This past Fall I was able to take some time out and participate in one of my favorite types of getaways with one of my favorite yogis. It was a lovely weekend of practicing yoga and learning about Ayurveda at Se-tu in the mountains of Vermont with Emilie Reid and a group of wonderful yogis.
I was familiar with Ayurveda, but hadn’t really taken the time to get a good handle on the basics. One of the new things Emilie taught us about was Abhyanga oil massage. It is especially helpful in the winter when things tend to get dry and cold. We used a blend of sesame and sunflower oils and I felt warmed up for several hours afterwards.
I’ve attached a wonderful video Emilie made going through things in detail below, but here are the basics:
Choose your oil or oil blend - this is where you can really customize things. Different oils have different therapeutic strengths. Toasted sesame oil is nice and warming, while safflower oil is great for musculoskeletal soreness and coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties. For the adventurous, you can also infuse your oils with medicinal herbs and further boost the benefits.
Place your oil in a small glass bottle and then warm it up by placing it in a mug of warm water for a few minutes before you’re ready to start
Massage with the warmed oil - using a few drops at a time start at your feet and work your way up using a small amount of oil at a time. For joints, smaller circular motions often feel best while on the long bones and larger areas, longer strokes. When an area feels “done” move on to the next.
Treat yourself to some nourishing self care during the cold dry days of winter in New England and try it yourself at home.
Emilie walks us through how to Abhyanga (shared with permission from Emilie Reid of Seasonal Intentions)