How to do abhyanga?
What you will need:
oil
a container to warm your oil in
a towel or two
a stool
5-25 min of free time
Preparation
First, prepare your oil. If you are not sure which one to choose, check out this blog post for inspiration.
If the oil you are using is in a glass bottle, put it in a container with very hot water for a couple of minutes in order to warm up the oil. If your oil is in plastic packaging, pour some into a little glass jar first.
Make sure your bathroom is nicely warm and prepare the space. You can do Abhyanga standing or seated on a stool. In every case, you will need a towel or two that you can put on the floor and/or on your seat.
Massage
When the oil warms up a bit, pump a little of it on your hands and gently massage your face in circular motions. Rub your ears, neck, upper and lower back. Massage your hands, forearms, and arms with long strokes, towards the direction of the heart. The same goes for your feet and legs. Apply oil on your joints with circular strokes. Don’t forget to massage your armpits, where multiple lymph nodes are located. Spend some time anointing your breasts with oil, too. You can use both hands simultaneously, massaging the outer part first, then the bottom, and the inner part of the breasts. Massage your abdomen in big circular motions, starting next to the right hip joint, continuing clockwise.
Pay attention if there are any parts of your body you don’t want to massage. If yes, ask yourself if they wouldn’t actually need a little bit of healing touch. Abhyanga is a great practice to build a loving relationship with your body and nourish gratitude for all it does for you every single day.
If you have time, sit or stand still for a couple of minutes with the oil on your body. Get into the shower or take a bath and gently wash yourself. Be careful not to slip while your feet are still oily.
Enjoy the feeling of soft, nourished skin and a calm, peaceful mind.
Depending on how much time you have, Abhyanga can take you anything from 5 to 25 minutes, so it is manageable to practice it during your work week. Even a short massage will benefit your body and mind. During the weekend, you can maybe consider going slower and making Abhyanga a real ritual for yourself.
