Abhyanga is a massage that’s done with warm oil. The oil is applied on the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet.
It’s the most popular massage in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine from India. Ayurveda focuses on maintaining health through natural practices like massage and what you eat.
The oil is the central component of Abhyanga. When combined with massage strokes, it’s thought to promote overall health and wellness.
Abhyanga is typically performed by a massage therapist. But it’s also possible to do an abhyanga self-massage in the comfort of your own home.
Aromatherapy massage is used for a variety of different reasons, including relaxation, pain management, and improved mood. These are also some of the basic benefits of massage therapy. Adding essential oils is thought to enhance such benefits.
Some of the most popular essential oils used in aromatherapy include:
chamomile
geranium
ginger
lemon
orange
Aromatherapy is often added to a traditional massage session as an extra service. The massage therapist might diffuse an essential oil in the room during your session or they might add a few drops of oil to massage lotion and apply it directly to your skin.
Steam rooms are similar to saunas. You sit in a small heated room, and both are said to benefit your health. The big difference is in the type of heat that they provide.
A sauna uses dry heat, usually from hot rocks or a closed stove. Steam rooms are heated by steam from a generator filled with boiling water.
While a sauna may help you relax and loosen your muscles, a steam room may have even further health benefits. The key to the steam room’s unique health benefits is the humidity.
Steam rooms are wet and tropical-like. They are usually lined with tile, glass, or plastic to make them airtight to hold in the moisture. They are heated to between 114 and 120 degrees and designed to maintain humidity from 95% to 100%.
When you enter a steam room, you’ll probably notice droplets right away on your skin because of the high humidity. The air may even feel thick.
In contrast, saunas are dry and desert-like. They are typically made of wood and heated to between 160 and 200 degrees, with humidity levels near zero.