Ayurveda is known as ‘the science of life’. It is an ancient healthcare system designed to prevent and cure disease with a holistic approach to treating the mind, body, soul & the emotions altogether.
Self-love practices nourish every component of the Ayurvedic quadrant, including:
The Mind – they are incredibly relaxing, allowing you to take your mind off everyday concerns
The Soul – they nourish that part of you that money can’t buy
The Emotions – they resemble the feelings of true, unconditional love
The Body – they connect you with your true self and the skin you’re in.
We can get so caught up in the forward thrust of the rat race that it is easy to misplace our sense of our physical form. Life seems to happen so intensely in the mind. When did you last stop and ask your body how it was truly feeling? How is your digestion? Are you getting enough sleep? Does your skin look happy & healthy? Do you have an appetite or are you just eating for the sake of it? Are you getting enough exercise? Is your food truly nurturing you?
A daily ritual or routine can help recentre your focus and allow even just a little more time for you to be you, and to love yourself. Abhyanga is an Ayurvedic practice that involves a warm-oil self-massage. It is believed that the effects of Abhyanga are similar to those received when one is saturated with love, creating a deep feeling of stability and warmth.
There are so many reasons to adopt a daily Abhyanga practice into your life, including improved circulation, deeper sleep, muscle tone, prevention of arthritis and joint pain, stimulation of internal organs – improving digestion, improved lymphatic function & detoxification, reduction in the signs of aging and most importantly stress relief – the leading cause of many diseases.
There are no rules to Abhyanga, but this is a simple format to get you started on your journey of daily self-love:
Warm some oil (black sesame, jojoba, coconut in summer or mustard seed in winter)
Find a comfy seat or cushion
Apply oil first to the crown of your head and work slowly down from there throughout your scalp
Massage your face in a clockwise motion on your forehead, temples, cheeks, jaw and even your ears
Use long strokes on the limbs (arms and legs) and circular strokes on the joints (elbows and knees)
Massage the abdomen and chest in broad, clockwise, circular motions. Feel it assist your GI Tract with breaking down any blockages
Finish the massage by spending at least a couple of minutes massaging your feet. Feet are a very important part of the body with the nerve endings of essential organs
Sit with the oil for 5-15 minutes in meditation if possible so that the oil can absorb and penetrate into the deeper layers of the body
Enjoy a warm bath or shower and slip into your day with a conscious connection to every part of your physical form
It is ideal to begin the day with Abhyanga as it will help to lubricate your joints, preventing injury. Otherwise, before bed to wind down from the day and slip into a peaceful sleep.
Whichever way you choose to incorporate Abhyanga into your day, allow it to fully connect you with your physical form and to stay present in each moment.