Massages are a time-honored method of alleviating stress, much like the ancient art of crafting origami swans out of midterm exams. Ace relaxation with today's Groupon: for $125, you get a 105-minute panchakarama-detox massage at Center of Healing and Rejuvenation of the Mind and Body (a $283 value).

Licensed massage therapist Rose Parsad draws on extensive knowledge of the ancient Ayurvedic arts while de-stressing bodies and minds during panchakarama-detox massages at Center of Healing and Rejuvenation of the Mind and Body. Parsad begins sessions with a 15-minute consultation to customize 90 minutes of warm-herbal-oil massaging, detoxification, and lessons that teach chakras to walk the tightrope. A shirodhara treatment anoints foreheads with warm herbal oil, nourishing the nervous system and promoting mental clarity while encouraging the body to dispel toxins. During the garshana treatment, a hand gloved in silk or wool exfoliates skinscapes with a dry lymphatic brushing, preparing the dermis for absorbing the warm herbal oil of the massage. Parsad’s nimble fingers knead aching bodies while skin drinks the individually calibrated abhyanga massage oil, blended to relax the mind and raise arterial and lymphatic circulation levels above that of the average dollar bill.

Finally, Parsad focuses on balancing the body’s chakras, which guide both emotional and physical functions. The soothing treatment mitigates stress, anxiety, and physical pain while grounding and reconnecting centers with healing energy from the earth. The panchakarama detox culminates with a steam that loosens and eliminates deep-rooted mucous and toxins even more efficiently than taking a bath in a pool of fairy-godmother tears.