Ayurvedic Massage in Palo Alto

Short answer: Shanti Dhara Wellness, on the second floor of 2875 Middlefield Rd in Palo Alto, offers four Ayurvedic body treatments: Abhyanga warm-oil massage ($228 for 75 minutes, $268 for 90), Abhyanga with Kati Vasti or with Podikizhi ($258 / $298), and Sacred Shirodhara ($288 / $328). A 120-minute customized combination is $358.

Ayurvedic massage is not a single technique. It is a family of oil and heat treatments from Ayurveda, which the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes as one of the world's oldest medical systems and one of India's traditional health care systems. This page sets out what each one on our menu is, what it costs, and how to choose between them.

The treatments and prices

Treatment	75 min	90 min	What it adds
Abhyanga	$228	$268	Full-body warm herbal oil massage
Abhyanga + Kati Vasti	$258	$298	Warm oil held over the lower back in a dough ring
Abhyanga + Podikizhi	$258	$298	Warm herbal-powder bundles pressed across the body
Sacred Shirodhara	$288	$328 (the Full Experience)	A steady stream of warm oil onto the forehead; the 90-minute version adds a deeper head massage
Combo Package – Customized Design	$358 for 120 minutes		Facial and body therapies combined, tailored to your dosha type

The same studio also offers the Herbal Essence Facial ($258 for 75 minutes, $298 for 90) and the Ethereal Chakra Drip ($268, 75 minutes), described on the menu as a flow of botanical essence across the scalp.

How to choose

• You want to switch off and sleep well: start with Abhyanga. For a first visit, the 90-minute session gives a slower pace with more time on each area.
• Your mind will not settle: Shirodhara is the treatment people book for a restless mind, difficulty winding down or poor sleep.
• Your lower back is tight from sitting: Abhyanga with Kati Vasti holds warm oil over the lower back.
• Muscles or joints feel stiff: Abhyanga with Podikizhi, where warm herbal bundles are gently pressed across the body. Our Abhyanga vs Podikizhi guide compares the two in depth.
• You want a longer, customized session: the 120-minute Combo Package – Customized Design combines facial and body therapies, tailored to your dosha type. Ask when booking which treatments it covers.

Shirodhara and Abhyanga are often paired, body treatment first. That order has a basis in the tradition: researchers who studied Shirodhara in healthy volunteers note that, by classical practice, Abhyanga is a preparatory step (purvakarma) before Shirodhara. If you are torn between the two, Shirodhara vs Abhyanga walks through the choice.

Looking for an Indian head massage?

We don't list a standalone head massage. The closest option is Sacred Shirodhara – The Full Experience (90 minutes, $328), which the menu describes as including a deeper head massage and extra care for the scalp and hair alongside the warm oil stream. Expect your hair to be thoroughly oiled afterward.

What the research can and can't tell you

The evidence base is small, and it's fair to say so up front. NCCIH notes that few well-designed clinical trials and systematic reviews suggest Ayurvedic approaches are effective. What does exist:

• Abhyanga: a 2011 pilot study of 20 healthy adults found one-hour Abhyanga reduced self-reported stress and heart rate immediately afterward. It had no control group, and the authors called for more rigorous research.
• Shirodhara: small studies have recorded lower anxiety and a relaxed-but-alert state after sessions; a 2026 review of Ayurvedic sleep treatments concluded that these trials are small, short and hard to blind, and that the effects of warmth, touch and attention can't be separated from the treatment itself.
• Kati Vasti: in a 2024 randomized trial of 40 people with chronic low back pain, adding Kati Basti to a week of yoga therapy did not produce significantly better pain or disability scores than yoga alone.

So treat these as relaxation and bodywork, not as treatment for a diagnosed condition. They sit alongside your doctor's care rather than replacing it.

What we are, and what we aren't

Shanti Dhara is a spa: Ayurvedic bodywork, facials and sound sessions. The menu does not include panchakarma programs, nasya or herbal medicines to take by mouth. If you are looking for an Ayurvedic or TCM practitioner for those, two facts from NCCIH are worth knowing: no U.S. state requires an Ayurvedic practitioner to hold a license, and some Ayurvedic preparations taken internally have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic. Ask any practitioner about training and about what is in anything you are asked to swallow.

Who should wait or check first

Skip a session if you have a fever, an acute infection or broken skin. Tell us before booking if you are pregnant, take blood thinners or are being treated for a circulatory condition. Traditional oils are often sesame- or coconut-based, and sesame is one of the nine major food allergens the FDA recognizes, so mention any sesame or nut allergy. NCCIH describes the risk of harm from massage as low, but notes that rare serious problems, including blood clots, nerve injury and fractures, have been reported.

Before and after

A generous amount of warm oil is used and it is meant to stay on the skin to keep absorbing, so wear clothes you don't mind oiling and plan a shower later rather than immediately. After Shirodhara your hair stays thoroughly oiled; many people leave it overnight and wash it out the next day. Come without styling product in.

Hours and booking

Shanti Dhara Wellness is at 2875 Middlefield Rd, Suite 8, 2nd floor, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Hours are Tuesday and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Wednesday through Saturday 10:30 am to 6:00 pm; the studio is closed on Mondays. Book from the treatment menu or call (650) 283-9121.