marma regions – classification and importance for Ayurvedic Massage and their relation to Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians;Ayurvedic Massage and its effects upon the lymphatic system;
Massage oils and their applications – main ingredients and properties of the aromatic essential oils;
The spine, its natural anatomy and pathological curves;
Correcting the bodily posture through ayurvedic massage;Indications and contraindications of ayurvedic massage performed with the feet and of the stretching manipulations. Effects on energetic anatomy and emotions;
Counselling within ayurvedic massage.

Practice:
This Level is divided in two parts with the same number of hours eachThe first part includes performing a whole body massage with the hands, feet and stretching manipulations in the following sequence:
SPINE: lumbar, dorsal, cervical and stimulation of vital energy spots /massaging the back with the feet / basic stretching of the back;
LOWER LIMBS: back of the legs and soles of the feet – massage and stimulation of vital energy spots / massage on the posterior side of the legs and feet of the patient using the feet / basic stretching of the back of the legs and feet;
STRECHING THE PATIENT IN A SITTING POSITIONLOWER LIMBS: anterior region – massage and stimulation of vital energy spots / basic stretching of the front part of the legs and feet
ABDOMEN – massage and stimulation of vital energy spots;
UPPER LIMBS – massage on the front and back of the arms and stimulation of vital energy spots
NECK  - massage of the vocal chords and stimulation of vital energy spots;
FACE: jaw, sinus, ears, eyebrows, forehead and stimulation of vital energy spots;
HEAD: scalp, brain cells, eyes and stimulation of vital energy spots;
The second part of Level II practice includes learning all additional the stretching and elongating manipulations for every art of the body, according to the massage sequence: stretching the back while the patient is lying on his stomach;
Stretching the anterior side of the legs and feet;
Stretching the patient in a sitting position;
Stretching the posterior side of the legs and feet;
Stretching on the stomach and chest areas;
Stretching the arms and the neck of the patient in a lying position.

DURATION: 2 months (extensive course)

PRE-REQUISITE:
Having received a positive grade on Level I – Traditional Ayurvedic Massage for Relaxation.

TEACHERS / INSTRUCTORS
All theory and practice in both Level 1 and 2 will be taught and oriented by ALBA’s teachers and foreign specialists as guest teachers.

General Coordination by: Valter Carlos Cardim (Swami Gyanesh)

Guest Teachers: In specific occasions, foreign professional specialists will be invited for complementary lessons.  These lessons are not included in the general fee but they can be bought separately.

THIS COURSE IS FOR:
Physiotherapists, reflexology practitioners, psychologists, osteopathy professionals, massage therapists, aesthetics’ practitioners, all health professionals and everyone who has interest in the matter.

TIMETABLE
(**) ALBA offers various timetable possibilities throughout the year and the student can choose whichever adapts best to his or her own schedule:
- Group 1: after work, 2 to 3 lessons per week – from 19h00 to 22h30 (7pm to 10h30pm with an ½ hour break)
- Group 2: Sundays from 9h30 to 13h00am (with an ½ hour break) and from 14h30 to 18h00 (with an ½ hour break)
- Group 3: Saturdays from 14h30 to 18h00 (with an ½ hour break) and Sundays from 9h30 to 13h00 (with an ½ hour break) and from 14h30 to 18h00 (with an ½ hour break)
- Group 4: Saturdays from 9h30 to 13h00 (with an ½ hour break) and from 14h30 to 18h00 (with an ½ hour break) + Sundays from 9h30 to 13h00 (with an ½ hour break) and from 14h30 to 18h00 (with an ½ hour break)
- Group 5:
5.1 - Super intensive course #1: classes every evening, plus Saturdays and Sundays as stated above;
5.2 - Super intensive course #2: classes everyday, all day, plus Saturdays and Sundays all day, within the timetables stated above.
(**) These timetables are posted on the website “Agenda” of both the associations.

DURATION
Depending on the Level, the class and the chosen timetables, the duration of the course will vary.Total number of hours: 40

CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION
To participate in any of ALBA’s courses one must:
- Fill in the candidate’s form and pay the enrolment fee.
- Bring a small photograph for the emission of the ALBA card.

Warning: The student can only be given the certificate after the completion and approbation on both levels, both in theory and practice.

- WE GIVE OUR STUDENTS: an illustrated notebook with the basic theories and principles of Ayurveda and a description of all massage procedures. ALBA provides most necessary material for the massage practice.

- THE STUDENT MUST BRING: appropriate clothing for giving and receiving massage, natural vegetable massage oil (such as sweet almond, sesame or grape seed oil), a sheet and a big towel.

ADMISSION OF EXTERNAL STUDENTS: Students who already have a course in ayurvedic massage and wish to enrol for Level II should pay the current enrolment fee and be approved in an admission exam, being admitted to the 1st level with a 50% discount.  If they fail the exam they will have to pay the full price of both levels.

Conditions of the course
Training in Traditional Ayurvedic Massage Level I – massage system for relaxation – will occur at ALBA’s premises in Lisbon or in Porto or, exceptionally, in other locations rented for that purpose, students being previously informed when he enrols.For each level we expect a maximum number of 18 participants. Besides providing fully equipped rooms for the purpose of massage, ALBA offers the students a notebook with all information given during the classes, with ayurvedic theory and massage practice illustrations.If the student decides to become an associate of ALBA, the enrolment fee is used as the associate’s fee for the semester when the course was taken. After admitted by ALBA’s Direction the associate has access to discounts offered by the ALBA and a member of  the association.

CERTIFICATE:
ALBA will give the students a Professional Certificate on Traditional Ayurvedic Massage only if they get a positive grade on both theory and practice of the technique.