Abhyanga: Your Daily At-Home Self Massage
Video by Connor Colebrook
What is Abhyanga?
pronounced [AH-BEE-YUNG-GHA]
According to Ayurveda, abhyanga is a whole body massage that is known as the “King of the King that controls Vata.” The practice of abhyanga promotes deep relaxation, eases anxiety and stress and nourishes the skin.
Practicing abhyanga is a big ritual that brings life back into your life. Abhyanga is a practice of snehana, which in Sanskrit has two meanings: oleation and love. Therefore, abhyanga is a practice of self-massage and self-love.
Benefits
Incorporating abhyanga into your dinacharya, or daily routine, has tremendous benefits.
Practicing abhyanga regularly benefits your mind and body.
Physically — Abhyanga prevents aging, strengthens your body by increasing stamina and toning your muscles, nourishes your skin, prevents wrinkles, decreases pain in the body, brings your body weight to balance and improves vision (especially if applied on the soles of your feet, as there is an intrinsic connection between your eyes and feet).
Mentally — Abhyanga calms the mind, helps promote sound sleep and pacifies Vata dosha.
Needless to say, I love practicing abhyanga and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.
It is recommended to practice abhyanga first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. However, it can be practiced in the evening to help calm the mind and promote sound sleep at night.
How to perform Abhyanga
Choose your oil. Traditionally, abhyanga is practiced using warm sesame (for vata and for kapha), coconut (for pitta) or sunflower oil (for pitta) based on your mind-body type.
Warm your oil. To warm your oil, you may use the double boiling method or simply boil water in a pot, remove the pot from the heat, and place your bottle of oil in the warm water for a few minutes or until delightfully warm.
Sit or stand, without clothing, on a towel that you do not mind ruining with oil accumulation. I recommend practicing in a warm, comfortable and serene environment.
Place a few drops of oil in the palms of your hands and rub them together. Apply the oil to your entire body (every crevice!) moving from head to toe, focusing on three key areas: your head, your ears and your feet. Use your pinky finger to apply oil to the inside of your ears.
Types of strokes: use light, Swedish-style strokes on your limbs and use a circular motion when massaging your joints. Anuloma means stroking in the direction that is away from the heart, and is cleansing. Pratiloma means stroking in the direction towards the heart, and is nourishing.
Allow the oil to absorb into your body for 15-20 minutes. Option to read your favorite book or practice light stretching during this time. Place socks over your feet to avoid slipping.
Take a shower to rinse off the remaining oil. Again, use caution when entering and exiting the tub with oil on your feet and use towels that you do not mind getting oil on. Enjoy!