Oil Massage for Busy People

“Oil Massage for Busy People?!” Yessssss. In Ayurveda we love the benefits of a good daily oil massage.

Great. Now, raise your hands if you are thinking, “Yeah awesome for the people who who have time for luxury but pssshhht, there’s no WAY I can do that daily! I’m so busy — I can’t even remember to bring my lunch much less do a massage before work. Monica B, you are crazycakes with this suggestion!”

Um. Perfect! That’s why we are talking about oil massage, or abyhanga, for busy people! Because that’s you—and that’s me! In my busy world with my job-job and hideous 3-hour commute, I still do it, and I’ll tell you how.

YOU’LL NEED:

• Sesame oil (for vata)
  or coconut or almond oil (for pitta)
  or sunflower oil (for kapha)
  {Psssst…you can get these oils from any grocery store in the oil section! Get the organic cold/expeller pressed kind.}
• 1 small plastic squeezy bottle. Like a travel-size shampoo bottle or a mini ketchup bottle with a tiny cap
• 1 towel you don’t care about

HERE WE GO…

1. Put your oil in the squeezy bottle.

2. Keep the oil in the bathroom near your shower.

3. Stand on the towel you don’t care about.

4. Apply the oil from toe to head. We want absorption, not an oil slick, but also no tugging on the skin. Should take three to five minutes.

Start with your feet and legs. Use long strokes on the bones with some pressure up toward the heart, then go back down with less pressure, then back UP toward the heart.

Clockwise circles around the joints. Clockwise circles around the belly and bellybutton with some pressure. Don’t forget your booty.

Get your back the best you can, upward toward the shoulders. Long strokes on arms up and toward the heart/shoulders. Get hands starting from the base and clockwise again around joints. Upwards on the neck. And don’t forget your face.

5. Get in a nice warm (not scalding*) shower. Wash your hair (optional), pits, bits and feet. Don’t scrub anything!

6. Get out and DAB yourself off. The oil will be absorbed into your skin, leaving it super soft!

7. Finish getting ready with your busy self.

Your bod will feel really smooth and warm, and you’ll be calm in the mind! It will set the tone for your whole day, I promise! Even if you are super busy, you will really benefit from this simple practice, as it tells our entire being that we CARE enough to nourish it, daily. Try it for a week, and I bet you’ll LOVE it! Let me know how it goes. XOXO!

*Scalding water is very drying to the skin.

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