Relieve Stress and Revitalize Your Energy: Ayurvedic Self-Massage (Energy Feed #5)

The most immediate, effective remedy for stress-induced anxiety that I know is also an excellent preventative against it.

If you’re serious about relieving the symptoms of stress in your body, you need to give yourself 15 minutes a day to do it.

This is an Ayurvedic practice known as abhyanga—a self-anointment and self-massage using warm oil.  Today’s Energy Feed is a no-fuss introduction to it.

How to Nourish Your Nervous System with Self-Massage

Step 1

Choose the appropriate organic, cold-pressed oil for yourself.  Which oil to use?

• If you run dry: untoasted sesame oil.
• If you run warm or have sensitive skin: coconut or jojoba oil.
• If you run oily or easily retain water: mustard or sunflower oil.

Step 2

Warm your oil.  Pour some of the oil into a glass jar or bottle.  Boil some water.  Place your glass jar or bottle into a bowl of hot water.  This will warm the oil to the correct temperature without degrading its nourishing qualities.

Step 3

Massage from the head down to the toes. Use circular motions over the joints and abdomen. Make long strokes over the limbs and torso. Offer extra attention to any tense areas in your body.

Step 4

Leave the oil on for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Sauna and/or take a warm shower to release the oil and rinse it away.

Two Keys to this Massage

To effectively soothe the symptoms of stress in your body, it’s important you:

1. Use a gentle, firm touch throughout the whole massage.
2. Keep a consistent rhythm. If you need to count (for example, 12 circles or strokes per body part) to keep a rhythm, do that!

This perfect practice in self-care offers many benefits.

3 Reasons We Struggle to Improve Our Health:

1) We don’t get specific about what we want.

2) We don’t uncover the obstacles that sabotage our success.

3) We don’t get the support we need to change.

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