Overview & Traditional Lineage
Oiling the Body (Abhyanga) is a classical meditation rooted in Dinacharya; abhyanga, the daily self-massage. Attention during the classical self-massage, which the texts prescribe daily and almost nobody does. Deeply pacifying for vata.
Primary Goals: Anxiety, Recovery. Themes: Self-Care, Dinacharya, Touch.
Full Guided Practice Script & Cue Timeline
| Timestamp | Spoken Cue / Instruction | Pause |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Warm the oil first — sesame for vata, coconut for pitta, mustard or none for kapha. | 25s |
| 0:35 | Start at the head if you are washing your hair, or at the feet if you are not. | 25s |
| 1:11 | Long strokes along the limbs. Circles at the joints. That is the whole technique. | 30s |
| 1:50 | Go slowly enough that you can feel the hand as well as the skin. Both ends of the touch. | 40s |
| 2:42 | The arms, one at a time. Shoulder to hand, circles at the elbow and the wrist. | 45s |
| 3:37 | The chest and belly, clockwise. Then the back as far as you reach. | 45s |
| 4:31 | The legs. Long strokes down, circles at knee and ankle. | 45s |
| 5:22 | The feet last, and give them longer than feels necessary. The texts are insistent about the feet. | 50s |
| 6:23 | Now sit or stand for a few minutes and let the oil stay on before you wash. | 60s |
| 7:33 | The word for oil and the word for love share a root in Sanskrit. That is not a coincidence. | 40s |
Contraindications & Guidance
- Not over broken skin, an acute injury, or a fever. Not during acute indigestion.
- Do not oil the body during the first days of menstruation, per classical guidance.
