Ayurvedic Abhyanga Massage 

Abhyanga: A Guide to Your Ayurvedic Self-care Ritual

What is Abhyanga?

Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic self oil massage of your muscles, joints, bones and organs. A daily Abhyanga practice restores the balance of the doshas and enhances well-being. I have been practicing Abhyanga as part of my self-care ritual for over 20 years and it is part of my daily routine. I speak from personal experience, the health benefits are powerful when done as a dedicated daily ritual. Abhyanga is a time just for you, to express gratitude and self-love for all the hard work your body and mind do each day. It is a time to nourish, rejuvenate and reconnect with our deepest and truest self.

What are the benefits of Abhyanga?

This simple self-care ritual gives a deep feeling of grounding and balances your nervous system. Traditionally this practice is done with oils specially made for you by an Ayurvedic Doctor to balance your doshas. Cold-pressed sesame oil and jojoba oil are generally suitable for all 3 doshas. This technique can 

• Boost immunity

• Decrease the effects of aging on skin

• Increase circulation

• Promote lymphatic drainage

• Detox the body

• Improve sleep

• Soften skin

How to

• Warm the oil slightly to body temperature

• Sit on a towel or stand

• Gently dry brush your entire body to exfoliate dead skin, stimulate blood circulation, and open pores.

• Start from the crown of your head and work slowly out through the entire scalp in circular strokes. 

• Massage the landmarks of the head, including ear lobes, in a circular upward motion. 

• Massage the abdomen and chest in broad, clockwise, circular motions, following the direction of the digestive tract.

• Use long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes on the joints. Always massage toward the direction of your heart

• Massage the ankles, feet and toes. 

Now that you have finished the massage, it’s a good time to sit for meditation and a few rounds of pranayama (breathwork) for 5-15 minutes so the oil can absorb deeper into the skin. After your seated practices, enjoy a warm bath or shower. Avoid excessively soaping as this can remove all the oil and dry out your skin. Towel off by gently blotting the towel over your body.

You can add this practice to part of your daily Yoga ritual or self-care routine, or practice Abhyanga on it’s own to feel balanced and rejuvenated!