Each year at this time I hear the same thing from my clients: they are feeling all dried out. We all know the benefits of staying hydrated by drinking water, but what else can be done?
TL;DR: Apply oil to your body before you shower and see how it works for you.
We lose moisture through our skin in cold, dry winter weather. Having a barrier layer of oil can help us to stay hydrated. Let’s take a page from Ayurveda for how to use oil daily to reduce moisture loss.
There is an important distinction here – even if you don’t have dry, flaky skin you can still have dehydrated skin due to water loss. Oil can help to maintain our body’s water content by fortifying the top layer of skin. It’s not going to make as big a difference as staying hydrated by drinking and eating wisely, but it may move the needle enough to have you feeling more comfortable.
How to Practice Daily Abhyanga:
🌿 Choose Your Oil – Don’t overcomplicate it; use the oil that you like and that you will stick to using. You can get a fancy, customized oil from Ayurvedic stores, or start with whatever you have around the house. I’m cheap so I buy almond oil in bulk and it seems to work fine.
🛁 Apply Before Showering – Massage oil onto your skin in long strokes on limbs and circular motions on joints.
💆♀️ Apply to your whole body BUT – I put a small amount on the tops of my feet because wisdom has taught me that applying it to the soles of my feet turns my home in to a slip n slide. Ayurveda recommends applying oil to the soles of the feet before bed which makes logical sense when we think about slips and falls.
⏳ Let It Absorb – Leave the oil on for at least 10–15 minutes before rinsing off in a warm shower. Super hot water will be drying. You don’t need to use soap on most of your body and the oil helps with the cleansing process.
🌞 Enjoy the Benefits – Feel deeply moisturized, reduced muscle soreness, increased energy and circulation!
My students and clients love this practice. Let me know how it works for you!
ZenwithGwen 