all in one

- ancient indian concept

Human evolution taught the modern world many glorious things in single line phrases.  One of them is “Health is Wealth”.  

Water is still mystery to many but the mere sound of water splash makes any one feel relaxed.  Being near to oceans, rivers, lakes and streams calms down and brings peace undoubtedly.

Every human believes that it’s necessary to take a bath every day for good health.  In modern industrial society today we bathe for mostly social and aesthetic reasons rather than those of health.  “If you can stand socially, you can probably get by hygienically.”  But in saying this, it must be stressed that bathing is necessary as one can get skin diseases and worse from not bathing at all.  Thinking about the Romans in their bath houses, Indians in their herbal ponds or the Finns in their sauna’s the intention was the same: GOOD HEALTH? 

It was a chance to escape the everyday troubles and tedium of life.  In other words, it was a therapy.  We can enjoy such healing every day in the privacy of our own home. In fact, it's arguable that it's the cheapest and most accessible form of therapy that we have.
After searching internet vigorously I didn’t find the ancient Indian method of bathing for health in detail to help public.  Bathing has always been accorded the status of an intimate, sacred activity in Indian life. During their explorations of ancient India's Indus Valley Civilization in Mohenjo Daro, archaeologists unearthed a large pool-like structure with steps leading down at both ends. This is believed to have been a public bath. In addition, homes in this surprisingly advanced civilization had their own private baths and an elaborate drainage system.

There is a long and rich tradition of spiritual bathing in all the world's wisdom traditions. Bathing becomes a devotional act when we combine water, prayer, and ritual with the intention of shedding the negative toxins of anger, fear, anxiety, stress, grief, a broken heart, and other forms of loss. Ancient Ayurveda texts speak of royal baths featuring rose petals, milk, honey, and turmeric. The Roman baths at Pompeii were resplendent with mirrors, marbled walls, and silver faucets. Mary, Queen of Scots, used wine in her bath.
The Ayurveda daily self-massage is called “Abhyanga”. It does a number of things to make you feel great. Massage helps to release impurities and toxins that accumulate in the skin.

•  It endows you with energy.
•  It calms the emotions.
•  It helps you think clearly and stay focused.
•  It placates Vata dosha, which in turn helps calm the other doshas-Pitta and Kapha.
•  Massage moisturizes and strengthens the seven types of body tissue.

The ayurvedic oil massage “Abhyanga” is an integral part of the daily routine recommended by this healing system for overall health and wellbeing. Traditional ayurvedic texts say "Give yourself a full body oil massage on a daily basis. It is nourishing, pacifies the doshas, relieves fatigue, provides stamina, pleasure and perfect sleep, enhances the complexion and the luster of the skin, promotes longevity and nourishes all parts of the body".Here are some of the benefits traditionally associated with regular performance of this pleasant daily ritual:

•  Increased circulation, especially to nerve endings
•  Toning of the muscles and the whole physiology
•  Calming for the nerves
•  Lubrication of the joints
•  Increased mental alertness
•  Improved elimination of impurities from the body
•  Softer, smoother skin
•  Increased levels of stamina through the day
•  Better, deeper sleep at night

Abhyanga provides the means for trans-dermal absorption of the healing qualities of the material used in the massage, and it helps the skin, which is the largest organ in the body, perform its diverse functions efficiently, whether it is allowing toxins to be released from the body or nourishment to be absorbed by the tissues. It is like oiling the engine of your car.  If you do it regularly, your engine will be in peak condition, and give you years and years of trouble-free performance.

The ayurvedic massage is traditionally performed in the morning, before your bath or shower, to facilitate the release of toxins that may have accumulated during the previous night. You can use cured sesame oil, an herbalized massage oil, or an aroma massage oil.If you choose sesame oil, look for cold-pressed, chemical-free organic sesame oil for the best results from your massage therapy.  Sesame oil contains antioxidant properties, and is helpful in protecting the skin from free radical damage. It is considered highly nourishing for the physiology. To "cure" or purify the sesame oil, heat the oil to 100 degree centigrade. Remove from heat once this temperature is reached, cool and store for use as needed.  Of course, you should observe safety precautions when curing oil. All oils are highly flammable. Use low heat, and don't leave the oil on heat unattended.   You can buy oil from any regular store.

Herbalized massage oils contain a blend of carefully chosen herbs known for their ability to strengthen the physiology and balance the mind. So the daily massage with an herbalized massage oil has twice the beneficial power.  The benefits are from the performance of the actual massage and the added healing wisdom of the herbs. Country Mallow, Winter Cherry and Sensitive Plant are some Ayurvedic herbs you'll find in herbalized massage oils. Country Mallow is renowned for its nourishing effect on the physiology. Winter Cherry, a powerful adaptogenic, aids the body's natural ability to withstand stress, and helps balance the mind and emotions. Sensitive Plant helps nerve regeneration.

Method:

Use comfortably warm massage oil.  Dip your fingertips into the warm oil and apply it lightly to the entire body. Wait for 4-5 minutes to let some of the oil be absorbed by your skin. Then massage the entire body, applying even pressure with the palm and fingers.Apply light pressure on sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the heart. Use more oil and spend more time where nerve endings are concentrated, such as the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and along the base of the fingernails. Circular motions over rounded areas such as your head or joints, and straight strokes on straight areas such as your arms and legs, work best.After you're done, relax for 10-15 minutes, letting the oil and the massage do their magic. The longer the oil is on, the deeper it penetrates. During this time you can read something relaxing or uplifting, rest, or shave, cut nails, and get ready for the day. Dab excess oil off with paper towels if you like, then follow with a relaxing warm bath or shower. If your schedule doesn't allow for a daily massage, try and squeeze it in at least three or four times a week. You'll find it's worth it! Bathe mindfully washing limb by limb gently. Perhaps imagine our soap is as precious and as priceless as it would have been during the war years. You can even light aroma candles, warm your towels, make this time beautiful experience too. Don't forget the wonder and alchemy of aromatherapy too. It's therapy in itself and makes for fascinating reading. Choosing the right essential oil for our mood can add a drop of luxury and provide comfort to our bathing time.