Soothing Ayurvedic Foot Massage

In the Ayurvedic tradition, a full-body oil massage (abhyanga) performed daily is said to work wonders for the body. But in our hectic world, abhyanga can be too time-consuming to do on a regular basis. The next best thing, says Vasant Lad, founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, is to massage your scalp and the soles of the feet with oil, preferably at bedtime. According to Ayurveda, all meridians (nadis) begin in the scalp and end in the soles of the feet. Many neural endings, receptors, and marmas (Ayurvedic pressure points) are also located here. If you perform the following brief massage, Lad says, “you will get the benefits of an entire body massage.”

Choosing an Oil
First, choose a type of oil that is appropriate for your prakriti, or constitution. (Not sure what your dominant dosha is? Take this quiz.) Ayurveda says that organic, cold-pressed oils have stronger healing properties than more processed ones. Choose an oil according to the list below.

for dry skin (vata): use a warm, heavy oil such as sesame, almond, avocado, or bhringaraj

for sensitive or overheated skin (pitta): use a cooling or neutral oil such as olive, sunflower, coconut, castor, or ghee

for oily skin (kapha): use a light oil such as mustard, flaxseed, canola, or safflower

Warm oil is preferable to cold because it is comforting and penetrates the skin more easily. (A clean, quick way to warm the oil is to put the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.) It’s also helpful to maintain a nurturing attitude and to focus your attention on the part of your body that you’re massaging to bring yourself into the present moment. Sit in a comfortable chair or on your bed, and keep a pair of cotton socks nearby to put on after you’re done.

The Routine
First, rub your hands with oil and make small, circular motions along the surface of your scalp, using the flat of your hand and your fingers. Then focus on your feet.

Beginning with your right foot, gently rub oil in small circular motions from the ankle to the toes; then from the ankle to the heels. Gently rub oil in small circular motions on the soles of the feet. Next, press your thumb on the place where the shin meets the top of your foot. Gently, slowly, drag your thumb across the top of your foot to the big toe. Return to the ankle and in the same way drag your thumb toward the second toe. Repeat this motion from the ankle to the third, fourth, and fifth toes. This initial treatment improves circulation and activates important marmas on the feet.

Then cross your right ankle over your left knee and cup the side of your right heel in your left hand. Place your right hand on the top of the foot, lace your fingers between your toes, and push the foot inward, outward, and then in a circular motion. With your right thumb, apply pressure from the big toe to the heel along the inner border of the foot. Then drag your thumb from the root of your fifth toe to the heel. Make a fist with your right hand and press it against the foot, working it along the sole in a circular motion to activate a variety of energy points. Slowly pull each toe away from the foot, as though you are “popping” the joint, to remove stress. Then repeat the entire massage on your left foot. When you’re finished, soak your feet for five to ten minutes in a bucket filled halfway to the top with warm water and one teaspoon of salt to draw the stress and toxins out of your feet.

Shannon Sexton is the Editor at Large of Yoga+ Magazine.

Read more: Ayurveda, Do Good, Health, Home

By Shannon Sexton, Yoga+

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sesli S.

10:40AM PST on Jan 26, 2013

Sesli sohbet nasıl yapılır sorusuna cevap arayalım sesli sohbet sitesine gire bilmek için ilk önce takılacağınız bir sesli sohbetsitesi bulmak lazımsesli ful sesli sohbet siteside ful dolu bir sesli chatsitesidir. led floresangibi aydınlatan bir sohbet

January 26
send a green star

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/soothing-ayurvedic-foot-massage.html

Starr R.

11:50AM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

Thanks for the instructive article.

August 5
send a green star

Michele W.

1:46PM PDT on Aug 2, 2012

Thank you

August 2
send a green star

Maira S.

8:15AM PDT on Mar 15, 2011

Merci!

March 15
send a green star

Past Member .

1:47AM PDT on Sep 1, 2010

dizi izle

logo

September 1
send a green star

Sue R.

3:03AM PDT on Aug 28, 2010

good article thank u for sharing it x

August 28
send a green star

3:24PM PDT on Aug 11, 2010

Video
Video Izle
kral oyunlar oyna
Video Seyret
komik videolar
Videolar
film
film izle
indirmeden film izle
bedava film izle
sinema izle
oyunlar oyna
oyunlar1

August 11
send a green star

2:44PM PDT on Aug 5, 2010

Thank you very much for this information.
Good post thanks for sharin.
I like this site ..
en güncel rap videoları ve mp3 lerini ARabesk Rap olan sitemizden bulup indirip dinleyebilirsiniz
en güzel ilahileri en net ve en muhteşem şekilde dinlemek için ilahi dinle bu site yeterli
bu sitede hertelden sikiş izle ve hertelden porno izle var duyurulur
liseli kaşarların amatör kaşarların sikişleri sikiş izle ve pornoları porno izle bu adresde
gece gece canın seks mi çekti ahh ahh gel porno izle gel bi daha sikiş izle doyarak izle

işte seks ve heyecanın adresi diyorum sex izle gel bak diyorum seks izle başka bişey demiyorum
rokettube sitesindeki tüm videolar ve porn izle gibi seçmece sikiş izle pornoları ile çok azacaksınız
yasaklanmış sitelerdeki pornoları izlemek ve rokettube anılarınızı tazelemek için giriniz