What Is Abhyanga?
Abhyanga is the Sanskrit word for massage
given to the entire body. It is an integral part of the daily routine
(Dincharya) recommended by oldest healthcare system for maintaining good
health. For thousands of years people have used Abhyanga to maintain health,
benefit sleep patterns, and increase longevity. It has also been used as a
medicine for certain disorders.
Abhyanga is the anointing of the body with
oil. Often medicated and usually warm, the oil is massaged into the entire body
before bathing. For thousands of years, people have used abhyanga to maintain
health, benefit sleep patterns, increase longevity. It has also been used as a
medicine for certain disorders. The Sanskrit word sneha can be translated as
both "oil" and "love". It is believed that
the effects of abhyanga are similar to those received when one is saturated
with love. Like the experience of being loved, abhyanga can give a deep feeling
of stability and warmth. Sneha is subtle; this allows the oil/love to pass through
minute channels in the body and penetrate deep layers of tissue.
In Ayurveda, it is believed that there are seven layers of tissue in the body
(called dhatus). Each successive layer is more concentrated and life-giving.
For sneha to reach the deepest layer, it is believed that it must be massaged
into the body for 800 matras, roughly five minutes. To give this kind of
attention to your entire body, you may need about fifteen-minutes. Considering
the benefits that have been gained by people for thousands of years,
fifteen-minutes per day is a minimal amount of time.
What Should Be
Used For Massage?
Herbalized massage oils contain herbs known
for their ability to strengthen the physiology and balance the mind. So the
daily massage with a herbal massage oil has twice the beneficial power - the
benefits from the performance of the actual massage and the added healing
wisdom of the herbs.
Brahmi, Shatavari and Nirgundi are some
Ayurvedic herbs you'll find in herbalized massage oils. Shatavari is renowned
for its nourishing effect on the physiology. Narayani
is the other name of Shatavari in Ayurveda and it means helpful in any way
either you are taking it orally or topically or as nasya or may be as ear
drops. It pacifies vata and pitta. It is very much useful as tonic (Balya) to
general body weakness, hair, headache and all vata disorders.
Apart
from this many herbal oils are also used like dhanvantarum oil,elaadikerum
oil,ksheerbala oil, bala aswagandha oil etc.
How Abhyanga Is
Performed?
This herbal oil massage should be performed
in the morning, before your bath or shower however you can enjoy it any time
according to your ease. A daily full-body Bliss vata oil massage acts as a
powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind and body. Try whole body Bliss vata
oil massage on a daily basis preferably, otherwise on alternate day or twice a
week according to your comfort. It is nourishing, pacifies Vata, pitta and
Kapha, relieves physical and mental fatigue, provides stamina, pleasure and
perfect sleep, enhances the complexion and the luster of the skin, promotes
longevity and nourishes all parts of the body.
There are however,
five general strokes that are used in traditional massage. These are sweeping,
tapping, kneading, rubbing, and squeezing.1 sweeping is applied from the navel
out toward the distal areas of the body in brisk, straight strokes. On the
upper body, sweeping starts at the navel, sweeping up to the shoulder and then
sweeping down to the hands. Sweeping is used to open and close a body area and
are repeated up to twenty five times on one area. Sweeping warms the tissue and
revitalizes the limbs and feel invigorating.
Tapping is used to
awaken the body, alert the nerve endings, and increase circulation. It is done
with open palms and relaxed fingers. After the area has received the tapping
technique, it is kneaded at a depth that is tolerable to the client. The area
is kneaded thoroughly and completely before the therapist moves on to the
fourth technique, which is rubbing. Rubbing can be done on dry skin or
performed with oil. It can be deep or light and superficial. Although some
specific techniques rub in a counterclockwise direction, most often the rubbing
is in clockwise circles.
The fifth step
in the massage sequence is squeezing. Using both hands, the therapist lifts an
area of muscle with a squeezing and crossing torque-like motion. In bony areas
such as the fingers and toes, a combination of squeezing fingers and toes, a
drop of oil is placed on the finger so that it fills the gap between the nail
and the flesh. The massage sequence ends for each body area just as it began
with straight sweeps working out from the navel to the distal areas of the
body.
Abhyanga massage is a gentle
but firm whole body massage from head to toe using warm medicated oils. Oils
are chosen according to the Prakruti (psychosomatic constitution) and the
illness.
The massage is done in a soft
rhythmic way with one or two persons massaging at the same time for forty five
to sixty minutes.
After the massage a steam bath
or hot shower is highly recommended.
Abhyanga massage is a deeply
relaxing, rejuvenating experience as well as a treatment in certain illness.
A regular Abhyanga protects from stress,
anxiety, exhaustion and Vata disorder. It nourishes the body, extends the life
span, provides good sleep, improves the skin texture, improves the vision and
provides better physical stability.
Benefits
Of Abhyanga:
Abhyanga treatment is the best way to
control and balance Vata in the body. Vata is the predominant entity in the
sense of touch and skin is the organ of touch.
1. Increases
circulation, especially to nerve endings
2. Toning
of the muscles and the whole physiology
3. Calming
for the nerves
4. Lubrication
of the joints
5. Increased
mental alertness
6. Improved
elimination of impurities from the body
7. Softer,
smoother skin
8. Increased
level of stamina through the day
9. Better,
deeper sleep at night
Balance Vyanavata and Pranavata
10. Nourishes
Shleshka kapha and Bhrajaka pitta
11. Relieves
fatigue and mental exhaustion
12. Pumps
up circulation upto deeper level (microcirculation), especially to nerve
endings
13.
ones up the muscles and the whole
physiology
14.
Calming and soothing for the
nerves
15.
Lubricates joints and surrounding
structures
16.
Helps Increase mental alertness
17.
Drains out day to day to stress
18.
Improved elimination of impurities (Ama)
from the body
19.
Helps increase the smoothness and softness
of skin
20.
Increases level of physical and
mental stamina
21.
Promotes better quality of sleep
Benefits of
applying oil to the scalp (Murdha taila):
- Makes hair grow luxuriantly, thick, soft and glossy
- Soothes and invigorates the sense organs
- Removes facial wrinkles
Benefits of applying oil to the ears (Karna purna):
- Benefits disorders in the ear which are due to increased Vata
- Benefits stiff neck
- Benefits stiffness in the jaw
Benefits of applying oil to the feet (Padaghata):
- Coarseness, stiffness, roughness, fatigue and numbness of the feet are
alleviated
- Strength and firmness of the feet is attained
- Vision is enhanced
- Vata is pacified
- Sciatica is benefited
- Local veins and ligaments are benefited
A daily full-body oil massage therefore
acts as a powerful recharger and rejuvenator of mind and body.
Regards.
DR.SAURABH SHARMA
B.A.M.S, D.N.H.E., N.D.D.Y.,
D.Y.N
Maharaishi Ayurveda
Hospital
BP-block,Shalimar bagh(w),
New Delhi-110088
