Abhyanga, a self-care practice that will change your life

Can you visualise covering and oiling yourself up with a warm aromatic oil. Massaging and giving yourself the attention and love that you long for.

This is Abhyanga. An Ayurvedic oil ritual that will nourish and moisturise your skin, calm the nervous system and increase your immunity. The oil will deeply nourish&tone body tissues, helps to remove toxins from the skin and organs, increases blood circulation, lymph drainage and improves your digestion by improving the digestive fire ( Agni).

It is definitely one of my top Ayurvedic practices that I have incorporated into my daily routine ( Dinacharya ).

Who is it for ?

It is suitable for everybody and all body types but especially for Vata ( me) and also Pitta ( I also have some excess Pitta). Vata dosha governs all the movement in the body and it hugely influences other doshas & overall wellbeing. When Vata gets out of balance, it can create stagnation in the body or we can feel unsettled, anxious and worried. Self-massage will help to ground, calm and stabilise.

It is suggested to do Abhyanga in the morning, so we can start the day in a calm and grounded way. But like with all the Ayurvedic practices, it has to be simple, fit into your day and feel natural. So that’s why I do my Abhyanga ritual in the evenings before bed as it feels so nurturing and calming before sleep.  

In the morning it warms the body and helps to get the body ready for the day/exercise. Done in the evening it soothes and helps the muscle recovery.

Best oils to use for Abhyanga :

Vata - organic sesame oil, also good during the winter season

Pitta - organic coconut oil, also good during summer season

Kapha - organic almond oil, also good for spring season

How and when to practice Self-Massage?

It’s best to do Abhyanga on empty stomach. So either before breakfast or in the evening at least 2 hours after dinner.

Warm the oil up in a safe way and you can add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil into it ( my current favourite is Geranium).

Lay a special towel on the floor where you can sit comfortably and to protect the carpet or floor from the oil. As the whole process will get oily. Cover your whole body with the oil with long soothing moves going downwards. With Abhyanga we are supporting the Apana Vayu, the elimination of toxins&waste from the body. If washing the hair then also cover your hair and scalp with the oil.

So how long should you keep the oil on? Ideally, you want to keep the oil on for 20-40mins but even just 5-10mins is better than nothing.

It is very important not to get cold while the oil is on, so you can cover yourself with special dedicated Abhyanga clothes or make sure the room is well heated.

To finish take a warm shower or bath. Try not use any soap as you want the oil to stay on the body.

So here it is. Your self-massage practice that will change your life. It truly has changed mine.

I have high Vata dominance in my constitution and that means I am naturally quiet anxious, ungrounded, scattered and spacey. Once I started to incorporate Abhyanga into my life ( about 5x a week), I fee so much more grounded, settled and calmer. 

Are you ready to bring more self-care and love into your life?