Massage Oil
Organic Oils as Massage Supplies

Many massage therapists use lotion, but I prefer to use massage oil because it has a better glide. If you do use lotion be sure to use lotion made for massage. Massage lotions are made not to absorb into the skin too quickly. This way they provide more glide.

I dislike the waxy feeling that most lotions have. I also think that they tend to grip too much.

Some therapist also use massage creams which are thicker and have a silky consistency. Whatever you use, it's best to use products that are natural. Natural products are better for the skin and don't expose you or the person you're massaging to toxins.

There are many massage oils on the market. I like to use all natural organic oils. I like to use grapeseed oil. It has a nice feel to it. You can also use sweet almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil (not roasted), or apricot seed oil.

Grape Seed Oil is high in antioxidants and vitamin E. It's very good for the skin. I use grapeseed oil. I think it has a nice feel and is not too greasy. It's also odorless.

Sweet Almond Oil is another odorless massage oil. It contains B vitamins. It also contains vitamin A and E and is very nourishing for the skin.

Jojoba Oil is very light. I don't like using it for massage for this reason. It needs to be reapplied too often. Like the other oils listed above it contains antioxidants. It is also antibacterial. It has a long shelf life which is good if you're not going to be using it very often. It's also good at getting rid of acne. It tends to be more expensive than the other oils though.

Sunflower Oil contains linoleic acid and vitamin E which are good for the skin. It is light and odorless. It has a short shelf life and people who are allergic to sunflowers or sunflower seeds should use it.

Apricot Kernel Oil also contains linoleic acid, as well as vitamins E and A. It gives the skin added elasticity and has a long shelf life.

Avocado Oil is high in lecithin and phytosterols. It also contains vitamin E. It is good for increasing elasticity in skin and penetrates deeply into the skin giving it excellent moisturizing properties.

Sesame Oil is a thick greasy oil that is often used for detoxifying in Ayurvedic massage. It also contains many antioxidants.

You can buy these massage oils on their own or blended. I buy grapeseed oil from the cooking section of my local health food store and use that for massage. If you want to experiment with scents you can add essential oils. You can also buy already scented oils.

In Ayurvedic massage specific oils are used according to your body system type (dosha). These oils are usually infused with calming herbs. I've used Ayurvedic oils for massage before and thought they were great.

Remember that oils stain, so do the massage on sheets you don't care about and be careful not to spill it.

Now that you have some oil, learn the techniques you need to give a good massage by clicking here.