Massage Toe
What Are Massage Oils? Which is the Best One to Choose?
Regular body massages have been recognized in most holistic systems of wellness as being extremely important to the overall wellbeing of mind, body, and spirit. A body massage works at many levels. Not only does it provide nourishment to your skin, it also promotes deep relaxation. The result is bodily health complemented by a calm and tranquil mind.
Regular body massages increase the blood circulation to your muscles and other organs, and with blood come nutrients and a generous supply of oxygen. This helps your body heal, and also helps flush out the buildup of toxins. Skin being the largest organ of the body is also very instrumental in the detoxification process. With its generous supply of pores, toxins can as easily leave via the skin as they can enter.
In Ayurveda (a 5000+ year old system of health and well-being that originated in India) regular oil massages from head to toe have been prescribed not only as tools of relaxation, but also to help promote bodily detoxification and administration of medicinal herbs via the skin. In Sanskrit abhayanga (massage) is not a procedure of indulgence as it is viewed in the modern world. Rather it is a well-prescribed routine to keep the body and mind in optimal health.
A good massage oil is formulated for the unique needs of your particular skin type. But in general, all massage oils (regardless of the type of skin they best suit) have a few important features in common. They are all based on vegetable and plant oils that have a very high content of essential fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants, etc. All this natural goodness translates into nourishment. In addition, they also have herbal ingredients like essential oils and extracts in them that have therapeutic value. Eg. Lavender added to a massage oil promotes deep relaxation and aids in sleep, while camphor soothes inflammation and redness of a sensitive skin. A massage oil based on sesame oil is great for all skin types (particularly sensitive skin), and one based on almond oil is very well suited for dry and ageing skin. An ideal massage oil can also be used as a daily body moisturizer instead of a lotion. Most commercially available lotions are generally made with chemical ingredients and preservatives. A good massage oil, however, is free of all artificial ingredients, and thus much better for your body and the environment.
The ideal technique to give yourself (or someone else) a massage is to take a generous amount of a good quality, chemical-free massage oil and rub it with gentle circular strokes throughout your body until the oil is completely absorbed by your skin. Generally, this takes about 15-20 minutes. When the skin has taken up most of the oil, it is a good idea to expose it to gentle steam to further open the pores and encourage the removal of toxins. An alternative is to take a warm shower using a very gentle and PH balanced body cleanser. Taking the time for a massage once or twice a week is a great way to keep your body supple and well nourished, and your mind calm and relaxed.
Following is a procedure to make your very own massage oil blend. This quantity should be enough for one full body massage. This oil blend is great for all types of skin.
Mix half a cup of almond oil with half a cup of olive oil. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil (8 to 10 drops). Warm this oil blend gently until it reaches body temperature. Do not heat the oil (hot oil can cause severe burns). Massage your entire body with this warm oil. Follow with a shower with lukewarm water. Be sure to use a sulfate-free and PH balanced shower gel. Such a shower gel won’t strip the skin of the nourishment it just received!
Sheetal Rawal is Founder of Apsara Skin Care, Inc. She loves to write about
Skin Care Products
. To know more about
Massage Oils
please visit her website.
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