Who doesn’t like getting a massage?? No like really, I doubt there’ll ever be a person who wouldn’t like getting a message!! Massages are not only relaxing but have tremendous health benefits.

A postnatal massage is well known for relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief along with benefits of hormone regulation, reduced swelling, better sleep and improved breastfeeding.

A postnatal massage is a full body massage that is given to the new mommy every day for upto 40 days after birth. And if you are willing, you could continue longer than the 40 days!!

Some of the benefits that I felt of my postnatal massages were as follows:

– Eased sore spots and relaxed muscle tension, particularly in my abdomen, lower back, upper back, hips and legs!!

– Increased the flow of blood and oxygen to my tired muscles in turn helping me get rid of the toxins.

– Helped with breastfeeding as the body releases oxytocin while / after a good session of massage. Make sure to get your boobs massaged to help with clogged ducts or overflow etc… Sorry for the TMI 🙂🙃

– Got an excuse to take a break from the busy new-mommy life and routine and just relax!! Massage encourages the body to release endorphins – which is a natural pain killer and feel good hormones secreted by the brain.

The oil used when getting massaged has a vital role to play in the recovery of the body and regaining of strength and hence I am sharing the details of the concoction my ‘maalish wali’ used.

You’ll need:

Usually any oil is good enough, but a mixture of the oils I’ve listed below works wonders, as all their healing properties come together for the best results!

– Olive Oil

Olive oil helps get a glow to the skin and make the complexion fair which helps in lightning stretch marks. It also is beneficial in healing dry, flaky scalp conditions such as dandruff when massaged onto the head. Scalp massages with olive oil promotes healthier, shinier and more manageable hair by moisturizing it.

– Sesame Oil

This is the traditional oil of choice for daily ayurvedic self-massage. It is rich in linoleic acid, and has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is very nourishing, and prevents the skin from getting excessively dry.

– Almond Oil

This is one of the most popular massage oils among massage therapists. Extracted from almonds and being slightly less oily than the others, it allows hands to glide easily over skin. Sweet almond oil is absorbed fairly quickly, hence does not leave the body greasy.

– Forest Essentials Ayurvedic Oil

I always add some Forest Essentials Ayurvedic Oil to my concoction, be it the Back Pain Relief one or just the Bela or Rose scented one. It has wonderful benefits to the skin and the body, but for me, it’s more like an addiction honestly. I am working on a detailed post on the Forest Essentials oils I am addicted to, so stay tuned for that.

If you have had a normal delivery, you are good to start your massage regime from whenever you are ready, but if you have had a C-section, make sure to consult your doctor before starting any kind of massage.

** Images courtesy Google**