Whether we’re ready or not, things are slipping away as we enter the autumn season. The light of the Sun and her warmth on our skin, the pauses from obligations as we basked in summer adventures, and the long-stretching days are now coming to a close. This might be just the right moment for us to invite more balance into our lives to ground and prepare ourselves for how cooler days could try to tip our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual balance in more ways than one. What’s one thing you could adapt or adjust in your daily routine to welcome a new equilibrium into your life with curiosity and intention?
Why Oiling?
There is no greater expression of self-love than anointing ourselves from head to toe with warm oil—this practice is called Abhyanga. A daily Abhyanga practice restores the balance of the doshas and enhances well-being and longevity.
The Sanskrit word Sneha can be translated as both “oil” and “love.” It is believed that the effects of Abhyanga are similar to those received when one is saturated with love. Like the experience of being loved, Abhyanga can give a deep feeling of stability and warmth.
A daily Abhyanga practice restores the balance of the doshas and enhances well-being and longevity. Regular Abhyanga is especially grounding and relaxing for Vata dosha imbalances, but everyone can benefit from this practice.
This classic full-body oil massage has many variations, but overall is used to balance all of the channels and tissues of the body. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this massage technique opens up physical and emotional channels, and balances the doshas and chakras. The strokes are performed with gentle pressure, improving both arterial and lymphatic circulation. A version of this can be done as a daily self-massage for regular nourishing of the skin and tissues.
This form of daily massaging with warm, organic cold pressed sesame oil or a herbal oil, calms your nervous system, awakens your tissues, and grounds your energy. Follow this practice with a warm, relaxing shower, leaving a coat of oil on the skin to absorb throughout the day. Steam baths and humidifiers can help preserve internal moisture as well.
“Touch the body, Calm the mind and Heal the Spirit”
