Abhyanga  is an important practice of self-care according to the science of Ayurveda.  It is a powerful tool to soothe the nervous system, decrease the effects of aging, and enhance resiliency and energy.  Oil is on the of the most effective medicines to calm vata dosha (the elements of air and ether in the body-mind), and the application of an appropriate oil to the skin is a potent method to impact vata throughout the entire system. The skin is the largest organ in the body, the doorway to the senses, and an oft-neglected organ of digestion.  In Sanskrit, the word for oil, sneha, also means love; abhyanga is indeed a profound practice of self-love and nurturing.