What is abhyanga

Description about Abhyanga..

1. 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 Abhy anga 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.

2. 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,

3. 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.

4. 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

5. - 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.