Learning to Heal Yourself with Ayurvedic Oil Massage

Ayurveda, India’s traditional system of medicine, is thousands of years old and often hailed as the oldest continuously practiced health system in the world. The tools of Ayurveda help to cultivate whole-person well-being through the development of seasonal eating and sleep habits, daily care of your sense organs, yoga and meditation, and connection with nature. At the heart of Ayurveda lies the ability to foster a deeper connection with ourselves, our community and through an intimate connection with our ever-changing natural world.

Dr. Anusha Seghal , BAMS, MD of Kripalu School of Ayurveda Faculty says ”Ayurveda really works at an individual level. It is very personalized. There is a concept in Ayurveda of the macrocosm and the microcosm, which means what we find around us in the outer universe are the same components that we find within us. So it's really trying to understand the basic requirements for our health and longevity and how we can utilize what we have in our environment or in nature to support our health.”

The Ayurvedic Oil Massage is an important part of an Ayurvedic healthcare routine and we just love seeing it taught and practiced as a powerful way to heal oneself in this video of our 650-Hour Ayurvedic Health Counselor Certification.

 
Here is how to get started with an Ayurvedic oil massage of your own:

How to do it: 

• Choose an oil blended especially for your constitution (vata, pitta or kapha) or get a good organic cold-pressed base oil—sesame for vata and kapha, coconut or sunflower for pitta. Keep your oil in a bottle or jar in your bathroom. You can warm it if you like by soaking in warm water in the sink, or apply at room temperature.
• Begin at the feet, making circular motions around the joints and up-and-down strokes on the long bones and torso. You can also apply the oil to your scalp if you intend to wash your hair. Once it’s applied, let it stay on for [at least] a few minutes before you get into the shower or tub.
• Once in the warm water, don’t soap off the oil—allow the warmth of the shower to drive it into your skin. You can soap and wash your hair, and just pat dry with a towel when you get out.