Shishu Abhyanga ~ Infant Massage

Shishu Abhyanga, meaning Ayurvedic infant massage, is a beautiful practise for mothers and fathers to share with their babies. When offering postpartum care to a mother and her family, I will often teach both mother and father how to provide Shishu Abhyanga to their newborn. 

Bala oil is traditionally used in Shishu Abhyanga, though I tend to use homemade organic ghee, as ghee will nourish all seven layers of the infant's dhatus (bodily tissues). 

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How to offer Shishu Abhyanga

1. Melt and warm a small amount of ghee in hands.

2. Beginning at baby's belly, move the fingertips in gentle circles in a clockwise direction around belly, being sure to avoid the umbilical cord if it has not yet fallen off. 

3. Moving down to left leg, softly glide hands up and down from top of thigh down to toes. After a few rounds, take gentle circles at the knee joint and ankles. Softly rub feet.

4. Coming up through left leg and left side of torso, begin gliding hands up and down left arm. After a few rounds take gentle circles at the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. Softly rub hands, stroking each finger.

5. Return hands to baby's belly and repeat process on right leg and arm. Once right side is complete, bring hands to baby's head, softly stroking top of head.

6. To massage baby's back, rest baby's chest to yours and softly rub back.

7. Once Abhyanga is complete, gently bathe baby and wrap in warm clothing.

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Shishu Abhyanga Benefits

~Strengthens bond between parents and baby, promoting skin to skin contact, eye contact, and communication

~Pacifies excess Vata dosha in baby, promoting relaxation and calm

~Builds baby's immunity

~Enhances and promotes healthy sleep

~Improves regulation of body temperature

~Stimulates digestive system, preventing and easing colic, constipation and gas symptoms

~Assists healthy weight gain

~Assists in overall growth and development of baby

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Contraindications for Shishu Abhyanga

~When massaging baby, let strokes be soft, gentle and slow. These movements will deeply ground and soothe baby.

~Allow minimum half an hour after feeding before massaging baby.

~Pressure should never be applied when massaging infants.

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Notes on Ghee

~Ghee is sattvic (harmonious, balanced and pure) in nature, inviting sattva into the recepient of ghee.

~Ghee carries the qualities of sattva to the deepest innermost dhatus (bodily tissues).

~Ghee is a form of Ayurvedic oil. In Ayurveda, 'snehana' refers to the application of oil to the body. Snehana is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sneha' , meaning both oil and love. Therefore, to offer oil massage is to offer love.

~The Divine hidden in creation is ghee hidden in milk.