Abhyangam

Ayurvedic massage therapy

Abhyangam literally means:
ABHI = everywhere, in all directions - Anga = body.

It is a form of massage treatment carried out in all directions.

There are many references in ancient texts for Abhyangam: Veda, Uppanishadas, Purana, Smriti.
You can find elaborate descriptions of how a partner performs massage to his or her partner, mother and grandparents to their children and grandchildren.
There are indications for various pressures on different body parts during the massage. For example, the life and abdomen should be gently massaged, the face and neck should receive only a touch long, however, buttocks and rear thighs pressure may be more profound.
This massage was widely practiced in ancient civilizations, there are references about the massage that was used for mantaining good health and fighting disease.
Today we live in the machine age, we are very attentive to the maintenance of these mechanisms without a soul.We oil them, we lubricate them, to regularly clean and let them rest. But we do not pay attention to the machine that is the living human body, infinitely more complex and potentially divine.
Consciously or unconsciously, we disobey all the rules concerning food, the daily rhythm and relaxation that are essential for a human body. So we damage this machinery so perfect and delicate.
This attitude proves to be disastrous. If you look good on your body, this vehicle through which the Atman or the Soul makes various experiences:
Dharma the psycho-spiritual experience
Artha the psycho-physical experience
Kama the pure physical experience
Moksa the pure spiritual experience (salvation)
But if you ignore it the body becomes almost useless, and so we waste the opportunities that life offers us. The common attitude seems to spend the day just to pass it. But the human body needs to be kept oiled and kept clean like any other machine.

Ayurveda supports certain theories about oleation. An extremely dry dhatu, if coated with oil, is fed and cleaned up. Like water and oil revive a piece of dry wood, a good oleation and lubrication can bring the body to its original vitality. Every human being needs oleation of both types, internal and external, requires a certain amount of ghee (clarified butter) and vegetable oil every day.

In the outside part of the universe, the atmosphere, occur continuous changes, out coverage, the outer skin, being the most exposed to external elements, is the first to be affected. That is why it must be strong and able to withstand these changes. The joints, always in motion, are subjected to continuous friction. To ensure flexibility and strength we need Abhyangam.

There are different types of Abhyangam for different parts of our body.

Shirobhyangam = the traditional head massage with oils.
Karnabhyangam = purification therapy of audio channel.
Nasikabhyangam = purification therapy of nasal tract.
Netrabhyangam = purification treatment of the eye.
Mukhabhyangam = the traditional massage to the face.
Padabhyangam = foot massage.
Hastabhyangam = localized massage to hands.
Vakshabhyangam = massage of chest and abdomen.
Thandabhyangam = back massage.
Marmabhyangam = energy massage, excercised by four hands.

The benefits that we can note are:

Strength and stability of the body
Su-tvaka (healthy and elastic skin)
Shamana Vata (Vata balanced in the body)
Resistance to stress and tension
Ability to resist aggression
Healthy body with well-defined and strong  parts
Healthy and strong eyes
Slowing the aging process
Improvement in sleep
Relieve fatigue and tiredness
Physical force
Pleasant physical presence