Oil massage technique Although it is best to get an oil massage from a masseuse, self-massage can be quite effective too, although perhaps not as satisfying. Or, you could learn the technique and give your partner a rejuvenating oil massage. Here is how you do it: First, warm the oil, making sure it is not too hot. Then, dip the tips of your fingers into the oil and apply it all over the body lightly. Allow the oil to be absorbed by the skin for a while, say about five minutes. Then, using the fingers and the palms start massaging the whole body. Use circular massaging motions on the head and the joints, and straight motions on the limbs, back, the chest and abdomen. On sensitive areas like over the heart or on the abdomen, use light pressure. Where there are nerve endings, like the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, use extra oil, and spend more time. After you finish massaging the whole body, allow 10 to 15 minutes to relax, letting the oil and the massage do their work. Then, get into a tub of warm water or have a warm water shower. When you come out of the bath you will feel a great sense of rejuvenation and relaxation. Try and get an oil massage at least once or twice a week. You will find that it is well worth it. •Massage the oil into your body, beginning at the extremities and working toward the middle of your body. Use long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes on the joints. Massage the abdomen and chest in broad, clockwise, circular motions. On the abdomen, follow the path of the large intestine; moving up on the right side of the abdomen, then across, then down on the left side. •Massage the body for 5-20 minutes, with love and patience. •Give a little extra time and attention to massaging the oil into your scalp, ears and feet, at least once a week. Apply oil to the crown of your head (adhipati marma) and work slowly out from there in circular strokes. Oil applied to the head should be warm but not hot. •Put a couple drops of warm oil on the tip of your little finger or on a cotton ball and apply to the opening of the ear canal. (If there is any current or chronic discomfort in the ears don’t do this without the recommendation of your health care practitioner). •When you massage your feet, be sure to wash them first when you shower, so you don’t slip. •Enjoy a warm bath or shower. A vata, pitta or kapha dusting powder can help rinse off the oil without drying out the skin. You can use a mild soap on the “strategic” areas. •When you get out of the bath, towel dry. Keep a special towel for drying off after your abhyanga because it will eventually get ruined, due to the accumulation of oil. •Put on a pair of cotton socks (organic, if you can find them) to protect your environment from the residual oil on your feet. •Applying a high quality essential oil to your wrists and neck can further support balance. If you are not familiar with which essential oils are balancing for each dosha, try rose or mitti for vata, rose or khus for pitta, and hina or myrrh for kapha. •Enjoy. Benefits of External Oleation (Outlined in: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hrdayam, the great three Classical Ayurvedic Texts) Benefits of applying oil to the body (abhyanga): •Imparts softness, strength and color to the body •Decreases the effects of aging •Bestows good vision •Nourishes the body •Increases longevity •Benefits sleep patterns •Benefits skin •Strengthens the body’s tolerance •Imparts a firmness to the limbs •Imparts tone and vigor to the dhatus (tissues) of the body •Stimulates the internal organs of the body, increasing circulation •Pacifies vata and pitta Herbal oils specific to your constitution or current condition are especially good choices for full body massage. Specific oil recommendations for each dosha are listed in the dosha-specific abhyanga sections below. Benefits of applying oil to the scalp (murdha taila): •Makes hair grow luxurious, thick, soft and glossy •Soothes and invigorates the sense organs •Helps reduce facial wrinkles Bhringaraj Oil, Brahmi Oil, and Healthy Hair Oil are especially well suited for scalp massage. Benefits of applying oil to the ears (karna puran): •Benefits disorders in and of the ear that are due to increased vata •Benefits stiff neck •Benefits stiffness in the jaw Sesame Oil is a good choice when applying oil to the ears. Benefits of applying oil to the feet (padaghata): •Alleviates coarseness, stiffness, roughness, fatigue and numbness of the feet •Feet become strong and firm •Enhances vision •Pacifies vata •Benefits local tissues, veins and ligaments Abhyanga Daily Routine • Keep about one cup of Vata reducing oil in a squeeze bottle. Pure sesame oil is perfect, however many companies offer special Vata-reducing herbal-infused oils. Play with it. • When you wake in the morning, place the bottle of oil in a pan of hot (not boiling) water until the oil is pleasantly warm. • Sit or stand comfortably in a warm room (a bathroom pre-warmed with a steamy shower and heat lamp works well) on a dedicated “oil towel”, an old towel that you don't mind getting a little oily. Make sure you're protected from any drafts. • Without being in a hurry, lovingly and patiently massage the oil into your entire body for about 10-15 minutes, beginning at the extremities and working toward the middle of the body. Use long strokes on the limbs (long bones) and circular strokes on the joints. Massage the abdomen and chest in broad, clockwise, circular motions. • Apply oil to the crown of your head and work slowly out from there in circular strokes. Oil applied to the head should be warm but not hot. • Put a couple drops of warm oil on the tip of your little finger or on a cotton ball and apply to the opening of the ear canal. (If there is any acute or chronic discomfort in the ears don't do this until it clears. • Put a couple drops of warm oil on the tip of your little finger and apply to the opening and inside of the nasal passage. (If there is any acute or chronic nasal congestion don't do this until it clears • After you've massaged your entire body, enjoy a warm bath or shower. Be sure to wash your feet off before entering the shower. Slipping is bad. • Remove the oil with a gentle soap. • When you get out of the shower, towel dry. Keep another special towel for drying off after your massage because it can eventually get ruined, due to the accumulation of oil. Abhyanga - The Ayurvedic Daily Massage: A Pleasant Prescription for Mind/Body Health How can a ritual so luxuriously relaxing, so blissfully comforting as a full-body warm oil massage rev up your body and mind, gearing them up for peak performance? There is an explanation for the seeming contradiction. Accumulated stress and toxins in the mind and body dissolve during the daily massage. A daily full-body warm oil massage therefore acts as a powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind and body. "Abhyanga" -- the ayurvedic oil massage -- is an integral part of the daily routine recommended by this healing system for overall health and well-being. Traditional ayurvedic texts wax eloquent on the benefits. Here's what one says -- "Give yourself a full body oil massage on a daily basis. It is nourishing, pacifies the doshas, relieves fatigue, provides stamina, pleasure and perfect sleep, enhances the complexion and the luster of the skin, promotes longevity and nourishes all parts of the body". Here are some of the benefits traditionally associated with regular performance of this pleasant daily ritual: •Increased circulation, especially to nerve endings •Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology •Calming for the nerves •Lubrication of the joints •Increased mental alertness •Improved elimination of impurities from the body •Softer, smoother skin •Increased levels of stamina through the day •Better, deeper sleep at night items in cart: 0 sub-total: $0.00 view cart | check out Organic Sesame Oil more... 64 fl. oz. - $39.95 16 fl. oz. - $15.95 temporarily out please call or email to backorder Organic Moisturizing Massage Oil more... 8 fl. oz. - $19.95 Organic Soothing Massage Oil more... 8 fl. oz. - $19.95 Organic Stimulating Massage Oil more... 8 fl. oz. - $19.95 Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Men more... 4 fl. oz. - $29.95 Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Women more... 4 fl. oz. - $29.95 Youthful Skin™ Massage Oil for Men more... 4 fl. oz. - $16.95 temporarily out please call or email to backorder Youthful Skin™ Massage Oil for Women more... 4 fl. oz. - $16.95 temporarily out please call or email to backorder Abhyanga provides the means for trans-dermal absorption of the healing qualities of the material used in the massage, and it helps the skin, which is the largest organ in the body, perform its diverse functions efficiently, whether it is allowing toxins to be released from the body or nourishment to be absorbed by the tissues. It is like oiling the engine of your car -- if you do it regularly, your engine will be in peak condition, and give you years and years of trouble-free performance. The ayurvedic massage is traditionally performed in the morning, before your bath or shower, to facilitate the release of toxins that may have accumulated during the previous night. You can use cured sesame oil, an herbalized massage oil, or an aroma massage oil. Maharishi Ayurveda offers them all. If you choose sesame oil, look for cold-pressed, chemical-free organic sesame oil for the best results from your massage therapy, such as the Organic Sesame Oil offered by Maharishi Ayurveda. Sesame oil contains antioxidant properties, and is helpful in protecting the skin from free radical damage. It is considered highly nourishing for the physiology. To "cure" or purify the sesame oil, heat the oil to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat once this temperature is reached, cool and store for use as needed. Up to a quart of oil can be cured at a time. Of course, you should observe safety precautions when curing oil. All oils are highly flammable. Use low heat, and don't leave the oil on heat unattended. Maharishi Ayurveda also offers pre-cured Sesame Oil for your convenience. Herbalized massage oils contain a blend of carefully chosen herbs known for their ability to strengthen the physiology and balance the mind. So the daily massage with an herbalized massage oil has twice the beneficial power -- the benefits from the performance of the actual massage and the added healing wisdom of the herbs. Country Mallow, Winter Cherry and Sensitive Plant are some Ayurvedic herbs you'll find in herbalized massage oils. Country Mallow is renowned for its nourishing effect on the physiology. Winter Cherry, a powerful adaptogenic, aids the body's natural ability to withstand stress, and helps balance the mind and emotions. Sensitive Plant helps nerve regeneration. The Maharishi Ayurveda Moisturizing, Soothing and Organic Stimulating Massage Oils are carefully blended to correct Vata, Pitta and Kapha imbalances respectively. Aroma massage oils also deliver double the benefit -- the healing aromas in the massage oil blend, if properly chosen, are particularly effective in balancing the mind and emotions while the act of the massage works on both body and mind. Maharishi Ayurveda recommends different base oils and aroma blends depending on what you are attempting to balance. Coconut oil, for example, is a cooling base oil. When combined with a relaxing aroma oil such as lavender, this massage oil will be effective in cooling down the mind, body and emotions. The Maharishi Ayurveda Relaxation, Invigoration and Cool Sensation massage oils help balance both mind and body. For special needs, ayurvedic vaidyas formulate even more targeted massage oils. For example, the Rejuvenation Oil for Men and Women are especially helpful for improving the quality of your sleep if massaged on to the lower arms, hands, lower legs and feet before bed. If you use these oils for Abhyanga, you can cut them with 50 percent of an appropriate base oil. The Youthful Skin Massage Oils for Men and Women contain herbs and essential oils particularly aimed at enhancing circulation and lubrication of mature male and female skin respectively. The Oil of Shankapushpi, in combination with other potent herbs, helps nourish the skin and the body tissues and flush toxins out of the body, so that the skin stays beautifully supple and smooth, and the mind and body are rejuvenated at a deep level. Shankapushpi is a potent medhya rasayana, very nourishing for mind, body and emotions. So how is the ayurvedic abhyanga done? Use comfortably warm massage oil. (Store your massage oil in a plastic flip-top and warm it by holding the container under running hot water for a few minutes) Dip your fingertips into the warm oil and apply it lightly to the entire body. Wait for 4-5 minutes to let some of the oil be absorbed by your skin. Then massage the entire body, applying even pressure with the whole hand -- palm and fingers. Apply light pressure on sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the heart. Use more oil and spend more time where nerve endings are concentrated, such as the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and along the base of the fingernails. Circular motions over rounded areas such as your head or joints, and straight strokes on straight areas such as your arms and legs, work best. After you're done, relax for 10-15 minutes, letting the oil and the massage do their magic. The longer the oil is on, the deeper it penetrates. During this time you can read something relaxing or uplifting, rest, or shave, cut nails, and get ready for the day. Dab excess oil off with paper towels if you like, then follow with a relaxing warm bath or shower. If your schedule doesn't allow for a daily massage, try and squeeze it in at least three or four times a week. You'll find it's worth it!