What Is Abhyanga? Benefits Of Ayurvedic Oil Massage

What Is Abhyanga- Ayurvedic Oil Massage?

Abhyanga, pronounced "abbey - youngah," is a word in Sanskrit meaning to rub limbs. In an Ayurvedic spa setting, Abhyanga is a ritual to coax the body into the most profound state of relaxation and renewal. It is a form of Bahya Snehana, which means techniques for external oleation, such as rubbing oils into the skin.

Snehana comes from the Sanskrit word 'Sneha,' which means 'compassion,' and the word 'Snehi,' which means 'a loving fiend.'  This oil massage, Abhyanga, is one of the practices of snehana designed to help clients become loving, happy, energized, and honestly, the best person they can be. Abhyanga promises to unfold the healing qualities innate in each of us.

The effects of Abhyanga are similar to being saturated with love. Like love, Abhyanga can give a deep feeling of strength, stability, warmth, openness, and comfort. So, abhyanga works on all levels of the body-mind: body and spirit.

In Ayurveda, oil is seen as the perfect antidote to Vata, the wind energy in the body, and is responsible for all disturbances in the body that cause stress, strain, pain, and premature aging. 

Ayurvedic Massage Oil

Massage with cold-pressed organic oils has so many great benefits. Ayurvedic Massage oils help transform the body and mind. The oils used in Abhyanga are specific for a dosha, are infused with herbs and spices, or blended with essential oils to achieve particular results. 

Applying warmed medicated Ayurvedic massage oil:

• Helps balance all the doshas and subtle body energies that can cause all forms of disease by pacifying Vata dosha when out of balance. Ayurvedic oil massage influences pitta and Kapha doshas. 

• Help clear obstructions and mobilize toxins from vital energy points (marmas).

• Softens the skin, prevents dryness, combats the effect of premature aging, and creates a healthy glow in the whole body. 

• Helps the body feel light and vital and builds an immune response. 

• Calms the nervous system

• Improves physical stamina

• Improves intelligence, wit, and memory and builds confidence. 

• Improves the circulation of blood and lymph.

• Provides a source of nutrients that support healthy skin and nervous systems and balance hormones. 

Abhyanga Massage Benefits

In Ayurveda, aches and pains are caused by flow obstructions and poor circulation. Rubbing the muscles relieves tension, reduces pain, and clears obstructions. Massage also promotes a deeper breathing pattern. Breathing is one of the vital inputs for good health. 

Receiving Ayurvedic massage relaxes the muscles, nerves, bones, and the whole body. It aids the digestive system by maintaining the proper balance and circulation of body gases; it induces deep sleep, increases appetite, and generally makes life more joyful. 

Ayurvedic massage works directly and simultaneously with three systems of the human body: the blood/vascular system, the nervous system, and the lymphatic system. 

The beauty of Abhyanga massage is that it works beyond the skin and musculature systems. 

The body comprises numerous channels, or srotas, that supply various tissues of the body (dhatus). These channels are connected to the marmas and the internal organs. 

Massage stimulates activity in the channels and enhances the circulation of nutrient materials through them to their related organs. Any obstruction in the srotas or dhatues can create sickness and disease. Regular Ayurvedic massage can maintain the circulation of vital life fluids. 

Full Body:

• Softens and tones the skin

• Balances Vata Dosha

• Strengthens tissues (dhatus)

• Cleans skin and makes it lustrous and soft

• Increases strength

• Increases longevity and slows down premature aging

•  Promotes sleep

•  Improves vision

•  Increases stamina

Head:

• Prevents headache

• It prevents hair falling, early graying, or balding

• Hair becomes strong

• Skull bones become strong

• Brightens facial skin

Foot:

• It prevents hardness, stiffness, roughness, tiredness, and insensibility to touch

• Increases foot strength

• It prevents cracks in the foot and clogging of blood vessels

• Improves eyesight

• Promotes sleep

• Has aphrodisiac effect

Ears:

• It prevents ear problems, ringing in the ears

• It prevents stiffness in the neck

• Improves hearing

Abhyanga vs. Swedish Massage

• Abhyanga uses oil, never lotion.

• And it uses lots of oil- 'taila' in Sanskrit

• The oil is warmed, so the skin better absorbs it

• The oils are customized per client, season, complaint, or body part

• The oils itself is part of the therapy, helping the herbs and essential oils to be absorbed by the skin.

• Use of marma, vital energy points

• Working with meridians and the flow of subtle energy

• The benefit comes from the repetition of strokes rather than from deep work on specific areas of tension

• Often, an Ubtan, a herbal powder, is used to remove the layer of oil sitting on the skin's surface and in the pores.

Ayurvedic massage- why is it different from other massage styles

On a purely physical level, the goal of Abhyanga is to push as much oil as one can into the skin and, through massage strokes, help that oil penetrate deep into the tissues of the body. 

Ayurveda teaches layers of tissue in the body known as the seven dhatus. Each is successively more concentrated and life-giving. The goal of abhyanga is to ensure that the oil reaches the deepest of these layers.

When Is Abhyanga Recomended?

• Vata disorders - when we are cold, dry, tired, anxious, exhausted

• Excessive thirst

• Dry skin, hair, and nails

• Physical weakness

• Joint pain

• Infertility

• Insomnia

• Burns

• Mental imbalances

• Anemia

• Removing stress from the body and toxins from the mind.

Indications:

• Neuromuscular diseases

• Rheumatological problem- arthritis, lumbago

• Headaches

• Body aches

• Rejuvenation therapy

Contraindications:

• Acute fever

• Indigestion

• Blood disorders

• Diarrhea

• During the menstrual cycle

• During pregnancy

• Over infected or broken skin

• When there is high Ama or significant physical discomfort.

• During any acute illness such as fever, chills, flu, or acute indigestion

• The client has a severe medical condition (unless their doctor gives written permission)

Schedule An Abhyanga Oil Massage

Schedule an appointment to help you feel well, restore balance, clear obstructions, and encourage renewal. This service is so much more than just a regular massage. This heartfelt, hands-on technique will help you with ultimate relaxation.