How to Do an Oil Massage for a Pitta Ayurveda Mind-Body Type

Pittas are the “Supermen” and “Superwomen” amongst us: often athletic, bespectacled and deceptively mild-mannered, they can leap tall buildings in a single bound (well, not really). They can, however, bike commute 20 miles to work, run the morning meeting and eat as much as they like—to the dismay of calorie-counting co-workers. Good-natured, competitive, driven and smart, Pittas are leaders. Downtime is important to Type A Pittas so that they do not overextend and express their heat and become demanding, domineering, bossy or insensitive (and, this, just at home.) Pittas are one of the three mind-body types found in Ayurveda, which dates back 5,000 years to India. Doing an oil massage, or abhyangana, is recommended for all types and Pittas benefit to let their active minds and bodies rest and restore.

Instructions

• 1

  Heat 2 tbsp. of olive or canola oil in a small pan. Let cool. Add 1 tbsp. of primrose, walnut or coconut oil. Set aside.

• 2

  Rinse the body and cleanse with a mild soap such as castile soap. Pat dry. Apply the oil to the body, starting from the feet and working up to the head. Do the front side of the body first and back body second.

• 3

  Don a warm robe and prepare a cooling drink to turn down the infamous flame of ambitious Pitta. Drink a lassi made from diluted yogurt with ground cardamom, cinnamon and fennel added. Lounge for at least 10 minutes.

• 4

  Rinse off in warm water to remove excess oil from the body. Pat dry. Moisturize and apply sunscreen as normal.