The Benefits of Ayurveda Self-Massage “Abhyanga” Sculpting the Divine.

There is no greater expression of self-love than lovingly anointing ourselves from head to toe with warm oil—this practice is called Abyanga. The Sanskrit word Sneha can be translated as both “oil” and “love.” It is believed that the effects of Abhyanga are similar to those received when one is saturated with love. Like the experience of being loved, Abhyanga can give a deep feeling of stability and warmth.

A daily Abyanga practice restores the balance of the doshas and enhances well-being and longevity. Regular Abyanga is especially grounding and relaxing for Vata dosha imbalances, but everyone can benefit from this practice.

“The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected much even if subjected to accidental injuries, or strenuous work. By using oil massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts and becomes strong, charming and least affected by old age”

Benefits of Abhyanga

1. Nourishes the entire body—decreases the effects of aging

2. Imparts muscle tone and vigour to the dhatus (tissues) of the body

3. Imparts a firmness to the limbs

4. Lubricates the joints

5. Increases circulation

6. Stimulates the internal organs of the body

7. Assists in elimination of impurities from the body

8. Moves the lymph, aiding in detoxification

9. Increases stamina

10. Calms the nerves

11. Benefits sleep—better, deeper sleep

12. Softens and smoothens skin; wrinkles are reduced and disappear

13. Pacifies Vata and Pitta and stimulates Kapha

14. Abhyanga Routine and Oils

Massage your body with love and patience for 15-20 minutes. Here are the recommendations for frequency and oil type, based on the doshas:

Warm the oil (pour approximately ¼ cup into a mug and warm using a coffee-cup warmer.) Test the temperature by putting a drop on your inner wrist, oil should be comfortably warm and not hot

Sit or stand comfortably in a warm room

Apply oil first to the crown of your head (adhipati marma) and work slowly out from there in circular strokes—spend a couple of minutes massaging each part with love xx

It’s early, before dawn. Black sky with stars. I use my hands and vigorously rub my skin awake. I use my hands and sculpt to reveal the Divine within. Using circular motions around my ankles, my knees, I rouse my body with my hands for the day ahead. With my nails I scrub my scalp. With oily little fingers in my ears, I make vigorous circles, I trace around my eyes. I lift my skin from chin to temple to uplift my day.

I breathe life into my cells. As I massage I feel. As I massage, I remember. My body wasn’t always this way. Years ago parts felt distant, disconnected. There used to be a subtle self loathing that my body should be different than this. This I have rubbed away over the Years to heal and excavate myself. The practice takes less than 5 minutes.

When I rub my skin, I nourish my Soul. When I don’t feed my skin with self massage, I live a less connected life. I feel less complete and start looking outside myself for my basic bodily needs. In the practice of self massage, you become connected to your self as Creator. As creator you shape your body with your own hands.

Rubbing, sculpting, breathing, becoming a living Soul – this is the practice of self massage.

In Yoga philosophy, the left hand is the divine feminine, the right the divine masculine. Together you rub with the masculine and feminine forces of the divine to remember your divine nature, to connect with the paradox of duality in unity, to become powerfully alive.

This very simple practice of using your hands awakens the power in your hands to sculpt your reality. The ancient practice is called Abhyanga. The practice of rubbing your own flesh inculcates a plethora of benefits your don’t want to deny yourself, including dynamic longevity. Beauty isn’t skin deep, and neither is self massage.

Cate Stillman – Body Thrive