Abhyanga, An Act of Self-Love
Chances are, if I were to ask most people about whether or not they have heard of abhyanga, they would look at me with a puzzled look and say, “Aby what-a?”
To be honest, that is PRECISELY how my momma would respond!
The pandemic has thrown a big wrench in my usual self-care activities. Massage is something I would get on the regular, but with a full-blown pandemic going on, I have had to significantly cut down on this…
This is where abhyanga comes into play.
My first experience with abhyanga was a few years ago when I found an Ayurvedic massage therapist.
I have to admit, when you are used to deep tissue massage to work out the knots and tension in your body, shifting to abhyanga is a very different experience.
This past week, I decided to try abhyanga on myself, and being Valentine’s Day this week, I thought it a perfect time to experience this act of self-love.
What is Abhyanga?
Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic massage with oil. And if you are like me and love a good massage, adding abhyanga into your daily routine, or weekly routine for those of us who may not have that much time to dedicate to self-massage daily, will have you feeling super relaxed and nourished.
In Ayurveda, massage has many benefits and can help with:
Sleep
Lymph drainage
Improved circulation
Improving skin and aging
Lubricating the joints
Calming the nervous system
Not to mention the decreased stress and tension in the body!
Abhyanga is more than just throwing some oil on your body and calling it a day. Abhyanga is an act of self love, and as such, it’s recommended to spend at least 15 minutes applying the oil and massaging the body with love and devotion.
What type of oil should I use?
While Ayurveda recommends an herbal oil with dosha-balancing properties, any carrier oil will work. If you are interested in finding out more about your Ayurvedic constitution, simply take this dosha quiz!
How to complete Abhyanga
Use ¼-½ cup oil into a small squeeze bottle and warm the oil
Sit or stand in a warm room and place a towel underneath you ( the towel will eventually be ruined by the oil so use a towle you don’t mind trashing)
Apply oil to your entire body
Massage oil into your body, beginning at the limbs and working towards the middle of your body, using long strokes on limbs and circular strokes on joints. Massage the abdomen and chest in broad, clockwise motions. Move up the right side of the abdomen, across the stomach, and down the left side.
Massage the body for 5-20 minutes, with care and love in each stroke.
When massaging the scalp, start with the crown and work outward in a circular motion. When massaging the feet, make sure to wipe the oil off before getting into the shower to avoid slipping!
Once you have massaged your body, take a warm bath or shower, then towel dry. Use a separate towel for drying off post-abhyanga as the oil will ruin the towel.
Put on cotton socks to protect your home, and shoes, from the residual oil.
Enjoy the benefits of this act of self-love!
Personally, I like to sit for a few minutes and allow the oil to soak into my skin before I jump in the shower. Make sure wherever you are, that you are in a warm room, and away from any draft.
Who should not do abhyanga?
There are a few instances where abhyanga is NOT recommended.
If you are pregnant, or if you have an acute illness or medical condition, abhyanga is not recommended.
It is not recommended if you are menstruating, or are dealing with physical pain or discomfort.
Extra Tips for Abhyanga
Keep a separate set of towels for abhyanga.
Clean your shower floor after you rinse to prevent an accumulation of oil, we don’t want any injuries!
Cleanse your drains every month to prevent any plumbing issues.
Adding this act of self-love into your routine is sure to up your self-care game any day of the week!
Give it a try and let us know your thoughts!