Abyhanga

In Ayurveda, massage is highly praised as a daily practice to nourish the body and help it remove toxins and waste. Receiving regular massage helps the body to regulate proper digestion, induce deep sleep, relax the muscles, nerves, and bones, and remove blockages in the vayu (wind channel) that could be causing pain in the body. Abhyanga is recognized to increase vitality and generally makes life more joyful.

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Benefits

Nourishes the entire body—decreases the effects of aging
Imparts muscle tone and vigor to the dhatus (tissues) of the body
Imparts a firmness to the limbs
Lubricates the joints
Increases circulation
Stimulates the internal organs of the body
Assists in the elimination of impurities from the body
Moves the lymph, aiding in detoxification
Increases stamina
Calms the nerves
Benefits sleep—better, deeper sleep
Enhances vision
Makes hair (scalp) grow luxuriantly, thick, soft and glossy
Softens and smoothens skin; wrinkles are reduced and disappear
Pacifies Vata and Pitta and stimulates Kapha

What to expect?

The first step in receiving Abhyanga is to meet with your practitioner to establish your doshic constitution and discuss the desired outcome of your treatment.

Once your constitution is discovered and a plan has been made you are ready to book your first session.

Each Abyhanga session begins in a similar way to traditional western massage. In a private room, the client will fully dress down and lay on the massage table, face down, between the top and bottom sheets, fully covered by the top sheet and blanket.

Once the client is fully on the table and covered the practitioner will enter the room.

Warmed oil that has been mixed specifically for the doshic needs of the client is applied to the body starting at the top of the head (if you do not want oil in your hair please let your practitioner know ahead of time) and working down the body to the souls of the feet. The client will then turn face up and the process begins again. Starting at the top of the forehead and working down to the souls of the feet. Gentle massage is applied to the face and gentle pressure is applied to the marma points to relive additional tension. The oil is applied with medium to light pressure to work the oil into the tissues while inducing deep relaxation.

Proper draping of the sheets is done with care to ensure that the client is covered and comfortable during the entire duration of the session.

Abhyanga is often recommended to be combined with other ayurvedic services such as Shirodhara or Netrabasti. It can be received as a 60-minute or 30-minute session.

Abhyanga Oil

The oil used for your treatment is chosen to meet the specific needs of your constitution. I often use pre blended oil specially desgned for Vata, Pitta or Kapha dosha, but I may add additional herbs or oils depending on treatment. Your oil is chosen to create harmony with in your body by balancing the doshas.

To furher explain, if you tend to suffer from skin irritations that leave your skin hot and red, oil that is designed to shooth and cool the skin will be applied. However if your focus is to ground and warm the body, a heavy warming oil that creates a sense of mental peace will be applied.

You will meet with your practitioner to discus your desired out come before booking your session.

Post Treatment

It is important to remember that the Abhyanga is a dosha-balancing, health-giving practice. So the abhyanga can cause some amount of temporary strain on the body during the process of restoring the body to its state of health. Its important not to strain your body further post treatment

Important DONT’s on the Abhyanga Massage Day

Avoid contact with the hot sun
Don't eat difficult-to-digest food, sour or spicy food
Try to avoid a long drive
Skip the gym or any extreme exercise after treatment
Don't stay up late
Refrain from overusing your devices (phone, computer, TV)
Avoid sweet, mucous-producing foods
Don't take an afternoon nap

Do NOT take an afternoon nap after Abhyanga therapy!

Your eyes are an important organ for releasing excess heat from the body. If you close your eyes to nap post-therapy you may inhibit your body's natural process of releasing heat, keeping it in the body. This is especially important for anyone dealing with increased pitta in the body.

Here is what you should DO post-Abhyanga therapy

Stay hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of room-temperature water
Use the restroom as often as necessary. Avoid holding or delaying once the urge to eliminate strikes. Toxins are released from your body through the waste channels (sweat, urine, feces).
Eat all meals at a decent hour and avoid excess snacking
Eat a well-cooked meal of fresh foods that are easy to digest
Enjoy a relaxing day and create a tranquil environment
Lead a day of moderation and balance

Daily Abhyaga

Abhyanga or self-massage should be done daily. Though a self-massage is not as in-depth as a massage treatment, you can still benefit greatly from the self-care routine.

On the surface level, daily massage helps to keep your skin hydrated, strong, and healthy. If you go deeper you will find that daily massage can increase circulation and the flow of lymphatic fluid. These two functions alone can have a dramatic impact on the quality of your health. Daily massage has a direct impact on the health of your nervous system and can balance your doshas.

Depending on the season, environment, and your doshic balance, the style and frequency of massage and oil used will vary.

There is no greater expression of self-love than anointing ourselves from head to toe with warm oil!

If you would like to learn more about daily massage and how it can increase your health you can book an education Ayurvedic session with me at the Wellness Lounge.

Many kinds of oil can be used for daily massage but my favorite is the Dosha-specific blends from Banyan Botanicals.