The birthing of Ayurvedic Massage
Abhyanga is a form of massage rooted in an Ayurvedic practice that dates back thousands of years. The word Abhyanga is derived from the root language Sanskrit where it is two words. Abhi means ‘towards’ and anga, means ‘movement.’ We will talk about the significance of this name in a little bit. I come from a family that regularly practices Ayurvedic massage. While this may seem like a fad or something exotic from far away lands to many, it was a common practice to me. The kids in my family have been raised on oil massages since we were infants.
Healing of Human Touch; Medicine or Miracle?
This may not seem like relevant information to skin care, the importance of touch is not to be overlooked. Many researchers who study human development emphasize skin-to-skin contact between baby and parent can be a benefit to both parent and child. Consistent emotional engagement with infants can speed up their development and self-awareness. Human touch has been known to be transformative even miraculous among premature babies and often used as therapy with children in the NICU. Hence I am a firm believer that massage is one of the most effective ways to keep our bodies and minds healthy.
Ayurvedic Massage and How it Shaped My Life.
I have come in contact with casual scenes of Abhyanga being performed as a child. I remember running around in the courtyard on one of many trips to India and seeing this laborious yet clearly relaxing task being performed. My grandmother used to warm up oil in a bowl and give me a massage as a baby, and I've done the same for both my kids since they were born. As they get older, they can begin to give themselves the massage as I was taught to do. I will lay out how to do that below.
Massage or Abhyanga has innumerable benefits to physical and mental health including skin and immune system. It involves considerable amounts of oil and sometimes a one or two-person technique.
Abhyanga (meaning towards-movement) is a rhythmic massage of the body towards the direction of the movement of arterial blood. The science behind this process is to increase the blood flow toward the heart; this process will promote blood flow to our extremities which in turn will enhance and sustain mobility for years to come. Here is the principle of Ayurvedic medicine coming into play. The balance and harmony of mind, body, and spirit.
The Many Benefits of Massage Therapy.
Ayurvedic massage balances the nervous system, prevents physiological imbalances, lubricates and promotes flexibility of the muscles, tissues, and joints. But that's not all!
- Aids in slowing down the effects of aging and reversing damage caused by the environment with consistent practice.
- Promotes muscle tone, lubricates joints and prolongs flexibility.
- Stimulates your internal organs and keeps them functioning optimally
- Aids in expelling toxins and impurities through natural processes.
- Detoxifies soothes the nerves and nervous system promoting balance
- Enhances sleep and vision providing emotional stability and energy
- Softens and smoothens skin and gives your skin a healthy glow
- Relaxes and softens the tissues kneads away tightness, stress and minor tissue and nerve strain.
This massage can be done using oil, herbal powders, herbal and botanical pastes. I prefer using oils myself. Occasionally I will switch it up. My favorite is a potent blend of rich lubricating and nourishing oils naturally scented to leave you feeling exhilarated.
Grab a bottle of my favorite Synergy Ayurvedic Body Oil which is not only an amazing blend but a thing of beauty!
Massage your body with love and patience for 15-20 minutes. Here are the recommendations for frequency and oil type, based on your specific skin type. To read more on narrowing down your skin type for the practice of Ayurvedic massage click HERE.
- For dry skin practice massage 4-5 times a week.
- For sensitive and freckled skin 3-4 times a week
- For oily skin 1-2 times a week should work beautifully.
Synergy Body Oil is great for all three skin types including combination skin types. It is made with emollient Coconut Oil, hydrating Shea Butter, shine and glow promoting Macadamia and Walnut Oil, with the decadence of Evening Primrose) and fresh blend of botanicals including rose and chamomile infused into the oils.
The concept of the massage right now may seem appealing to you. It would be great if we had someone always around to give us a massage or only be able to walk over the corner massage parlor and get one whenever we want. But I know that is not a reality for many of us. It indeed isn't for me. But we don't have to be deprived. We can give ourselves the massage adhering to a few simple steps. I don't want to be inappropriate but a romantic date night with your loved one can start or end with an excellent full body massage. What can be more intimate than promoting health and well being through physical touch? Grab our Synergy and plan that date night to wow your other half with.
Your Body and Massage
This is my method of self-massage and care. You can use it as is or adapt it to suit your needs. I have Vata type skin V type or dry skin during the winter months, and this is when I use this method regularly.
My toddler gets a massage every night as part of her pre-bath routine. I can definitively say that she is much more relaxed and sleep better when she gets this massage and for her, I use a combination of jojoba and almond oils. Babies have naturally balanced skin and do not need much in the way of supplementing hydration. This is partially because they have "new skin" a balanced diet and less exposure to the elements and impurities of diet and pollution.
For my self- massage routine I start with warm oil about 1/4 cup in a bowl and let it sit in a larger bowl of hot water to warm the oil up to a little above body temperature. Test the heat level by putting a drop on your inner wrist; oil should be comfortably warm and not hot. This helps with comfort as well as stimulates the skin.
I usually lay a towel over my vanity chair (My leather covered seat wouldn't fare well with regular oil massages)
I apply oil first to the crown of my head and work slowly out from there in gentle circular strokes. I spend a couple of minutes massaging my entire scalp.
Moving on to the face, I massage in circular motions my forehead, temples, cheeks, and jaws (always moving in an upward movement).
I use long strokes on my arms and legs and circular strokes on the elbows and knees. Always massage toward the direction of your heart. I move toward the abdomen and chest in broad, circular motions.
Then I finish the massage by spending a couple of minutes massaging my feet where the nerve endings of essential organs.
I usually sit still and relax my muscles and practice deep breathing for about 15-20 minutes allowing the oils to absorb and penetrate into my skin and also being in a semi-meditative state allows this practice to work beyond my skin and help calm and soothe my mind.
I usually take a warm bath if time permits over the weekend or quick shower on a busy day or night. I use a mild soap that is non-stripping to my skin and my go to these days is Chandan Sandalwood Luxury Soap.
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