Holistic healing

What is Ayurvedic massage? Healing Benefits + At-Home Tips

Better sleep, improved digestion and less stress are just some of the benefits of everyday Ayurvedic massage

Who doesn’t love a massage? The soft music, the low lighting, the divine smell, the slow unfurling of your muscles, one by one, as tension and stress melt away… But in the holistic healing practice of Ayurveda, its traditional Indian Ayurvedic massage (abhyanga) is so much more. Especially when you can do it yourself – no massage therapist required.

Sound good? You’ll be pleased to know there are even more Ayurvedic treatments, types of massage and beauty rituals that nourish your skin, hair and body. But for now, read on to discover exactly what Ayurvedic massage is, how it can help balance the energy in your body (also known as your doshas: vata dosha, pitta dosha and kapha dosha) and its far-reaching health benefits.

What is Ayurvedic massage?

In Ayurvedic practice, massage therapies don’t just relieve tension from the muscles. They focus on the skin too, using herbal oils that are personalised to your dosha type to help harmonise the energy in your body. (Don’t know your dosha yet? Take our quick quiz.) This delicate balance is the core principle of Ayurvedic healing – its practices aim to create an even level of vata, pitta and kapha, boosting your physical health and your emotional wellbeing.

In fact, the term given to massage in Ayurveda is snehana. Sneha means oil, ana to apply. But sneha also means love, so when having an Ayurvedic massage you are not only applying oil but also receiving love. And in Ayurveda, love is the one most important emotions for health, balance, harmony and longevity.

What are the health benefits?

There are copious Ayurvedic healing benefits of massage, which stem from the massage strokes releasing blocked energy and the personalised herbal oils to balance your doshas.

Stimulating the immune system
Boosting mood
Helping with concentration
Correcting circulatory imbalances
Promoting digestive fire and improving digestion
Encouraging lymphatic drainage
Releasing muscle tension
Easing anxiety
Correcting insomnia

How is Ayurvedic massage different?

“In a proper abhyanga (entire body massage), the Ayurvedic massage therapist will focus on marma points in the body. A marma point is a junction on the body where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints,” says Claire Paphitis, Ayurvedic coach and author.“ The massage technique is also thought to help clear stagnant or blocked energy from these points and allow it to flow once more, rather than only focusing on aching muscles (although it does help with those too).”

The addition of personalised oils and focus on the skin also marks it apart from other Western massages. “Plus, according to Ayurvedic medicine, it’s the hot oil that helps strengthen your digestive fire and improve your digestion” explains Dr Deepa Apte, Ayurvedic practitioner and director and head of training at Ayurveda Pura. “Warm or hot oil also helps to boost the immune system.”

Abhyanga can also be a self-massage, and you can reap these rewards as often as every day if you want to. But be warned that it’s not advisable if you have a cold or fever, suffer from asthma, have just had surgery, are menstruating or pregnant. It should also be avoided directly after a meal or if you have indigestion. Other than that, you’re good to go!

How to choose Ayurvedic massage oil

Massage oil is an important part of Ayurvedic massage treatments. However, it needs to be suited to your dominant dosha to encourage the balance of subtle energies in the body. Your therapist will choose this for you, but if you’re practicing abhyanga at home, take our quick and easy dosha quiz to find out yours. You can also read about your dosha in our complete guide.

Vata massage oil

The characteristics of Vata are light, dry, rough, clear, active, cold and mobile. This can lead to feelings of restlessness, along with a scattered mind. They often struggle with dry skin and hair, especially during winters. Of all three doshas, Vata’s benefit the most from frequent abhyanga. Sesame oil and almond oil are both an excellent match for Vata due to its nourishing and grounding qualities.

Pitta massage oil

The qualities of Pitta are oily, sharp, hot, light, mobile, and liquid. Pitta’s benefit from an oil that is cooling and calming. Oils such as coconut and sunflower oil are great choices for Pittas as they both cool your body and calm your mind.

Kapha massage oil

The qualities of Kapha are heavy, cold, moist, dull, static, smooth, dense, and oily. Since oil has similar qualities to Kapha, people with a Kapha constitution are the least likely to need regular abhyanga. The best oil to use for Kapha abhyanga will be one that is light and warm, like sunflower or sesame oil.

How to do an Ayurvedic oil massage at home

You should take at least 10 minutes to perform your Ayurveda self-massage. Be sure you’re spending adequate energy on each body part, using long gentle strokes, and really showing your body some love. And overall, remember to enjoy the experience – this is time to take for you.

Stroke your skin using a dry brush to remove dead skin and dirt from its surface as well as prepare the skin’s pores for receiving the oil.
Warm your oil – you can do this while dry brushing if warming your oil in a pot, or rub the oil between your palms if you are short on time.
Begin your massage with your scalp, start by taking some of your warm oil and rubbing it in gentle circular motions from the crown of your head outwards to the rest of your scalp. Spend a few minutes gently massaging your entire scalp, and letting your hair soak up the oil.
Move down to your abdomen, start from the right side of your abdomen and then make circular strokes up, across, and down the left side of your abdomen, repeating a few times. This is believed to help support digestion.
Next massage your arms. The proper motion is back and forth over your long bones, and a circular motion over your joints. Don’t forget to massage the ‘heart of the hand’, this marma point is found at the centre of the palm.
Massage your face, temples, jaw-line, forehead and chin in a gentle circular motion. Make sure that you’re moving with upward strokes when massaging this area of your body.
Next, massage your ears, and neck and pay extra attention to the soles of your feet and centre of the calf, as they contain all the nerve endings and important marma points.
Let the oil sit for five to 10 minutes. Don’t skip this step, as abhyanga’s deeper benefits depend on the body’s absorption of the oil and herbs. It takes a few minutes for the oil to penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin. You could use this time to drink a calming tea or practise some deep breathing.
Then take a hot shower. The heat from the shower will help the oil penetrate into your skin, which is believed to help strengthen the connective skin tissues and keep them supple. Enjoy an abhyanga massage before bed as a new self-care ritual.