Abhyanga Explained: How to Self-Massage With Body Oil

There are few greater luxuries than treating yourself to a massage. Getting a massage by a professional feels heavenly to many, but not everyone has the time, money, or even patience for it. Additionally, not everyone likes getting touched by strangers, and that is A-OK! There are plenty of other ways to ease your tension, soothe your stress, and get the same benefits, one of which being a self massage.

Self-massage and similar therapeutic techniques have been around for over 5,000 years. Even before it was customary to massage others, people in India, China, Egypt, Persia, and Japan used special oils on themselves to promote relaxation and wellness.

In addition to the mental benefits of self-massage, there are also various physical ways performing a massage on yourself can be beneficial.  Learning about the various types of self-massage, including one unique technique called abhyanga massage, could transform your self-care routine and give a whole new meaning to at-home self-care.

About Self Massage

Starting simply, self-massage is the practice of using your own hands to relieve tension in specific areas of the body. Everyone experiences physical stress differently and one of the benefits of self-massage is that you can tailor it to your exact needs at any given moment in time. Whether you hold tension in your head, neck, shoulders, jaw, hands, legs, or feet, self-massage can be administered wherever you need it most.

Common Areas for Self Massage

Some of the most common areas of the body where people perform massages on themselves include:

• Head & Neck. This includes the scalp, temples, jaw, upper and lower neck region, and the shoulders. Addressing this area is specifically useful for those who experience tension headaches or tend to hunch their shoulders up around their ears during times of stress.
• Upper Body. The upper chest, clavicle area, and stomach may also require some TLC. Tending to the clavicles (the area in between your collarbones), the arms, and even the stomach and back can be excellent for relieving sources of stress you didn’t even know you were holding.
• Lower Body. The feet, calves, and legs do so much for us. They support us as we walk through life and hold us up day in and day out. Self massage techniques for these areas can be instrumentally healing and deliver total body relaxation.

What is Abhyanga?

Abhyanga is a specific type of self-massage that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition. Ayurveda is a holistic approach to healing that originated in India over 3,000 years ago. This alternative approach to wellness incorporates herbs, yoga, meditation, and lifestyle modifications to enhance the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda is still regularly used in India and Nepal today by those who prefer a less westernized approach to general care.

The Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga brings self-massage into the fold. It focuses on the idea that the skin is one of the largest organs of the body and therefore needs to be tended to with special care. Practitioners believe that you can derive many benefits from abhyanga by massaging oil into the skin through specific strokes, patterns, and techniques.

Benefits and Contraindications of Abhyanga

How Abhyanga Can Benefit You

Many people sing the praises of this form of self-massage, saying it helps with:

• Stress relief
• Better sleep
• Improved circulation
• Skin health
• Hair health
• …and more

Keep in mind that while it’s unlikely to be detrimental, these results are largely anecdotal and not based on scientific evidence.

Potential Contraindications of Abhyanga

As with any change in habit, it’s important to take care with the activity you’re performing. abhyanga is generally considered to be safe for most people, but individuals with certain health conditions related to the skin, veins, bones, or those with open wounds should consult with a healthcare professional before getting started. Additionally, if you have blood pressure concerns, are on a medication that affects your circulation, or are unsure how to do self-massage, it’s best to consult a professional.

Those who are pregnant, have cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, and/or skin conditions are typically advised to refrain from abhyanga unless cleared by a healthcare professional.

How to Do a Self Massage With Oil

If you’re ready to get started, the only thing left to do is to learn the proper techniques! Self-massage can be administered anywhere on the body and does not necessarily require formal training. Still and all, it never hurts to have some guidance, especially if you’re interested in learning how to do abhyanga the right way.

Step 1: Choose Your Oil

Traditional abhyanga suggests warming up a body oil, which you can do by rubbing it between your palms. Avoid putting your chosen oil into the microwave or heating it up on the stove, as doing so could interfere with its makeup and may burn your skin.

Mālie Organics’ Beauty Oil is perfect for self-massage. Available in several different aromas, it’s easy to find one you love.

Step 2: Apply Circular Strokes

Self-massage is best performed with long, sweeping strokes but when you approach a joint (like the knees or elbows), pivot to circular motions to promote extra circulation. Increase the size of the rounded motions as you get to the stomach and larger muscle groups.

Step 3: Moderate Pressure

Finding the sweet spot with how much pressure you apply is key. You want to feel the muscle and/or designated area of tension without causing undue pain. Slight tension and stretching is fine but it should be followed by a release.

Step 4: Breathe!

To reap the benefits of a self-massage with oil, it’s important that you stay relaxed. Incorporate slow, deep breaths as you go about this activity to help further relieve tension.

Step 5: Absorb it All

The final step is to let your body soak in all the benefits of this practice. This means leaving the body oil on your skin, head, hair, and scalp for at least 10-15 minutes. Some people may prefer to rinse off in the shower afterwards while others simply let the oil continue to work its magic. Mālie Organics’ Beauty Oil is such a versatile product that it can be used however you like. Bring it into the shower with you for extra hair and skin hydration or let it linger long after you’ve finished your self-massage. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it. Do what feels right for you.

Ready to give yourself some much needed self-care? Start with a self-massage with body oil. Shop Mālie Organics’ Beauty Oil today and you’ll be well on your way to saying “ahhh” in no time.