"Abhyanga" – The Secret of Ayurvedic Oil Massage

2025 December 27

Abhyanga, the self-massage with oil, has been an integral part of the Ayurvedic daily and morning routine for thousands of years, and for good reason. The full-body massage with warm, ripened sesame oil is not only the epitome of delightful relaxation. It even strengthens the immune system and has a cleansing and liberating effect.

We will show you how you can easily perform Abhyanga at home and integrate it into your morning routine. Take about fifteen minutes in the morning and quietly enjoy the

holistic effect on body and mind.

What is Abhyanga?

Abhyanga comes from ancient Indian Sanskrit and means “oil massage.” Ayurveda recommends gently massaging the entire body with warm oil every morning – a true self-indulgence program that you should not miss!

How does Abhyanga work?

According to Ayurvedic understanding, Abhyanga calms the Vata Dosha and harmonizes the Doshas in case of excess Vata. Such an excess of Vata is particularly common during the winter Vata season, in Vata types, and in people suffering from stress, difficulty falling asleep, and nervousness.

“Regular oil massages have an extremely soothing effect on the nervous system. They are calming and harmonizing.”

In addition, self-massage with Ayurvedic herbal oils based on sesame oil unfolds its pleasant effects for every Dosha type and at any time of year: an Abhyanga cleanses, relaxes, and is a true blessing for body and soul.

Cleansing

With the lukewarm oil (see instructions below) and gentle massage movements, we support the body in cleansing. We free it from toxins that have accumulated on the skin surface. At the same time, the oil massage promotes blood circulation, stimulates metabolism and digestion.

Due to its wonderfully cleansing effect, the oil massage Abhyanga is an integral part of every Panchakarma treatment, the most important cleansing cure in Ayurveda. Its participants are pampered with a full-body synchronized massage by the gently massaging hands of two therapists. A unique experience that provides the deepest relaxation.

Bring a piece of this wonderful feeling into your daily life – by incorporating Abhyanga into your daily morning routine. Thanks to a simplified sequence compared to the Panchakarma treatment, you can also perform the full-body massage yourself very well.

This way, every morning you free yourself a bit from physical and mental burdens and give yourself valuable time for relaxation. Starting the day so pleasurably makes it easier to face daily challenges with greater serenity.

Relaxation

Abhyanga calms and relaxes the nerves and usually also provides better sleep.

Tip: Daily Abhyanga has a positive influence on any existing sleep disorders. If you want to improve your sleep even further, in addition to the morning full-body massage, you can perform a small oil massage of the feet ("Pada Abhyanga") in the evening before going to bed. Apply a little warm oil with your hands to your washed feet and gently massage the soles of your feet for two minutes. An ideal oil for this soothing foot massage is the Vata massage oil, refined with Vata-balancing herbs and flowers.

The reward for this short ritual will usually be a very relaxed sleep.

A treat for body and soul

The massage with high-quality, pure natural herbal oils not only nourishes and cares for the skin, but also does good for the soul. With regular application, the skin often visibly benefits by getting a fresher color, becoming firmer or tighter.

The oil massage is at least as important for the soul: enjoy this precious time for yourself. 10 to 15 minutes in which you give yourself and your body your full attention and care.

What a wonderful start to the day!

What should you pay attention to during the massage?

The right time

The best time for the full-body massage is in the morning – ideally before yoga exercises as part of your Ayurvedic morning routine.

The right oil

A good base for the massage oil is cold-pressed sesame oil, briefly heated to about 108 °C. Such a “matured” sesame oil is suitable for all skin types and leaves a pleasant feeling on the skin.

Choose a high-quality massage oil based on matured sesame oil that matches your Dosha type (or the respective season). Our Vata, Pitta, and Kapha massage oils, based on original recipes, cleanse and nourish the skin with purely natural ingredients and precious herbal extracts. The massage oils, refined with pure essential oils, exude a very pleasant scent and at the same time support Dosha balance.

Warm the oil

Gently warm the oil in a water bath until it is lukewarm (approx. 37–38°C). To test the temperature, you can put a drop of oil on your wrist before the massage. It should be pleasantly warm and not too hot. Then, put some massage oil in your warm palms and gently massage your body, starting with your head (instructions below).

The correct hand posture

Form your hand into a shallow cup. The thumb should be loosely placed. Massage with the entire hand – not just with the fingertips or palm.

Massage gently

The massage should be pleasant and not too vigorous – so with little pressure and without additional exertion.

Move your hands slowly and gently stroking over the different body regions. Joints are massaged evenly in circular motions, limbs and back with long strokes.

Instructions for self-massage: Massaging the body step by step

You can perform the self-massage sitting or standing – whichever is more comfortable for you. If you massage sitting, you can massage your feet particularly relaxed. It is best to use a large towel as a base. The room should be pleasantly warm.

Starting with the head, gradually massage the entire body until you reach the toes. Tip: Our Ayurveda expert shows you a simulated massage in the YouTube video “Abhyanga – the secret of Ayurvedic oil massage”.

Head Start your morning massage with your head (“Shiro Abhyanga”). Dip two fingers into the oil and apply it to the crown of your head. Then begin to gently massage your scalp with circular movements. 1–2 minutes are sufficient. Specifically for scalp massage, you can also use a hair oil tailored to your Dosha type. Again, put some oil in your palm and gradually massage your face, cheeks, and ears with gentle circular movements.
Neck and nape Put some oil in your palms again and gently massage the nape of your neck. Both palms start at the nape, meet at the front of the neck, and are guided back to the nape. It should be a circular motion.
Chest and abdomen In the next step, you dedicate yourself to the chest and abdomen. In this sensitive area, the oil massage should be performed particularly carefully: Massage with gentle, large circular movements clockwise.
Back Put some oil in your hand again and massage your back as best as you can.
Shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet Massage the shoulder joints in circular motions, then the arms with long longitudinal strokes, then the hands (wrists in circular motions) and fingers, then the legs (with longitudinal strokes, joints in circular motions). Finally, all foot areas: joints, top of the foot, toes – and especially the soles of the feet.
After the massage Take some time for the body to absorb the oil properly – up to 15–20 minutes. Depending on the season and living environment, you might even have the opportunity to take a small sunbath or rest a bit before wiping off the excess oil with a paper towel. Finally, take a warm shower or bath. Tip: Pour some detergent into the drain before and after showering so that oil residue does not lead to blockages in the long run.

Tip: Even if you have little time, you don't have to completely forgo the benefits of a morning oil massage. In this case, simply massage your scalp, ears, and soles of your feet.

Curious yet? Then give it a try. Our YouTube video “Abhyanga – the secret of Ayurvedic oil massage” will help you. By taking just 10–15 minutes for yourself, you gain a lot every day.

Wishing you much joy in trying it out and a lot of well-being,Your Maharishi Ayurveda Team

We thank our experts Dr. Richa Shrivastava and Vaidya Saurabh Sharma for their professional support!

YouTube Tip Abhyanga

If you would like to learn more about Abhyanga: On our YouTube channel, we have the video "Abhyanga – the secret of Ayurvedic oil massage" (17:38 min) with our Indian experts Dr. Richa Shrivastava and Vaidya Saurabh Sharma for you! They show you what to pay attention to during self-massage and give you a good impression of the massage movements.

Instructions for Ayurvedic Self-Massage

An Ayurvedic self-massage is gentle, yet profound and easy to perform. You feel "protected" and completely comfortable in your skin all day long. Try it out!

PDF download (approx. 0.7 MB)