Ayurveda Practice
Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic practices. It originated in India where it is believed that your health and wellness stem from a balance between your mind, body, spirit and your environment.
This practice has been referred to as a form of medicine but it should be noted that there is no scientific research that has been conducted or is currently being conducted on Ayurvedic practices. That being said, it has been practiced for over 3000 years and resulted in many people changing their lifestyle practices to help maintain or improve their overall health. There have been no noted cases where Ayurveda has caused illness or ill health.
As a holistic practice there are many ways to incorporate Ayurveda into your life. You can speak with an Ayurvedic Practitioner and decided whether or not to eat an Ayurvedic diet, seek Ayurvedic treatments, practice Yoga or engage in Ayurvedic massages. In this blog we will focus on The Ayurvedic Massage or Abhyanga which is a form of self massage.
Those who practice this ancient holistic form of wellbeing believe that every individual is made up of five basic elements: ether, air, earth, fire and water. These individual elements exist in each of us in differing amounts which then create 3 distinct doshas. The doshas or energies are known as Pitta, Vata and Kapha. Pitta, Vata and Kapha all exist within each of us in varying amounts as well, but typically we have one dominant dosha which then dictates how we can best go about balancing ourselves once a health imbalance occurs.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta Dosha is of the fire and water elements. It loosely translates into a fiery persona and indicates an overheating or fire in the body. The water element helps regulate this fire. Pitta dosha governs the health of skin and hair and if there is an excess of pitta in our bodies our skin health can be affected negatively. If your pitta is out of balance you may notice skin ailments such as eczema, heat rashes, rosacea, dermatitis and other types of inflammatory skin conditions. In our hair, we can end up with thinning and greying hair as well as dandruff or a flaky itchy scalp.
Vata Dosha
Vata Dosha is of air and ether elements and translates into wind. It governs movement, our nervous systems and our mental health. Air is the active element in the vata dosha where the ether (or space or emptiness) is the regulator. In skin care if your vata dosha is out of balance it is indicated by dry skin or constriction in the movement of your connective tissue. In hair care it would be indicated by dry, frizzy, damaged hair with spit ends.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha Dosha is of earth and water and as unappealing as it sounds it translates to mucus, lubrication or that which binds together. This dosha governs our bodily fluids, our carriers of nutrients, our joints and bones. Kapha dosha has the earth as the main element. Water acts as the regulatory or counterbalance for this dosha. You can imagine your skin if this dosha is out of wack; pimples, white heads and water retention or puffiness. In your hair care you will notice oily scalp, oily dandruff build up, slow hair growth or no hair growth.
Remember, there is no one dosha that is better than the others. All have varying important characteristics and counterbalances. All have differing amounts within each of us and all can be affected by the change in seasons. If you are unsure of your dominant dosha and would like to know more, there are several on line quizzes available for you to take.
Abhyanga
With that very brief introduction of Ayurvedic practices it’s time to look at Ayurvedic Massage and the benefits therein. The Ayurvedic massage is known as Abhyanga which in Sanskrit means oil massage or glowing body. It is the practice of massaging the entire body from your scalp to the soles of your feet with warm oils to counteract a dosha that is out of balance or using dosha specific herbal infused oils to maintain your overall health.
Like many other forms of massage, the benefits include released muscle tension, improved relaxation, decrease in stress, better sleep function and relaxation, improved circulation, increased lymphatic drainage, lower blood pressure, reduced muscle soreness, enhanced alertness and mental acuity. Abhyanga takes your holistic health one step further when you use the herbal infused oils to practice this massage.
Pitta Blend
Let’s start with the Pitta Dosha once more. Pitta or fire dosha requires the massage oil to have a cooling effect or to inherently act like water to soothe a fiery dosha. Not an easy task if the oil is heated right? But it’s the oils you use that matter. Non aggravating, light and refreshing oils such as coconut and sunflower oils are best used to maintain a balanced pitta dosha, especially those with combination skin. These oils infused with shatavari root, guduchi, hibiscus and lavender pacify the pitta dosha by reducing physical heat and calming frustration in the mind.
Shatavari root which is one of the main herbs used in the Traces of Rose Pitta Massage Blend is also a hidden treasure for skin and hair care. Shatavari has long been used not only for its cooling and anti-inflammatory effects but also for its ability to fight free-radical damage in our skin which often leads to premature aging. In our hair this miraculous herb strengthens the roots of hair, maintaining its color and luster.
Here is a list of all the herbs and botanicals used in the Traces of Rose Pitta Massage Blend
· Shatavari Root
· Guduchi Stem
· Hibiscus Petals
· Rose Petals
· Gotukola Leaves
· Lavender Flowers
· Manjistha Root
· Brahmi Leaves
Chamomile and sandalwood essential oils are also used in this blend to soothe, calm and pacify the pitta.
Vata Blend
The Vata dosha requires the massage oil to be nourishing and grounding in its constituents to counteract the air element. Persons with this dosha are often afflicted with dry skin so warming an enriching oil blend for this dosha is a truly wonderful and beneficial experience. Sesame seed oil is the main base oil in this Traces of Rose Vata Massage Blend consisting of ashwagandha, bala and valerian roots.
When applied to the skin this oil not only aids in a truly rich massage but the benefits include brighter more radiant skin, increased cellular energy, increased collagen production and a reduction of inflammation. In hair care, it will reduce the frizz, increase luster and rejuvenate the hair texture. Ashwagandha extract has increase in popularity for hair care as it is a powerful antioxidant and stimulates hair growth in those who are experiencing hair loss from hormonal or chemical imbalances.
Here is a list of all the herbs and botanicals used in the Traces of Rose Vata Massage Blend
· Ashwagandha Root
· Bala Root
· Cinnamon Bark
· Ginger Rhizome
· Lavender Flowers
· Licorice Root
· Valerian Root
Sweet Orange, Lavender and Cinnamon essential oils are also added to create a harmonizing and fragrant blend for vata.
Kapha Blend
The Kapha dosha needs a revitalizing and warming blend to counteract the sluggishness of the earth element when it’s out of balance. A spicy and energizing oil such as mustard seed oil was chosen as the base for this particular blend. To this stimulating oil we infused a specific spice blend then added a myriad of invigorating essential oils that overpower (and yes this was intentional) the scent of mustard seed oil. Not everyone can handle the distinct scent of mustard seed oil for long periods of time.
When applied to the skin, this oil blend will deeply nourish your skin providing it with antioxidants, antibacterial agents and will stimulate localized circulation on it’s own without having to have a vigorous massage performed. In hair care this oil blend will combat dandruff, deep condition hair shafts, stimulate hair growth and will prevent premature greying or signs of oxidative stress in your hair. With the essential oil blend you will not have to worry about an oily after scent, however if you have sensitive skin you may want to warn off of this particular oil or use it sparingly.
Here is a list of all the spices, roots and essential oils used in the Traces of Rose Kapha Massage Blend
· Orange Peel
· Black Pepper Fruit
· Clove Buds
· Ginger Rhizome
· Calamus Rhizome
· Juniper Berries
· Mustard Seeds
· Ginger Oil
· Rosemary Oil
· Basil Oil
· Eucalyptus Oil
· Cedar Oil
· Cypress Oil
· Peppermint Oil
Time to Practice Abhyanga
The proper way to practice Abhyanga is by applying a warm oil all over the body. Starting from the head right down to the soles of your feet. No area should be left unattended to. Tip: Make sure to have a towel or a bath sheet under you to catch the overflow of oils and prevent staining.
Pour a generous amount of oil into a separate bottle and gently warm this oil to a temperature that’s moderate for you. The skin’s temperature is 91F, anything between 91F – 97F should be tolerable for most. Tip: Use an oil warmer to keep oil at a regulated temperature, this is also more convenient and less messy than using a pot on the stove.
Begin massage to the hair and scalp in a circular motion. Move towards the forehead, face, ears and neck. When applying pressure to these areas, down ward pressure should be minimized, pulling of the skin should be minimized, upward pressure can be a little harder. Tip: facial rollers are shown to stimulate the gentle facial skin without pulling or stretching the skin which can lead to premature wrinkles.
When applying massage to your torso, clockwise circular sweeps can be used. Tip: To avoid putting stress on your inner organs and your digestive system apply the pressure toward your lower intestine to assist in digestion and the elimination processes.
With your extremities use sweeping, long strokes away from your torso as if you are pulling the stress, imbalances and irregularities out through your fingertips or your toes.
Once you reach the soles of your feet deep pressure applied with your thumb and knuckles can be used as your feet absorb shock so well. Tip: make sure to grab your toes and wiggle them around. A great way to do that is by sliding your fingers between the toes and gently rotating in a clockwise circle.
The moments after Abhyanga should be slow and easy and although this sounds counterintuitive for a kapha dosha, the oil blend will work in your favor as you sit comfortable in the oils.
You may wish to wash your skin in gentle soap after your Abhyanga session or you may choose to wrap yourself in a robe and relax, it’s completely up to you and your preferences. Tip: If you choose to wash your skin without giving the oils ample time to soak into the soles of your feet, please be mindful of where you walk and make sure to have non slip grips in your tub.
In your search for holistic health, well-being and self care, I truly hope this helps you on your journey. Find Pitta, Vata and Kapha Massage Oil Blends here at www.tracesofrose.com. And remember, Abhyanga can be and should be practiced daily for the best results.
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