Abhyanga: The Āyurvedic Self-Massage Practice That Does More Than You'd Expect

A definitive guide to Abhyanga (self-massage with oil). Discover how to unlock all the benefits of this practice for yourself. And in the process, learn why it has held its ground as an essential wellness technique for centuries.

Can you spare 10-20 minutes for yourself?

It doesn't seem like a big ask. But it can be surprisingly tricky to carve out a few precious minutes of you-time between work, household chores, and the kids. Self-massage can seem like a luxury, with constant demands for your attention coming from all directions.

Yet you know, taking care of yourself first allows you to care for others more effectively. And while Abhyanga (the Āyurvedic technique of anointing one's body with warm oil) may initially seem cumbersome, you'll soon discover how easily it fits into your lifestyle, without disruption.

Indeed, I would go as far as to say it is one of the simplest ways to invite greater well-being into your everyday routine. And it's a practice you can stick to without needing to hunt for specific tools or make special appointments.

If that sounds good to you, let's go ahead and get into all things Abhyanga. In this post, we'll look at:

1. What Āyurvedic self-massage is all about
2. The benefits Abhyanga offers you

What Is Abhyanga / Āyurvedic Self-Massage?

Self-care through oil-based massage (Abhyanga) is a practice highly-recommended by Āyurvedic teachings. While we in the West usually think of massage as an indulgent spa treatment, in India it is a familiar practice for people of all ages, including children. Check out my Instagram post on infant massages here.

When utilised daily, Abhyanga forms part of your dinacharya, a daily routine promoting health and longevity. Think of it like brushing your teeth every morning, a ritual that maintains your dental hygiene and guards against decay.

In much the same way, anointing your body with oil safeguards against diseases by placating any aggravated doshas. The oils themselves (I recommend organic ones) are nourishing and hold healing properties. Not only do they provide hydration to your skin, but they carry nutrients deeper into your body as the oil is absorbed.

The act of the massage itself is a sensual practice. It heightens your sense of touch and promotes the natural flow of prana (vital energy) throughout your body. In the process, you embrace self-care and ground yourself in self-love.

Benefits Of Abhyanga

When strapped for time, a single, holistic practice is better than needing multiple rituals to target different areas individually. That's one of the reasons Abhyanga is a winner in my book. Its well-being effects are widespread and far-reaching. Here are just some of the many results you can expect:

Physical Health Benefits Of Abhyanga

• Hydrates and nourishes your skin, optimising its ability to serve as a protective barrier and keep out germs
• Improves skin texture and elasticity. Healthy skin glow? Yes, please!
• Helps tone your muscles, lubricate your joints and promotes flexibility for improved physiology (a fitter you is always a plus)
• Helps remove toxins by dislodging impurities trapped in the soft tissues of your body (no one wants those nasties hanging around, right?)
• Boosts blood circulation, allowing the oil's nutrients seeping in through your pores to go deeper into your body (food isn't your only source of nutrition)
• Promotes metabolism for increased energy, not only boosting your body's internal processes but also keeping you going for longer (perfect when you have a zillion things to get done and want to ward off fatigue)
• Improves clarity of sight (physical and mental). Maybe this is how Superman developed his X-ray vision 😉
• Aids longevity, by reducing the effects of ageing; and annihilates the effects of an aggravated Vata

Mental Health Benefits Of Abhyanga

• De-stresses and calms while removing tension so you can approach your day without the anxiety of a busy bee
• Brings clarity and focus, enabling you to conquer your to-do list
• Grounds you by relieving stress, so you do not feel as exhausted and burdened by unhelpful thoughts
• Helps you wind down at the end of the day, meaning you can get a better night's sleep

Spiritual Health Benefits Of Abhyanga

• Allows you to break away from busy work to focus inwards. It's an opportunity to check in with yourself and get in tune with your core being.
• The physical act of self-massage can ease you into a space of mindfulness and meditation (without the challenge of having to shut down those normally distracting thoughts)
• Encourages you to accept yourself through self-love and understanding
• Ushers in a sense of peace and connectedness across mind, body and soul
• Recharges your spiritual energy, which may be zapped when your focus is primarily on others

With so many benefits, it's clear that self-massage is well worth a try. So how exactly can you perform Abhyanga? I'll walk you through the practice itself, step by step, in the next post.