Oil Bath, etc.

[Guest guest]

I've been doing oil bath as described in Kimberly Flynn's article

 

http://www.ashtangayogashala.com/articals-oil.html

 

for about 8 months now. It has helped my practice in subtle ways, many

of which are just now becoming apparent.

 

I use almond oil as a substitute for castor oil, due to the fact that

soap nut powder is difficult to find. Kimberly recently emailed me

saying that there is a liquid soap product called "Bio Clean" which many

NYC asthangis using for castor oil removal. In fact, she said Sharath

(Guruji's grandson) had tried it while in NYC and ended up bringing some

BACK to India with him -- indicating that it perhaps works even better

that soap nut powder/paste.

 

My question: Is anyone familiar enough with this product that they could

provided further information about it? Ideally, I'd like to find a place

to buy it online. Since I live in Hawaii, I doubt I'll be able to find

it here.

 

Aloha,

 

t.

[Guest guest]

Tim,

 

I am from South India. I grew up with the traditional weekly oil-

bath. (Used to be bi-weekly or even daily in the more leisurely

past.) I greatly admire your dedication. Here's a suggestion: Instead

of castor oil (which is very sticky), another traditional oil we use

is sesame seed oil (also called Gingelly oil in India). This is what

we used (and still use) for our oil-baths. It is more viscuous/sticky

than Almond oil, but traditional soaps and shampoos are adequate to

clean up. Of course, soap nut is preferable. Sesame seed oil is

*very* cooling, and so for people unused to this, please follow the

precautions laid out in the article. You might initially develop heat-

rash, etc., as the body cools down. It is not advisable to do this

sporadically-- regularity is a must, to get the body used to it.

(Stay warm, away from wind, etc. while soaking, and the rest of the

day after the bath-- easy in Hawaii!)

 

Sesame seed oil is available in most Indian grocery stores, and also

health food stores such as whole foods. Try it!

 

All the best,

- Anand

 

ashtanga yoga, "Timothy Martens" <timfm@h...>

wrote:

>

> I've been doing oil bath as described in Kimberly Flynn's article

>

> http://www.ashtangayogashala.com/articals-oil.html

>

> for about 8 months now. It has helped my practice in subtle ways,

many

> of which are just now becoming apparent.

>

> I use almond oil as a substitute for castor oil, due to the fact

that

> soap nut powder is difficult to find. Kimberly recently emailed me

> saying that there is a liquid soap product called "Bio Clean" which

many

> NYC asthangis using for castor oil removal. In fact, she said

Sharath

> (Guruji's grandson) had tried it while in NYC and ended up bringing

some

> BACK to India with him -- indicating that it perhaps works even

better

> that soap nut powder/paste.

>

> My question: Is anyone familiar enough with this product that they

could

> provided further information about it? Ideally, I'd like to find a

place

> to buy it online. Since I live in Hawaii, I doubt I'll be able to

find

> it here.

>

> Aloha,

>

> t.