ABHYANGA IS SELF LOVE IN MOTION

Rituals are a great way to invoke the ancient wisdom of those who came before us, and to give ourselves the permission and the space to accept and embody the sacred. The ritual of daily routine, known as dinacharya, is a great way to infuse intentionality into your daily practices. One of those staple practices in Ayurveda is that of abhyangha.

I find it beautiful that the Sanskrit term for abhyangha is snehana, which translates to oleation, but also translates as love. Abhyangha is a practice that involves lovingly applying warm, medicated oil to oneself. It is effective in so many ways as we are applying the oil to the largest organ of the body; the skin. The daily practice of abhyangha gives us a space to open ourselves up to receiving the nourishment of the oil and to connect with your body and practice self-love.

Before performing abhyangha, it is important to select the appropriate doshic oil. Medicated doshic oils are infused with herbs to pacify a particular dosha. Vata oil is typically a base of sesame and sunflower oil and contains building herbs, while Pitta oil is formulated to cool and clear excess heat from the body. Likewise, Kapha oil is formulated to move water out of the body and help to create lightness and mobility.