abhyanga daily ayurvedic massage

If getting on a massage table once a week is out of the question, you can practice the art of abhyanga, ayurveda's daily oil massage, on your own. It's just a matter of taking however many minutes you can spare — from two to 20 — to give your skin some love. It's a powerful tool before or after a shower, and has healing qualities. This gentle massage will increase circulation, loosen toxins, and stimulate nerve endings, resulting in a sense of calm you can carry with you. Follow these how-to instructions the first time, and soon you'll be a pro.

Place a small amount of Youthful Skin Massage Oil for Women or Youthful Skin Massage Oil for Men in the palm of your hand for each point listed below. Massage in a circular direction over joints, and in a back-and-forth motion over long bones.

• Massage the face and outer part of the ears.
• Massage both the front and back of the neck and the upper part of the spine.
• Massage the arms, using a back-and-forth motion over the long bones and a circular motion over the joints.
• Use a circular motion to massage over the heart and a clockwise motion over the abdomen.
• Massage the legs, using the same long motion over the leg bones and a circular motion over the joints.
• Last but not least, massage the feet. Use the open part of your hand to massage vigorously back-and-forth over the soles.