The Skin is the first layer of Intelligence

 This is the time of season to really take care of your skin. The skin is a highly sensitive organ. If you are a Vata your skin is already dry, in the fall and early winter it becomes even drier. Giving yourself an oil massage with sesame oil every day before your shower will nourish and protect the skin. An average square inch of skin contains more that a thousand nerve endings, when something touches the skin, our consciousness is awakended and enlivened. When oil (pure oil, not lotions or baby oil) is absorbed into the skin, it dislodges toxins, which otherwise impede the flow of life force in our system. Most of us think the brain is the only place where intelligence and perception occur. This view devalues the innate intelligence of the body—the yogi’s vehicle on the path to stilling the consciousness. Intelligence can be cultivated in every cell of the body. The skin is our first layer of intelligence, and nerves in the skin feed information to the mind. A self-massage will stimulate and calm the nervous system, balance the Vata, which is very high in everyone this time of year, and enliven your consciousness.

The breath is also essential to rejuvenation, increasing our breath capacity brings in more life force to nourish the physical tissues of the body. As the nervous system becomes more confident there is ample breath, it relaxes. While regulating the breath is necessary for Vatas, inducing a calm state is healing to everyone’s cells, bodies, emotions, and thoughts, during this high Vata season.

How to do a self-oil massage: Start with your head Using the flat of your hand and fingers, massage the oil in vigorously. Cover your entire scalp with small circular strokes, as if you were shampooing. Move to your face and ears, massaging more gently. Gentle massage over the temples and backs of the ears is especially good for settling Vata dosha. Apply a little oil to your hands and massage your neck, front and back, then your shoulders. Use the flat of your palm and fingers.

            Vigorously massage your arms. Using a circular motion at the shoulders and elbows and long, back-and-forth motions on the long parts.

            It is important not to be too vigorous when you get to your trunk. Using large, gentle circular motions, massage the chest, stomach, and lower abdomen. Moving in a clockwise direction. A straight up-and-down motion is used over the breastbone.

            With oil on your arms reach around without straining to massage your back and spine—use up-and-down motions, or whatever you can do.

            Vigorously massage your legs as you did your arm—circular at ankles and knees, straight back-and-forth on the long parts.

            With the remaining bit of oil, vigorously massage your feet and toes.

            Washing off the oil: Keeping a thin, almost undetectable film of oil on the body is considered very beneficial for toning the skin, balancing Vata, and keeping the muscles warm during the day. Therefore, you should wash yourself with warm, not hot, water and mild soap.

Nancy Adams Certified Thai Yoga Therapist

And Ayurveda Consultant