Abhyanga - The Art Of Touch And Healing! The world around you is constantly changing. Science, technology, places, seasons, human emotions, relationships - everything seems to take a course of deviation with time, showing change is inevitable. But there is something that even the greatest and most sophisticated technology could not replace - the soothing power of human touch. A delicate touch carries quite an amount of warmth and emotions that can heal both the body and mind. Ayurveda is the first to acknowledge the amazing power of human touch in healing, thousands of years back and put into use in the finest manner. A subtle artful technique where you can appreciate every inch of your body for how it is, Abhyanga or oil massage in Ayurveda remains one of the most sought after techniques adopted by healers all over the world. The history of massage technique must be as old as the human race. But its importance in healing and the science behind it is more skilfully explained and performed in Ayurvedic science than any other. That is why it is recommended to be done everyday as a part of your daily healthy routine in Ayurveda. Doing a self massage daily can invigorate your mind & body, enabling you to face the toughest of challenges life throws at you. But, it is also important to understand how to do it traditionally and scientifically as mentioned by the ancient sages, to gain the exact benefits. Who can do Abhyanga? Ayurveda considers upto 16 years as Baalya or paediatric age. They are considered as having less satwa bala due to their delicate growing age and thus many therapies are specifically contraindicated for them. But Abhyanga is an exception - it can be done right from birth and is considered ideal for the symmetrical physical development of the baby. Being the most dependent beings, babies and kids always need assistance while doing massage and it should be done in a gentle comfortable manner. A healthy adult may do Abhyanga everyday before taking a bath. This self-massage is quite different from the kind of massage done by a masseur and has its own advantages. You know your body best and have full freedom to decide the kind of pressure and time you want to spend, pampering your body. You can be at the comfort of your home, at your convenience and look forward to a productive self love
As a science with around 5000-year-old tradition, it is certainly evident that Ayurveda must have undergone developmental changes and status-based impact over the years. It is worth giving a look on how it evolved as one of the mainstream medical systems, overcoming the challenges and continues to enjoy its superficial status with all its glory. The influence of civilizations, religious beliefs and different schools of thoughts in various eras are certainly evident in the literature of ancient times. All such cultural and spiritual influences from various fields rightly contributed to the upliftment of Ayurveda during each period. The period from 5th millennium BC to 3rd century AD witnessed several changes and development in Ayurveda while undergoing tremendous influence from different communities and civilizations.