A for Abhyanga: The Ultimate Guide

Abhyanga may have been likened to a special, medicated treatment that people usually resort to when they are terribly injured. An intense form of it known as...

Ayurveda denotes the term ‘Love’ with the same word as ‘Fats’ - ‘Sneh’. And, Abhyanga is the application of ‘Sneh Dravyas’ on the body for improved health, and vitality.

Age-old tradition that begins in most Indian households right from when a baby is born – this unique process has multiple variations each tailored to remedy particular kinds of ailments or drive specific results.

Overtime, the idea of Abhyanga has been reduced to specialized Ayurvedic treatment for complex ailments. But, there are so many variations that can and should be performed at the comfort of your home. The most fascinating thing about the field is how detailed and prescriptive it is when outlining what a healthy day looks like – it’s the oldest kind of ‘Day in the life of’ content :)

‘Dinacharya’ from the words ‘Dina’ meaning day and ‘Acharya’ meaning work or activity is written down as the way to achieve optimal health and entails the following steps to begin the day for a normally healthy individual:

1. Waking up Early

2. Saying a Prayer

3. Beginning your day with Warm water and a dash of Lemon

4. Spritzing your face with some rose water

5. Oil Pulling

6. Dry Brushing

7. Abhyanga

 Abhyanga can be performed before or after exercise, or before and after bath. But it is important to firstly understand your Dosha before picking the right oil. So, here’s a quick guide:

Dosha

Vata

Characterized by : Dryness

Preferred: Sesame Oil, toasted

Alternatives: Avocado, Shea

Possible Additions : bergamot, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, coriander, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, jasmine, jatamansi, lavender, lemongrass, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, sweet orange, vanilla

Pitta

Characterized by : Sensitive, overheated Skin

Preferred : Coconut Oil,

Alternatives : Olive, Shea, Sunflower

Possible Additions : brahmi, chamomile, champa, coriander, fennel, geranium, jasmine, jatamansi, lavender, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, rose, sandalwood, spearmint, tangerine, tea tree, vanilla

Kapha

Characterized by : Normal to Oily

Preferred : Mustard Oil

Alternative : Almond, Grapeseed Oil

Possible Additions : camphor, cardamom, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, ginger, lemongrass, lime, rose, sweet orange, tea tree

Procedure:

1. Warm the oil for 5 mins. Quick way : Use a plate with hot water and place the bowl with oil in it, or take time to rub it in your palms till it is warm, before application.

2. Start with Shira (The head and scalp), cover the Sravana (ears) and Paada (foot) as key pressure points 

3. The application needs to be in the direction of the heart for the limbs and shoulder, circular around the joints, clockwise around the navel.

4. Let it sit for 5 to 15 mins before a shower for maximum benefits.

Benefits:

There are very many of them, both clinical as well as for general wellness. From an overall health perspective, anybody practicing it regularly can expect the following:

1.     Loosen toxins from the body

2.     Better Circulation

3.     Complementary to Yoga, a mindful practice to de-stress

4.     Better digestion

5.     Improved Sleep

6.     Rids skin of imbalances like dryness and inflammation amongst others.

Meditation, Yoga and Abhyanga go hand in hand. They help you listen to your body, its requirements and align with it emotionally and physically.

Begin today, and reap the benefits starting immediately and lasting a lifetime :)