Doesn’t slathering your body in warm, herb-infused oil sound like the perfect antidote to a bitterly cold winter day?  We think so!  Enter Abhyanga, an integral part of the daily routine recommended by Ayurveda that involves self-massaging warm oil all over your body, from head to toe, for overall health and well-being. It’s believed that the effects of Abhyanga are similar to the experience of being loved because it provides a feeling of grounding, warmth and stability, so it truly feels like self-love in action. But besides feeling good, here are the reasons why experts say you need to ditch the lotion and give Abhyanga a try:

·      it stimulates circulation

·      enhances the complexion

·      relieves fatigue

·      assists in detoxification of impurities from the body

·      increases stamina

·      calms the nerves

·      lubricates the joints

·      stimulates hair growth on scalp

·      helps you sleep better (& we could all use more of that these days!)

·      Increases muscle tone

·      softer, smoother skin 

Choose Your Oil

Need more reasons to become a glistening body oil goddess? Our body oils take the Abhyanga practice up a notch by including gotu kola extract, known to help reduce the appearance of cellulite, scars and skin damage and Vitamin C rich kakadu plum and amla oil, known to brighten and firm skin for an even, all over glow.

 Aum Body Oil  With organic lavender essential oil, Aum is ideal for that soul-body-mind calming effect we all love. 

 Kapha Body Oil   Kapha has a warming, energizing effect with stimulating orange, warming cinnamon and clove for an invigorating self-massage. 

The Specifics

Before you start your Ayurvedic self-massage, take a moment to quiet your mind. Start the massage with awareness, giving your full attention to each stroke. The more attention, love and awareness you deliver with each stroke, the more effective the practice is. Abhyanga can be done at any time but we recommend it immediately after the shower to help rehydrate skin and protect it during the winter season.



You’re supposed to start by massaging at the very top of your body with your forehead, temples, cheeks, jaw and even your ears and earlobes.  This should be done in an upward circular motion.  Long strokes are to be used on the arms and legs and circular strokes on the elbow and knees massaging in the direction of the heart.  The abdomen and chest should be massaged in clockwise circular strokes.  Lastly, the ritual is completed with loving attention to your feet.  Upon completion of the massage it is recommended that you allow the oil time to absorb and penetrate into the deeper layers of the body to more fully benefit from the practice.

 

Ideally, about 10 minutes should be spent each morning on the massage. However, if this time is not available on a particular day, it is better to do a very brief massage than to skip it altogether.

If simply hearing about all of these benefits isn’t enough to turn you into a self-care practicing, body oil devotee, then just try it once.  Because we’re sure that once you try this luxuriously relaxing ritual, you won’t ever want to go back to lotion again.