What is it?
In India, the home of Ayurvedic massage, loving hands massage you almost as soon as you're born. Mothers massage their babies until they can walk and sisters routinely give each other invigorating scalp massages.The most common form of Ayurvedic massage is abhyanga, a whole-body massage that uses specially prescribed oils to balance your constitution (or dosha). "Abhyanga is beneficial for rejuvenation, skin and musculoskeletal conditioning, as well as obesity and
pain," says Yasmin Sadikot, an Ayurvedic practitioner who trains therapists in the technique."Sesame oil is warming and balancing for the light, wiry Vata body type. Kapha types, who have sluggish metabolisms, are recommended a more stimulating and warming oil such as mustard. And Pittas, the fiery, athletic body types, are prescribed sunflower or coconut oil to cool down their systems."
What happens?
The abhyanga is not unlike other forms of therapeutic massage as it consists of stroking, tapping, kneading, rubbing and squeezing movements. However, the oil prescription and the ancient spirit behind the treatment give it an exotic flavour.
Excerpt from a review by Nikki Goldstein, The Sydney Morning Herald, February 2003
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