HeyMonicaB: A Blooming Resource on Ayurveda

The 3rd of the five senses is the sense of touch. If you haven’t read the first or the second senses, you may want to check those out first.

Our skin is our largest organ. It is both our buffer, our receptor and our absorber of the outside world. Whatever touches it, touches our heart, our mind and signals (good or bad) are sent to our entire being. It is no wonder then that we spend plenty of money for an hour or even better, a 90 minute massage. It’s a luxury for us because we are rarely touched or pampered like that. Touch is connected to vayu (vata, air and space) and the heart chakra, so it makes complete sense that this massage is the most nourishing therapy in Ayurveda. The warm oil brings grounding to the chilly air and space of vata and since vata is connected to the skin, this therapy makes sense.

When babies cry, we pick them up, hold them, rock them so that they feel safe and comforted. Well, I suppose it’s no new news (maybe just forgotten) that adults need the same thing! Have you ever hugged someone and they say, “oh, I needed that!” or you hug someone who’s having a rough time and they begin to cry? It’s because we’ve touched their hearts through the sense of touch. We may not notice how needed touch is until we get an unexpected hug or massage and remember how good it feels.

There are also nifty little things called srotas, which are subtle channels running through our bodies from head to toe. And through massage, we can help improve flow through the srotas, which affects ALL mind, body and soul. Since our skin is our body covering it is imperative that it gets just as much attention and nourishment as our insides.

When I get stressed out at work my manager sometimes puts her hand on my arm or shoulder. That simple gesture is so calming and helps me remember that I’m not alone in my problem. I recommend that to really connect with people (when appropriate), remember the sense of touch. If someone is telling you a secret, maybe grab their hand across the table so they know you are empathetic. A good “pat on the back” let’s someone know you are proud of them. A little rub on the upper back helps to relieve tension and conveys support for the other.

There are tons of ways you can lightly (not creepily) convey your feelings, thoughts and emotions through touch. So be creative and sincere.

A super simple recommedation is to give more hugs. Hugs don’t cost anything and a hug can change yours or someone else’s entire mood for the day. You directly connect to someone else’s heart energy. So give them freely and often to open your heart, and those around you.