It’s been over a year since I was trained in Abhyanga massage therapy, and I am currently in more training going deeper in my massage and energy work training here in California.
In all my years practicing yoga, working as a Registered Nurse, and traveling to far away places to study with amazing teachers, I never realized how profoundly life changing massage, medicated oils, essential oils, and herbs can be in affecting one’s energy, creating balance, and removing toxic emotional build-up from the body.
We focus so much on food, and yes, this is so important, but we neglect what we do topically to our skin…to our body.
We bombard our skin with so many chemicals and ingredients not realizing the effect they have on us not only physically but also emotionally.
In Ayurveda, we use massage as part of an overall Ayurvedic treatment. The ultimate goal of an Ayurvedic massage is to prevent and excrete build up to toxic substances and restore the balance of energies – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that are inside the body. We use special medicated oils and herbs which vary according to the needs of the person and the Doshic imbalance.
There are 3 doshas (combination of the 5 elements): are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. You are made up of a combination of these Doshas, and when they are in balance, you are in good health – physically, emotionally, spiritually.
If they are out of balance, they can be brought back into your own individual balance completely or partially though massage specific to your constitution using medicated oils and herbs.
Medicated oils can be given and prescribed by your Ayurvedic practitioner, but there are powerful, non-medicated oil formulas and recipes you can create right at home to help shift and balance your own energy starting today.
VATA CONSTITUTION:
Vata dominant people have a tendency towards variability and dryness. If you are Vata dominant, you should receive oil massage in the morning or before a warm shower/bath in the evening to lubricate the skin and protect the joints.
Vata people are very sensitive to touch requiring warm oil. Sesame oil is the best for alleviating dryness, coldness, stiffness and pain along with ‘hot’ herbs and essential oils such as ginger, basil, camphor, jatamansi, and sandalwood.
PITTA CONSTITUTION:
Pitta people usually have a rapid metabolism, run hot, and have a tendency towards inflammatory type of diseases. Your skin is usually sensitive and gets inflamed or breaks out in rashes easily.
Cooling massage oils are best for Pitta dominant people. Coconut oil and sandalwood oil help to cool body and mind. Sunflower oil can also be used if the skin is inflamed. Cooling essential oils that can be added in the carrier oil are lemongrass, lavender, jasmine, rose, and sandalwood.
KAPHA CONSTITUTION:
Kapha people tend to have thicker, oilier skin. If you are a Kapha dominant person, you need massage to improve your circulation and lymph drainage. Kapha people usually don’t require any oil and massages are best done with powdered herbs. When you do use oil, just use a small amount and use ‘hot’ oils such as mustard oil or sesame oil. The massage should be vigorous and deep.
Essential oils beneficial to Kapha constitutions are basil, ginger, clove, cinnamon, sage, patchouli, eucalyptus, and wintergreen.
The benefits of receiving massage are numerous —>
- nourishes the body
- promotes longevity
- induces proper sleep
- increases strength of the slin
- improves ability to withstand stress and strain
- overcomes fatigue
- helps to release endorphin hormones which helps prevent depression
Even if you are not able to able to find an Ayurvedic practitioner who can administer an Abhyanga massage treatment, you can locate a good massage therapist and bring them your own oil (based on the formula I have provided for you for your own particular constitution), or you can give yourself your own massage using these formulas.
So as I mentioned earlier, food is important, but there’s so much more to finding balance, eliminating toxicity, and improving your physical and mental health.
When you join by January 20th, you get to bring a friend for absolutely FREE (2 for the price of 1)! Detox begins January 28th, pre-detox phase and our first call is on January 24th. All the details are HERE.
I would love hear from you and how you enjoyed creating your own Ayurvedic body oil. Hit reply and leave me a message. xo
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