Shirodhara Manual

Table of Contents Shirodhara Manual for Practitioners
Table of Contents
Introduction to Basic Ayurveda.
The Doshas Explained...
Shamana & Shodana: Understanding Ayurvedic Purification.
Shirodhara Explained
Mediums for Shirodhara...
Benefits and Contraindications for Shirodhara.
Hands on Shirodhara Treatment Protocol.
Electrical Shirodhara Treatment Protocol.
Ayurvedic Facial Massage Sequence.
Ayurvedic Facial Reflexology Chart.
Appendix...

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Page 57
Ajara Shirodhara Systems...
Kitchari Recipe...
Ayurvedic Self Massage.
Options for Oil Disposal.
Resources..
Sanskrit Glossary
Suggested Reading..
About Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty...
Shirodhara Manual for Practitioners .
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that can be broken down to its roots in order to
understand its meaning: ayur means life and longevity; and veda means pure
knowledge. In fact, the vedas are volumes of sacred texts almost 3000 years
old in which many different teachings finally moved from the oral tradition to
the written, one of which was Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a 5000-year-old science which had its birth in India. It is be-
lieved to be the oldest healing science still known to man. It covers every as-
pect of the human mind, body, and spirit, with its focus on happy, healthy lon-
gevity. Everything from when to wake up, to how to take care of your skin, and
even how to prepare your meals is all included in the teachings of Ayurveda -
the knowledge of life.

In the Beginning The Three Gunas
To understand Ayurveda, one must first know that its foundation lies in the
Page 1 Shirodhara Manual for Practitioners
"Sama dosa samagnis ca
Sama dhatumalakriyah
Prasannatmendriyamanah
Svasastha ityabhidiyate"

"He, being established in Self, who has balanced doshas, balanced appetite
and digestion, properly formed tissues, proper elimination of wastes, proper
functioning of the bodily processes, and whose mind, soul, and senses are
full of bliss is known as a healthy person."

From Susruta Samhita Sutrasthanam 15.38
Shirodhara Manual for Practitioners page 2
And then there were five The Panchamahabhutas
When the gunas interact with one another, the result is the panchamahabhutas -five
elements: Ether (akash), Air (vayu), Fire (agni), Water (jal), and Earth (prithvi).
Everything we see, touch, think, and experience has some combination of these ele-
ments. In life, none of the five elements ever exists alone, as each successive ele-
ment is born from the one before it. Think of Ether as the vastness of the cosmos.
This space is the home for all matter in the universe. In quantum physics, ether is
known as the field. Remember the seed we mentioned before? In this instance,
the ether is the space around the seed, the space within the seed, and the space
that the seed is taking up. But, if closely examined, one can see that space is just
that, nothing but space. Every single thing that is, resides inside the space. As ra-
jas takes hold of ether, movement within the space begins to occur. The result is
air, the first state of matter. Lets look at this as the air within the seed. As air
shifts through the seed, it creates friction. This action produces heat and light,
hence, fire is born. This would be seen as entropy, or the ability to change from
just a seed to a sprout. As this pattern continues, the heat melts matter and water
comes forth, representing liquid (the second state of matter.) Water is the final
stage of rajas, because as it evaporates it enters its state of destruction (tamas).
Earth is the solid matter that is left behind after the water has gone. Then the
process starts over again, and it is happening all around us, all the time.
theoretical forces of creation, change, and destruction (sattva, rajas, and tamas in
Sanskrit.) These three forces are called gunas. Everything in existence is going
through these stages at different periods in time.
In order to illustrate this, imagine a single seed in the ground. As it lays there dor-
mant, it is potential creative energy sattva. Under proper conditions the seed be-
gins to sprout. The seed is changing; this is kinetic creative energy (rajas). The
plant stays in this stage for as long as it is going through its life processes: growing,
flowering, creating fruit and seeds are all a part of rajas, as they all emulate
change. As time goes by, the plant is done with all of its changes and it begins to
rest, simply living. This is the plants state of potential destructive energy, or
tamas in Sanskrit. The plant finally begins to wither (kinetic destructive energy
again, rajas) and then dies. At this point it has returned to its state of potential
creative energy sattva as nutrients from which new seeds can grow.
While the timeline above is simplified (a being goes through all of these stages sev-
eral times throughout its lifetime) it gives a basic understanding of the esoteric
idea of the gunas. It will also help us to break down the basics of the five elements.
It comes together The Three Doshas
As mentioned above, the five elements are rarely independent of one or another.
In fact, so often are they found in certain combinations that these groupings have
been given names. Ayurveda calls them the three doshas. Dosha literally means
impurity, as in two elements mixed together. These combinations are as follows:
Ether + Air = vata, Fire + Water = pitta, Water + Earth = kapha. In the more com-
mon sense, dosha refers to a quality in a person, place, or thing. These qualities
come from the attributes of the elements themselves. Each element carries spe-
cific attributes that make it unique. The following chart lists the attributes of
the elements, and in turn, the doshas. A reminder to readers that water is an ele-
ment that appears in both pitta and kapha dosha.
Vata Pitta Kapha
Dry Rough Light Fluid Moist
Light Mobile Sharp Flexible Dense
Vast Cold Hot Soft Heavy
Cold Dry Slightly Oily Moist Oily
Transparent Thin Penetrating Heavy Cold

What is My Type: Prakruti Explained
The idea of attributes pertaining to elements may seem on the surface to be a bit
abstract. On closer examination however, it makes complete sense. When applied
to a person, place, or thing, these attributes come to life. Everyone knows that
wind is mobile, cold, and drying. Therefore, it is easy to draw the conclusion that
wind is Vata. The same would apply to a person who cannot sit still, is always cold,
and has chronically dry skin. Every person on this planet has some amount of each
element inside of them, and therefore we all have some vata, pitta, and kapha.
What makes a person unique is the amount of each element they have. A person is
never just pitta, but may be predominantly pitta, vata secondary and kapha lastly.
Food Guidelines for a Vata pacifying diet:
Fruit: Sweet fruits including bananas, avocado, berries, kiwi, mangos,
peaches, and all citrus fruits are most favorable.
Vegetables: Cooked vegetables such as asparagus, beets, carrots, green
beans, and sweet potatoes are best. Avoid raw vegetables.
Grains: Rice, cooked oats, and wheat keep vata in balance.
Avoid barley, corn, and refined grains.
Legumes: In general, beans aggravate vata because of their dry, gas
provoking quality. Limit intake of all beans except mung beans.
Dairy: Most dairies are acceptable, but avoid goats and powdered milk.
Spices: All spices are good!

Ever described someone as a whirlwind? More than likely, the person referred to is
predominantly vata. A vata person usually has a light frame, is often either very
tall or very short, and has black, dry, frizzy hair. Their skin is dry, cold to the
touch and is slightly rough. They are prone to premature wrinkling, especially
since they are sun worshippers and tend to be the ones with the darkest tan on the
beach. Their dark eyes and lips are dry and small. They have a meager appetite
along with an irregular diet and lifestyle. They are very creative and often very
spiritual. They are quite accommodating to the needs of others and very generous
with their time, money, and anything else they can offer. When they are stressed
out, fear and nervousness occur. When the Ether and Air elements are out of bal-
ance the skin shows signs of dehydration, flakiness, and wrinkles. In the body,
one will experience joint pain, chills, gas, constipation, and lower back pain. The
mind will be restless with anxiety, worry, and lack of focus. Many different factors
disturb vata including stress, excess activity such as high impact aerobics, constant
travel, improper diet (including over-dieting or too much fasting), the dryness of
the season of autumn, and especially an irregular routine.

Suggestions for a balanced lifestyle:
Meditation
Warm water baths and steam baths
Low impact exercise and gentle yoga asanas (postures)
Vata pacifying foods including the sweet, sour, salty, and pungent tastes.
Limit bitter and astringent foods.
Sesame oil self massage nightly (see self massage pages in the appendix)
Observe a regular routine every day

Everybody knows someone who has a fiery attitude. This description perfectly fits a pitta
predominant person. Pitta people have medium builds and tend to be on the muscular
side. They have red, blond, or light brown hair, and they are usually the first ones to
dye their hair red! Pitta predominant constitutions also tend toward premature graying
and baldness. They have combination skin with sensitivities to various allergens, and are
most sensitive to the sun. Their eyes are lighter colors such as blue, green, and hazel,
and both the size of their eyes and lips are of medium proportion. Pitta has a voracious
appetite, and if left without food can get grumpy rather quickly. They are intellectuals,
always thinking things out, asking many questions, and dishing out orders. In stressful
situations like high traffic they get frustrated easily, honking their horn and yelling at
other drivers. Pitta people are competitive, ambitious, and relentless. When pitta is out
of balance, the skin will react with sensitivity, blotchy redness, and dry patches. Acne or
eczema may also develop. In the body, one will experience inflammation, excess heat,
high blood pressure, and insatiable hunger. The mind will be jealous, angry, and frus-
trated. A few of the things that cause fire and water elements to get out of balance are
stress, over working, excess mental activity, improper diet (including too much fasting or
eating fried or spicy foods), hot sunny weather, and the summer season.

Meditation
Breathing exercises
Gentle yoga asanas, walks in nature
A Pitta pacifying diet including sweet, bitter, salty, and astringent foods. Limit
sour and pungent foods.
Nightly self massage with sunflower or coconut oil
Scalp massage with brahmi oil
Food Guidelines for a Pitta pacifying diet:
Fruit: Sweet fruits including avocado, berries, all melons, mangos, pears, sweet
apples, oranges, and pomegranate are most favorable.
Vegetables: Sweet and bitter vegetables such as asparagus, artichoke, broccoli, leafy
greens, celery, mushrooms, peas, and squash are acceptable. Avoid
chilies, onions, and mustard greens.
Grains: Barley, white rice, & wheat are best. Avoid millet, corn, quinoa, and rye.
Legumes Black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils are all good. Non-
fermented soy products are ok, but avoid tempeh, miso, and soy sauce.
Dairy: Most dairies are ok, except aged cheese, sour cream, and yogurt
Spices: Favor cooling spices such as fresh basil, coriander, cumin, fennel,
mint, and saffron. Avoid mustard, pepper, and salt. Ginger should be
fresh, not dried

When a person has both feet on the ground or is down to earth, their primary
dosha is probably kapha. A kapha person has a thicker build and tends to put on
weight easily. They have a curvy body and are often slightly taller than average.
Their hair is dark and thick with lustrous waves. Their skin is soft, oily, and cold to
the touch, and when they are in balance, is the kind of skin every person wishes
they could have. Their dark eyes are large and bright and their teeth and lips are
prominent as well. Kapha people have an average appetite, but tend to eat when
not hungry adding to their weight issues. They are usually very jovial and easy go-
ing, and are very good with money. When the Water and Earth elements are out
of balance, it will manifest on the skin as excessive oiliness, clogged pores, and
acne. In the body, those with a kapha predominant constitution will experience
weight gain, congestion, and a dull sleepy feeling. The mind will have depression,
greed, and attachment. Some of the causes of a kapha imbalance are a lack of ac-
tivity or exercise, improper diet (including emotional or over-eating), cold winter
weather, or wet, cool spring weather, and seclusion.

Lots of exercise
Warm dry saunas
Hot teas
Social activities
A light Kapha pacifying diet including bitter, sour, astringent, and
pungent foods. Limit sweet and salty foods.
Daily dry brushing with a natural bristle bath brush
Deep, vigorous self massage with grapeseed or corn oil each morning
Food Guidelines for a Kapha pacifying diet:
Fruit: Favor astringent fruit including apricot, cranberry, pear, apple, raisin,
and pomegranate.
Vegetables: All vegetables are good except cucumber, pumpkin, sweet
potato, raw tomatoes, and zucchini.
Grains: Barley, corn, couscous, millet, and rye are acceptable. Avoid oats,
rice, and wheat.
Legumes: Most beans are allowed, but avoid cold soy products and kidney
beans.
Dairy: Dairy should be limited, and only taken when warm. Goat dairy is ok.
Spices: All spices are good, but avoid salt.
Snehana denotes the application of oil to the external
body, as well as to all of the bodys orifices. Oleation
is imperative to the shodana process because it helps to
soften and lubricate the tissues. This means that in ad-
dition to oil massage, a person doing purvakarma may have oil placed in the ears, nose, and
eyes, as well as ingest oil or ghee (clarified butter) by mouth. Eating a mono diet of unctu-
ous foods such as kitchari, a mixture of mung dhal, rice, spices and ghee (see appendix for
recipe) also lubricates the digestive system, creating a further type of oil therapy. Shirod-
hara is a part of the snehana process, but it also has benefits apart from oleation. We will
discuss these benefits in depth in the section called Benefits and Contraindications
In order to clearly understand the history of shirodhara and its applications, it is important
to have a certain amount of knowledge about the processes called shamana and shodana.
Shamana is a series of rejuvenating actions including fasting, yoga, internal and external
oleation, fomentation therapy (sweating), and quiet meditation. Shodanais a series of in-
ternal cleansing practices used to rid the body of toxins that have built up over time from
poor eating, exercise, and lifestyle habits. Some of these procedures include enema, nasal
cleansing, removal of phlegm, releasing small amounts of blood, and herbal or mineral
medication. Please note that most of these procedures are to be done only under the super-
vision of a trained ayurvedic practitioner. This section is for informational purposes only.
Therapists must receive thorough training in order to practice these procedures. Clients
will often have questions about this process, so having some background in these proce-
dures will make you a more informative shirodhara therapist.
Purvakarma
Purva means preparation, and karma means action;
therefore, purvakarma is translated as preparation
for action. Purvakarma consists of dozens of thera-
peutic treatments and actions that prepare the bodily
tissues for the release of toxins. The general idea of
purvakarma is referred to as oleation and sudation,
Shamana includes:

Purvakarma
Paschatkarma
Rasayana
Shamana & Shodana
Understanding Ayurvedic Purification
Shodana includes:

Shatkarma (yogic cleansing techniques)
Panchakarma (ayurvedic cleansing techniques)
Nasya
Nasya therapy is the application of pow-
der, oil, juices, teas, herbal milk or other
substances to the nasal passage. This is
done by either inhaling a powder in snuff
like fashion, or by pouring warmed liquid
into the nostril while lying with the head
tilted back. The substance is inhaled
deeply into the sinuses, encouraging the
matter that is inside the nasal cavity to
loosen and evacuate.
Virechana
Virechana cleans the lower half of the stomach, gall bladder, liver and small intestine by
purgation. Doing this helps pacify pitta dosha. To create purgation, a patient may ingest
any number of laxative substances including triphala, prunes, psyllium husk, oat bran, flax-
seeds, castor oil, or mango juice. This makes toxins that have accumulated in the areas
listed above move to the large intestine for evacuation in the next process, called basti.
After snehana comes swedana. The meaning of swedana is simply to cause sweating.
There are at least fifteen types of swedana. Some are active, such as doing exercise, and
some are passive, as in lying under heavy warm blankets. One can also achieve swedana
with the use of heating herbs like ginger root, cayenne, or mustard seed. After the body
has sweated for some time, herbal powders are sprinkled and then rubbed into the skin to
remove excess oil, sweat and external toxins. Sudation is always done after oleation. The
purpose of this type of treatment is to open the pores and soften the skin so that oil may be
absorbed into the body from the outside, and to warm and liquefy the bodily toxins so that
they may move easily toward the GI tract. It is there that the toxins are finally ready to
evacuate during the next process called panchakarma.
Below, we will examine each of these treatments further. Please note that not all of these
are always included in a particular patients panchakarma process. Only those that are re-
quired to help bring the constitution back into balance are employed.
Panchakarma
Panchakarma literally means five actions. This process is responsible for cleansing the
body of unwanted toxins, called ama. Though panchakarma is often thought to include
snehana and swedana, this is incorrect. Panchakarma consists only of the following five
actions:

Nasya: clearing of nasal passages
Vamana: elimination of toxins through therapeutic vomiting
Virechana: purgation
Basti: enema
Rakta Moksha: releasing small amounts of blood
Rakta Moksha
Rakta moksha is the traditional ayurvedic method for purification of the blood. When tox-
ins build up in the digestive system, they are eventually absorbed into the bloodstream and
circulated throughout the system. This can cause repeated attacks of skin disorders,
enlargement of the liver or spleen, and even gout caused by an aggravation of pitta dosha.
Extracting a small amount of blood relieves some of the pressure created by toxins in the
bloodstream, thus helping eliminate symptoms. Blood purifying herbs are often used in
place of rakta moksha if the attending Ayurvedic Practitioner is so inclined.
As stated before, it is very important that each of the panchakarma treatments be performed
only under the supervision of a highly trained Ayurvedic Practitioner. Proper dosages, fre-
quency and changes may need to be made to these treatments, and only a trained profes-
sional is skilled enough to monitor this type of therapy. It is not to be taken lightly.
Paschatkarma
Paschat in Sanskrit, means after or post, and therefore paschatkarma refers to the post-
purification measures of shamana. The seven to twenty day panchakarma process puts a lot
of strain on the body, often weakening the digestive fire. Paschatkarma is the set of thera-
pies used to regain the vigor and vitality of the di-
gestive system and the body as a whole. During
this phase of shamana, special diet and lifestyle
practices are prescribed for about two weeks. This
therapy starts with a light diet and gradually moves
towards a normal diet to help restore the digestive
power and strength of the person. Patients are ad-
vised to especially avoid caffeinated, carbonated,
or very cold beverages, refined sugars, alcohol,
meat, dairy, or any recreational drugs during this
time. Then, simple suggestions are given to bal-
ance the body. These recommendations may in-
clude light exercise, exposure to fresh air, or sunbathing.
Vamana
When excessive phlegm and mucous accumulate in the lungs and upper part of the stom-
ach (a result of aggravated kapha dosha), the suggested treatment is emesis (therapeutic
vomiting), called vamana in Sanskrit. This can be achieved though many methods. Com-
monly, salt water or licorice tea are used to coat the stomach. The patient is encouraged to
release everything that is in the stomach to clear out all of the passageways.
Basti
Ayurvedic basti is the use of an enema to flush the large intestine of toxins and old diges-
tive waste. Herbal concoctions of oil, water, milk, yogurt, and other substances are intro-
duced into the colon, held, then evacuated. This helps to relieve many of the symptoms of
vata dosha, since the colon is its home.
Rasayana
Rasayana is like nectar for the gods, having
incomprehensible miraculous effects. It pro-
motes long life, provides health and sustains
youthfulness. (Vedic Sutra)

Rasayana, rejuvenation therapy, is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda. It does not treat
any one specific disease, but restores body functions and balance to achieve the maximum
potential of the body. Rasayana therapy is formulated to each individuals constitution. For
the purposes of shodana, rasayana is done by taking various rejuvenative substances, as well
as dietary and lifestyle changes

The most important and well known of all rasayanic sub-
stances is the fruit of the Emblic Myrobalan, also called amla
or amalaki. This fruit cleanses and restores the blood, bones,
liver, and heart. It rebuilds and maintains new bodily tis-
sues, increases production of red blood cells, and is the high-
est natural source of vitamin C, containing 3000 milligrams
per fruit. Amalaki is the main source of food taken during
kaya kalpa, which is the most rejuvenating and virilizing of
all ayurvedic procedures, taking months or sometimes a full
year to complete.

The Charaka Samhita (the main classical text on Ayurveda) says, "Rasayana therapy has for
its object the prolongation of human life, and the refreshment and invigoration of the mem-
ory and the vital organs. It deals with formulas that enable one to retain youthful vigor up to
old age, and serve to make the human nervous system invulnerable to disease and decay.
Summary

Shamana and shodana is an entire process dedicated to keeping a person healthy for an entire
lifetime. It is best done at least one time per year, and up to four times per year at the change
of the season. Those who dedicate themselves to this process notice amazing changes, and
those who do it regularly truly appear to not to age. It is an amazing experience that must be
tried in order to be fully understood. While the average massage therapist, chiropractor, or
aesthetician will not be providing or advising upon a shodana purification process, they may
have clients that are referred to them to provide some of the shamana treatments, including
shirodhara treatment. Let Ayurvedic practitioners in your area know that you provide shi-
rodhara as a service and you may be surprised at how many new clients come your way!
Shirodhara Explained
Shirodhara is both a profound and sub-
tle experience. Traditionally, this treat-
ment is given daily in a series that lasts
a week to twenty one days or more in
the Ayurvedic clinics of South India.
It is one therapeutic component of an
over-all treatment plan, including diet,
herbal preparations, and relaxation.
During this time, clients are encour-
aged not to engage in any activity that
stimulates thought. If one reads, the
material should be conducive to spiri-
tuality. It is not advisable to engage in
intense physical or sexual activity.
Shirodhara cleanses both the mind and the senses, allowing the body's natural healing
mechanisms to release stress from the nervous system. This improves mental clarity and
comprehension. The technician administers the oil in a thin stream which flows from a cop-
per vessel hung approximately 6-8 inches above the patient's forehead. Patterns of waves
across the forehead or zigzags up and down the forehead trigger the body to enter an altered
state of consciousness, further deepening the clients meditation. The treatment is best when
done in a warm, quiet room, and when given by a calm, patient, thoughtful, therapist.
The effect of shirodhara is different for each person. This treatment in particular represents
an interface between the traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda. Because it isolates and focuses
the mind, it creates a meditative sense of awareness unmatched by any other treatment.
Dhara, means "flow," and is contained in the word dharana which is one of the seven stages
of yogic realization. Dharana is translated as "concentration." The flow of liquid in a shirod-
hara treatment is directed toward the ajna chakra, which is also known as the third eye. This
area of the forehead, located slightly above the space between the eyebrows, is associated
with the pineal, pituitary, and hypothalamus glands, which dictate the organization and regu-
lation of all hormonal secretions. These hormonal secretions control not only the autonomic
responses which control digestion, breath, and elimination, but they are also responsible for
our emotional state. Shirodhara effects the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as
the rest and digest system), which conserves the bodys energy as it slows heart rate, in-
creases intestinal and gland activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal
tract. This creates an unconscious consciousness during which the primal intelligence of our
body can reorganize in a manner that leads to healing and well-being. For these reasons, shi-
rodhara can be applied for conditions of high Vata or Pitta, as well as insomnia, memory
loss, enhancement of meditation, and deepening ones relaxation to stimulate rejuvenation.
Sesame
Sesame is a tridoshic oil, but because it is semi-heating it will push pitta out of balance if
used on a daily basis. It can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. It is the most com-
monly used oil in Ayurvedic medicine. Sesame is good for vata and kapha conditions. Pitta
should use it only in moderation. Easy to find in a cold pressed, organic variety.
Sunflower
Sunflower is tridoshic, but has a cooling nature. It is best in
the summer months and for pitta conditions. This oil is a good
choice any time of the year for sensitive individuals because it
does not cause any irritation. Vata and kapha constitutional
types should use it in moderation. It is very easy to find this
oil in its organic form.
Oil
While oil may be the most popular substance used in modern shirodhara treatments, it is cer-
tainly not the most exotic. A practitioner may choose to use plain base oil, such as sesame,
sunflower, or coconut, or select a more therapeutic herbalized oil. Also referred to as
medicated oil, herbal oils are made using a very special technique that has been handed
down from generation to generation. To make one gallon of herbal oil, one pound of select
herbs are boiled in four gallons of water until the liquid
is reduced to one quarter of the starting amount (in this
case, reduced to one gallon). Then, the mixture is
cooled to a workable temperature and the herbs are
carefully strained off. The remaining decoction is now
placed back on the stove, and an equal amount of base
oil is added (again, in this case it would be one gallon).
The mixture simmers over a low heat until there is no
water remaining. It can take a full day to make a gallon
of oil. While this technique may sound easy, be
warned, you will need to watch your project for the en-
tire time it is on the stove, and you must take extra pre-
caution not to overheat or burn your oil.
Some commonly used shirodhara base oils include:
Mediums for Shirodhara

Traditionally speaking, there are wide varieties of substances that can be used to provide a
shirodhara treatment. The most commonly used medium, herbalized oil, is also probably
one of the easiest to work with. Here we will present a few of the possible materials a practi-
tioner may wish to use and their specific applications.
Corn
Corn oil is great to use for kapha constitutions, since it is somewhat astringent in nature. It
is neither cooling nor heating, and is one of the least viscous and most widely available oils
on the market. This oil is difficult to find in an organic state.
Almond
Almond oil is tridoshic in nature, and is extremely nourishing to the skin. Its molecular
structure is very small which helps it to penetrate skin cells more easily than other oils. It is
also hard to find in organic form. All doshic types can use almond oil. Avoid using almond
oil on people with allergies to tree nuts.
Olive
Olive oil is heating in nature, but is also very nourishing. Widely
available in organic form. Use in moderation for pitta constitutions,
and should be avoided in people with aversions to strong smells.
Castor
Castor oil is heating and very penetrating. Add only small amounts to a shirodhara oil mix-
ture due to its high viscosity. It is great for all doshas when used in this manner. Castor oil
is mostly found in its wildcrafted form, but it is wise to make sure it is a cold pressed variety.
Grapeseed
Grapeseed oil is heating and light. It is good for kapha and vata dosha. Pitta constitutions
should use it in moderation. Like wine, or grapes themselves, it is difficult but not impossi-
ble to find in organic form.
Add various herbs and essential oils to any of the above carrier oils to create a customized
therapeutic blend. These herbs will be listed and discussed at the end of this chapter
Coconut
Coconut oil is extremely cooling. It is great for use on a sunburned scalp or forehead, or in
sensitive individuals. Coconut provides a very thick, luxurious shirodhara treatment. It is
the most recommended oil to use on the head because it cools pitta, and subsequently calms
the mind. This oil is the best to help one grow a healthy head of hair. Vata and kapha types
should use this only in the summer, and only rarely. Easily found organically grown.
Homemade Yogurt
Yogurt gives a thick luxurious shirodhara treatment that has very special qualities. It is es-
pecially nice to use in cases of high vata because of its heating and sour nature. The yogurt
can be plain, or mixed with an herbal decoction. For a treatment that soothes away every
ounce of tension, whisk in a generous amount of rosewater. Essential oils are also a great
additive. Do not use yogurt with the electrical method of shirodhara unless it is very thin. It
is best suited for the hands on method of shirodhara. Make sure to pour the yogurt slowly
into your copper vessel or it will make a plopping noise. Also, note that the mixture must be
very smooth so as not to clog the hole on your vessel. It is important to whisk it before
hand, or even throw it in the blender.
Milk or Buttermilk
Milk and buttermilk are both used in the same manner as
oil. Heating these substances to around 102F makes for
a very soothing, vata pacifying treatment. Keeping the
milk at a lower temperature, around 98F, will be highly
pacifying for pitta. Be aware that this may be surprising
to some people, so do explain that the temperature will
be cooler, and make sure this will be all right with them.
Mixing in a few drops of a base oil, or even using an es-
sential oil will create varied therapeutic affects. To add
herbs to the milk, boil the herbs in water to make a tea.
Simmer the mixture until you have half of the water you
started with. Strain off the herbs. Add an equal amount
of milk to the tea and boil until the mixture reduces by
half. Store the mixture in the refrigerator for up to two
weeks. This herbal milk is great to use as a base for your
yogurt as well.
Below is a recipe to make your own yogurt. Store bought yogurt is often too thick for the
purpose of shirodhara, but if you must use it cut it in half with water.

Makes 8 cups

10 cups organic whole milk
cup plain organic yogurt with active cultures for a starter

1. In a heavy-bottomed 8-quart saucepan, stir milk over medium heat to 185F. Remove
from heat and let cool to 110F.
2. Place starter yogurt in a medium bowl. Using a whisk, gradually stir in cooled milk, a
little at a time, stirring until smooth between additions. Cover the bowl with plastic
wrap, poking two or three holes for ventilation. Transfer to a warm place (about 90F),
and let sit until milk begins to thicken around the edges and the yogurt is set, about 5
hours.
3. Place bowl in refrigerator until completely chilled. Reserve at least cup of this yogurt
to use in the next batch. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
Salt Water/ Clean Sea Water
This is a nice option if you live near the ocean or sea in an unpolluted area. It can really tai-
lor the treatment to your particular part of the world. Shirodhara provides a sacred moment
in which the receiver often feels blessed, just as when holy water is sprinkled on the head of
a child in blessing. Therefore, water is the perfect medium for a shirodhara treatment. It is
tridoshic, always available, and extremely inexpensive when compared to other substances.
Herbal Decoction
Water can also be used to make an herbal tea to use in a shi-
rodhara treatment. This is an easier alternative to making
herbalized oil, and certainly much quicker. This method al-
lows the therapist to make a personalized mixture for each
clients special needs, without needing advanced notice. Pitta
and kapha constitutions will benefit most from this medium,
as oil tends to push these doshas out of balance. Make sure
to strain all the herbs completely out of the tea before using
or you can risk clogging your equipment.
Other Combinations
One can use any combination of substances for a shirodhara treatment. Often times, milk
will be cooked into an herbalized oil to create a thick, very nourishing medium. Blend yo-
gurt with a small amount of oil, or boil an herbal decoction into buttermilk. Essential oils,
extracts and hydrosols are highly beneficial when added to some of the bases listed above.
The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can cook up.
Herbs

Amalaki Cooling, nutritive, promotes hair growth
Ashwaganda Rejuvenating (especially for men),
astringent, healing
Bhringaraj Drawing, anti-inflammatory, healing,
cooling, indicated in baldness, premature
graying and alopecia, promotes sleep
Brahmi Purifies, rejuvenating, cooling, relieves
skin conditions, revitalizes the brain
Jasmine Astringent, cooling, sattvic, increases
love and compassion
Jatamansi Calming to nervous system, protective,
especially good during the new moon
Lavender Healing, balancing, promotes sleep
Neem Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,
purifying, antiseptic, antifungal.
Indicated where there is dandruff
Nutmeg Analgesic, sedative, warming.
Indicated for headaches.
Scullcap Calms nervousness, convulsions,
irritability, and insomnia; sedative,
lowers fever, and has anti-toxic effects.
Shatavari Nourishes and cleanses the blood and
supports the female reproductive
functions.
Essential Oils

Sandalwood Cooling, soothing, promotes skin cell
turnover
Rose Cooling, soothing, regenerating, increases
love and ojas
Nutmeg Analgesic, sedative, warming
Lavender Antiseptic, healing, balancing, stimulating
Nirgundi/ Calms stress, especially good for
Vitex womens hormones
Hina Good for womens emotions and during
menstruation
Ready Made Blends
Several oils on the market have herbs already cooked into them. Amla, Brahmi, Bhringaraj,
Neem, Ashwaganda oils are easy to find as single herb mixtures or as part of a blend. There
are oils made specifically for shirodhara, even specific use oils to treat disorders and dis-
eases. Look for them online or in Indian markets. Before buying, always check the ingredi-
ents to make sure the purity you want is there. (see appendix for suggestions on where to
find these oils)
Hymn to the Plants
Rig Veda, 1500 BCE, India

Herbs, you are born at the beginning of time,
more ancient than the gods themselves.
O Plants, with this hymn I sing to you,
our mothers and our gods.

The holy fig tree is your home.
Innumerable are your growths.
You, who have a thousand powers,
free my patient from disease.

Fly, Spirit of Disease.
Be gone with the blue jay and the kingfisher.
Fly with the wind's impetuous speed.
Vanish together with the storm.
Most excellent of all are you, O Plants.
Your protectors are the trees.
Let be subject to your powers
he who seeks to injure you.

When restoring vanished strength
I hold you, herbs, within my hand,
And the Spirit of Disease departs,
cheated of another death.

Reliever is your mother's name.
Hence, restorers are you called.
Rivers are you, with wings that fly.
Keep distant that which brings disease.

Unharmed be he who gently digs you up.
Unharmed the man for whom he digs.
And let no malady destroy
the beings within your guardianship.
Benefits
Shirodhara is meant for eliminating diseases of head and vata disorders af-
fecting neck, eyes, ears, nose and nervous system. It is a curative as well as
rejuvenating process as it eliminates diseases, improves vitality, and
strengthens sensory organs. It helps to relieve insomnia, stress, tension,
anxiety, anger, chronic headaches, rheumatism, hypertension, asthma, hair
thinning, loss or premature graying, and gives mental relaxation. Shirodhara
helps to overcome stress and its ill effects on the nervous system. It is indi-
cated in cases of depression, epilepsy, paralysis, and Parkinson's disease.
Contraindications
Though shirodhara is generally a safe treatment, there are
instances where it is not beneficial. Because shirodhara
causes the energy in the body to move in an upward direc-
tion (udana vayu), it is important not to use it when energy
should be directed in a downward flow (apana vayu). For
example:

Third trimester in pregnancy
Menstruation
Lactation
Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Brain tumors

It is also important to be aware of conditions where a
calming treatment would not be indicated:

Lethargy due to high Kapha
Very low blood pressure
Severe debility
Extremely high vata where the client is unable to sit still.
Shirodhara would not be tolerated by such an individual

The following conditions may be exacerbated by shirodhara:

Rashes of the face, neck or scalp
Recent facial or scalp surgery
High aversion to oil
Benefits and Contraindications
for Shirodhara
Hands on Shirodhara
Treatment
Preparation:
Before the client arrives set the table with two sheets and a blanket on top. Turn
downthetopsheetandblanketsothetablelooksinviting.Covertheheadoftheta
blewiththelargebathtowelforthehair.Laytherolledbathmatattheheadofthe
table on top of the large towel. Place the vinyl strip on the rolled bath mat. Make
suretheshirodharastandandshirodharapotaresetup.Positiontheelectricburner
under the head of the table on the shelf of the shiro stand. Fill one of the pitchers
with 7cupsofshirodhara oil. Setit ontheelectricburnerandturn thedialonhigh
for12minutes,thenturnitoff(thisisusuallydone20minutesbeforethestartofthe
treatment).Keeptheotherpitcherofftotheside.Haveleftoveroilnearby.
MaterialsNeeded:
Massagetable
2sheets
Blanket
1Largetowel
2rolledhandtowels
1rolledbathmat
1wetwashcloth
1vinylstrip
2CopperPitchers
ElectricBurner
Shirodharastand
Coppershirodharapot
Kneebolster
Stoolorchair
ProductsNeeded:
67cupsShirodharaOil
Doshabalancingessentialoil
Rosewaterspray
Procedure:
1. Whenyourclientarrivestakethemintothetreatmentroom.Tellthemyouwill
stepouttoletthemundress.Havethemgetontothetableandunderthesheetand
blanket.Instructthemtoliefacingupwardwiththeirheadonthevinylstripand
theirneckoverthetowelroll.
2. Aftertheclientisonthetableentertheroom.Beforedoinganythingelse,make
suretheyarecomfortable.Askthemiftheyarewarmenough.
3. Positiontheclientwiththeirheadattheedgeofthetable.Lettheirhairhang
overtheend.Placethetowelrollundertheirneckandtuckthevinylstripunder
theirhead,butOVERthetowelroll.Adjustthevinylstripsothattheedgeofitisin
thepitcherbelowthetable.Makesurethatthetowelrollissetcomfortablyunder
theirneck.Placethetworolledhandtowelsoneithersideoftheirheadunderneath
thevinylstrip.Bringthebottomendsofthevinylintowardeachothertomakethe
stripformacone.Makesurethesidesofthevinyldonottouchthehead,asthis
willmaketheoilrunontheoutsideofthestrip.
4. Placeabolsterundertheclientsknees.Doublechecktheircomfort.
5. Lettheclientknowthatyouwillspraysomerosewaterovertheirfaceandwill
thenplaceacoolwetwashclothovertheireyes.
6. Testtheoiltemperaturetomakesureitisjustright.Iftheoilistoowarm,add
somefreshoilfromthebottle.Ifitistoocold,quicklywarmitup.Atemperature
between102108degreesisdesirable.Nowpourhalfofhteoilintotheempty
pitcher.Replacetheotherpitcherontotheburner
7. Positiontheshirodharapotoverthecenteroftheclientsforeheadnearthehair
line.Makesurethetaponthecopperpotisoff.Pourthecontentsofthepitcher
thatisnotontheelectricburnerintotheshirodharapot.Adjustthesettingonthe
burnersoitisbetweenthe0andthe1onthedial.
8. Beforestartingtheoil,lettheclientknowthatyouwilllettheoilruninafew
moments.Tellthemthatwhenthetreatmentisfinishedyouwillquietlyleavethe
roomtoletthemrestandthenyouwillcomebacktohelpgetthemoffthetable.
Makesuretheclientunderstandsthattheymaytellyouifthetemperatureisun
comfortable.Encouragethemtostarttofocusontheirbreathing.Turnonthetap
andlettheoilrunontotheirforehead.Askifthetemperatureisok.Taketheoil
veryslowlyaroundtheirhairlineinordertocoattheentirescalp.Endwiththeoil
onthethirdeye.Makesuretheoilisnottouchingthewashclothoritwillstartto
runintotheireyes.Youmayaskiftheoiltemperatureiscomfortableonceagain,
butotherwisedonotdoanytalkingafterthistime.
9. Pourthecontentsofthesecondpitcherintotheshirodharapot.Todothismovethevinyl
stripintotheemptypitcher.Takethehalffullpitcherofftheelectricburnerandsetitdown
onatablenexttoyou.Now,quietlysettheemptypitcherontheelectricburner.Refillthe
copperpotwiththewarmoilfromthepitcherthatjustcameofftheburner.Dothisasqui
etlyaspossiblesoasnottodisturbtheclientsmeditation.
10.Keepcheckingtheoiltemperatureduringthetreatment.Asthepitcherontheburner
fillstothehalfwaypointrepeatthisprocess.Youwilllikelyneedtodothisevery3to4min
utesuntilyourtreatmentisover.Generallyashirodharatreatmentwillrun20to30minutes.
Whenfinished,lettheoilruncompletelyoutofthecopperpotandcovertheholewithyour
handtomakesureitdoesnotstarttodrip.Takingtheshirodharapotandtheemptypitcher
withyou,quietlyleavetheroom.
11.Washtheshirodharapotandextrapitcherinadifferentroom.Placeaquartersizedol
lopofdishsoaponadampsponge.Withoutwettinganyoftheequipment,rubeverything
downwiththesoap.Rinseanddry.
12.Reentertheroom.Theclientmaybeasleep.Letthemknowyouaretherebyremoving
thetowelrollsfromthesidesoftheirhead.Straightenoutthevinylstripandremovethe
washclothfromtheireyes.Nowyoucantalktothemandaskthemhowtheyarefeeling.
Gentlysqueezetheoiloutoftheirhair.Havethemlifttheirheadsoyoumayremovethe
towelrollandvinylstrip.Letthevinylstriprestinthepitcheruntilreadyforcleanup.Use
thelargetowelundertheirheadtohelpabsorbtherestoftheoiloutoftheirhair
13.Take5dropsofessentialoilintoyourpalm.Spraysomerosewaterintotheoilandclose
yourpalmstogether.Holdyourhandsjustabovetheclientsfaceandencouragethemtoin
haledeeply.Astheyexhale,applythemixtureavoidingeyearea.
14.BeginMarmaTherapyonthefaceneckandscalp(seeAyurvedicFacialMassageSe
quence)
15.Removetheblanket.Telltheclientyouwillbeholdingupthesheetoveryoureyesand
theycansitupfacingawayfromyou.Wrapthesheetundertheirarmsandaroundtheir
body.Comearoundthetabletohelpthemstandup.Theymaybealittledisoriented.Escort
themintothebathroomfortheirshower.Advisethemthatitispreferabletoleavetheoilin
thehairforsometime,butiftheymustremoveittoputtheshampoointotheirhairbefore
wettinginordertoassistremovalofalltheoil.Thankthemandleavethemtotheirshower.
16.Begintherestofyourcleanup.Disposeofshirodharamedium(seeoptionsforoildis
posalinAppendix.)Wipethevinylstripdownwithapapertowel.Takethesecondpitcher
andthevinylstriptothesink.Washasbefore,rinse,anddry.Wipedownthestandandmas
sagetablewithadrytowel,andthenamoisttowelwithacleanerlikeCitraSolveorSimple
Green.
Electrical Shirodhara
Treatment
Preparation:
Before the client arrives set the table with two sheets and a blanket on top. Turn
down the top sheet and blanket so the table looks inviting. Cover the head of the
table with the largebathtowel forthe hair.Laythe rolled bathmatatthe head of
the table on top of the large towel. Place the vinyl strip on the rolled bath mat.
Makesuretheshirodharastandandshirodharapotaresetup.Positiontheelectric
burner under the head of the table on the shelf of the shiro stand. Fill the pitcher
with7cupsofshirodharaoil.Setitontheelectricburnerandturnthedialonhigh
for 12 minutes, then turn it off (this is usually done 20 minutes before the start of
thetreatment).Haveanyextraoilyouhaveleftovernearby.Justbeforeyourcli
entarrives,placethepumpinthepitcherandsituatethevinyltubingtoemptyinto
yourshirodharavessel.(seetipsinappendix)
MaterialsNeeded:
Massagetable
2sheets
Blanket
1Largetowel
2rolledhandtowels
1rolledbathmat
1wetwashcloth
1vinylstrip
1CopperPitcher
Pumpwithtubing
ElectricBurner
Shirodharastand
Coppershirodharapot
Kneebolster
Stoolorchair
Optional:anon/offswitchtoplugthepumpinto
ProductsNeeded:
68cupsShirodharaOil
Doshabalancingessentialoil
Rosewaterspray
Procedure:

1. Whenyourclientarrives,takethemintothetreatmentroomandtellthemyouwillstep
outtoletthemundress.Havethemgetontothetableandunderthesheetandblanket.In
structthemtoliefacingupwardwiththeirheadonthevinylstripandtheirneckoverthe
towelroll.
2. Aftertheclientisonthetableentertheroom.Beforedoinganythingelse,makesure
theyarecomfortable.Askthemiftheyarewarmenough.
3. Positiontheclientwiththeirheadattheedgeofthetable.Lettheirhairhangoverthe
end.Placethetowelrollundertheirneckandtuckthevinylstripundertheirhead,but
OVERthetowelroll.Adjustthevinylstripsothattheedgeofitisinthepitcherbelowthe
table.Makesurethatthetowelrollissetcomfortablyundertheirneck.Placethetwo
rolledhandtowelsoneithersideoftheirheadunderneaththevinylstrip.Bringtheendsof
thevinylintowardeachothertomakethestripformacone.Makesurethesidesofthevi
nyldonottouchthehead,asthiswillmaketheoilrunontheoutsideofthestrip.
4. Placeabolsterundertheclientsknees.Doublechecktheircomfort.
5. Lettheclientknowthatyouwillspraysomerosewaterovertheirfaceandwillthen
placeacoolwetwashclothovertheireyes.
6. Testtheoiltemperaturetomakesureitisjustright.Iftheoilistoowarm,addsome
freshoilfromthebottle.Ifitistoocold,quicklywarmitup.Atemperaturebetween102
108degreesisdesirable.
7. Beforestartingtheoil,lettheclientknowthatyouwilllettheoilruninafewmoments.
Tellthemthatwhenthetreatmentisfinishedyouwillquietlyleavetheroomtoletthem
restandthenyouwillcomebacktohelpgetthemoffthetable.Encouragethemtostartto
focusontheirbreathing.
8. Positiontheshirodharapotoverthecenteroftheclientsforeheadnearthehairline.
Makesurethetaponthepotisoff.Turnontheelectricpump.Adjustthesettingonthe
burnersoitisbetweenthe0andthe1onthedial.
9. Nowlettheoilrunontotheirforehead.Taketheoilveryslowlyaroundtheirhairlinein
ordertocoattheentirescalp.Endwiththeoilonthethirdeye.Makesuretheoilisnot
touchingthewashclothoritwillstarttorunintotheireyes.Youmayaskiftheoiltempera
tureiscomfortableonlyatthebeginning,butotherwisedonotdoanytalking.
10.Keepcheckingtheoiltemperatureduringthetreatment.Beasquietaspossiblesoasnot
todisturbtheclientsmeditation.
11.Throughoutthetreatment,keepaneyeontheoillevelinthecopperpitcher.Iftheoil
leveldropstojustabovethetopofthepump,unplug(orswitchoff)thepump.Thiswill
makeaslightgurglingnoise.Restartthepumponlyafterthepitcherhasrefilledforamo
ment,oruntiltheshirodharavesselhasaboutonecupofoilleftinit.
12.Attheendofthetreatmentturnoffthetapontheshirodharavesselandcoverthehole
withyourhandtomakesureitdoesnotstarttodrip.Turnoffthepump.Quietlyleavethe
roomforaboutfiveminutestolettheclientrest.
13.Reentertheroom.Theclientmaybeasleep.Letthemknowyouaretherebyremoving
thetowelrollsfromthesidesoftheirhead.Straightenoutthevinylstripandremovethe
washclothfromtheireyes.Nowyoucantalktothemandaskthemhowtheyarefeeling.
Gentlysqueezetheoiloutoftheirhair.Havethemlifttheirheadsoyoumayremovethe
towelrollandvinylstrip.Setthevinylstripinthepitcheruntilyouarereadyforcleanup.
Usethelargetowelundertheirheadtohelpabsorbtherestoftheoiloutoftheirhair
14.Take5dropsofessentialoilintoyourpalm.Spraysomerosewaterintotheoilandclose
yourpalmstogether.Holdyourhandsjustabovetheclientsfaceandencouragethemto
inhaledeeply.Astheyexhale,applythemixtureavoidingeyearea.
15.BeginMarmaTherapyforthehead(seeAyurvedicFacialMassageSequence)
16.Removetheblanket.Telltheclientyouwillbeholdingupthesheetoveryoureyesand
theycansitupfacingawayfromyou.Wrapthesheetundertheirarmsandaroundtheir
body.Comearoundthetabletohelpthemstandup.Theymaybealittledisoriented.Es
cortthemintothebathroomfortheirshower.Advisethemthatitispreferabletoleavethe
oilinthehairforsometime,butiftheymustremoveit,toputtheshampoointotheirhair
beforewettinginordertoalloftheoil.Thankthemandleavethemtotheirshower.
17.Begincleanup.Disposeofshirodharamedium(seeoptionsforoildisposalinAppen
dix.)Wipethevinylstripdownwithapapertowel.Takethecopperpitcher,vinylstrip,
pumpandshirodharavesseltothesink.Allowthepumptodrainforafewminutes.Placea
dollopofdishsoaponadampsponge.Withoutwettinganyoftheequipment,rubevery
thingdownwiththesoap.Next,placemoresoapandadisinfectantinthecopperpitcher.
Fillitwithwateranddropinthepump.Turnthepumpon,lettingthewaterrunthrough
thetubing.Keepwaterrunningfromthefaucetintothepitcherasyoudothis.Emptythe
pitcherandrefillitwithdenaturedalcohol.Runthepumpforoneminute,thenremovethe
tubingfromthepumpandhangtodry.Setthepumpasidetodry.Rinseanddrythevinyl
strip,shirodharapot,andpitcher.Wipedownthestandandmassagetablewithatowel,
thenamoisttowelwithacleanerlikeCitrasolveorSimpleGreen.
Ayurvedic Facial
Massage Sequence
1. Place a teaspoon of oil in hand; apply oil from shoulders to forehead.
2. Start with fingers on upper trapezius and circle 7x both sides at the same time.
3. Bring hands around shoulders and up the back of the neck. Cradle occipital bone
with good pressure. Hand over hand up the back of the neck 7x.
4. Thumbs on front of the neck at both sides glide upward and gently squeeze the ster-
nocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) alternating sides on each stroke, 7x.
5. Thumb on chin, and index finger under the edge of the mandible glide from chin to
lateral jaw alternating sides on each stroke, 7x.
6. Index finger on chin and thumb above upper lip, glide around lips to the ear alternat-
ing sides on each stroke, 7x.
7. Using index finger, start at either side of the nose, glide under the maxillary arch and
to the ear both sides at the same time 7x.
8. Using both thumbs glide over the top of the maxillary arch to the ear, both sides at
the same time, 7x.
9. Using ring finger, circle the eyes going medial to lateral on eyebrows and continuing
around the orbital ridge gently 7x.
10. Glide up the sides of the nose with your middle finger. You can either alternate fin-
gers or do both sides at the same time; whichever is more comfortable for you.
11. Bilaterally, press on avarta marma at the very point where the eyebrow meets the
nose. This will probably be sensitive on most people.
12. Squeeze along the eyebrow in 3-4 points moving medial to lateral. Use extra caution
not to poke the eye. Do this with the ring or index finger and thumb, with thumb on
top edge of the brow.
13. Using index, middle, and ring finger on both hands circle 7x at the temporomandibu-
lar joint (TMJ ) with firm pressure.
14. Same hand position, glide up sides of face, both hands at the same time and circle at
the temples 7x.
15. Glide back down toward TMJ and back up toward temple (figure 8 style) 7x. Use
light pressure on the down stroke and firmer on the upstroke.
16. Circles on the temples, 7x with firm pressure.
17. Alternating hands, stroke up the forehead using the whole palm, 7x.
18. Hand over hand, stroke medial to lateral on forehead 7x.
19. Circles on temples with index an ring finger, 7x.
20. Run hands down the sides of the face and neck return to the starting position on
trapezius.
21. Repeat the circles on upper traps 7x.
22. Place thumb on the amsa marma point on the joint where the clavicle meets the scapula.
Press and hold for 7 seconds.
23. Glide hands up the back of the neck to the occipital bone; Hold pressure with your
fingertips.
24. Massage the ears, both at the same time. Gently tug down at the lobe, sideways on the
edge, and upward at the top of the ear 3x each point.
25. Squeeze marma point in the center of chin. Hold for 7 seconds. Glide to the point half
way between the chin and TMJ , press and hold 7 seconds. Glide to TMJ , press and hold
7 seconds.
26. Press thumbs above upper lip and hold for 7 seconds. Glide under maxillary arch, press
and hold 7 seconds. Glide next to ear, press and hold 7 seconds.
27. Press on both sides of the nose and hold for 7 seconds, glide to top of maxillary arch,
press and hold for 7 seconds. Glide to temples, press and hold 7 seconds.
28. Using ring finger, press inside corners of the eyes 7 seconds, glide to inferior orbital
ridge, press and hold 7 seconds, glide to outside corner of eyes, press and hold on outer
orbital ridge 7 seconds.
29. Press avarta marmas. Hold 7 seconds.
30. Squeeze along superior orbital ridge in 3-4 points as in step #12. Hold each point 3 sec-
onds.
31. Using thumb massage third eye. Press thumbs up the midline of the forehead to the
crown chakra. Massage the scalp. Gently and slowly remove your hands.


Copper Shirodhara Stand from
Ajara
Discover an ancient treatment
that will be sure to create a last-
ing experience. Shirodhara is one
of the most effective ways to
calm and soothe a stressed
mind. It has been used in India
for thousands of years, and now
you can offer it to your clients!
With our Shirodhara equipment,
providing this treatment has
never been easier!
Our Shirodhara stand is made
from pure copper with both cop-
per and brass fittings. It is both
beautiful and functional in de-
sign. The arm is easily adjustable
in all directions and the shelf
provides a space for catching,
and warming your oil flow. Ideal
for the most elegant and design
conscious spa as well as the
therapist on the go, our Shirod-
hara stand is highly portable,
setting up or breaking down in
no more than two minutes. It
weighs less than 12 pounds and
breaks down to fit in a
22X14X12 suitcase.
Copper pot w/ Control Valve
Traditional Copper pot
Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty
414.559.2299
www.ajaraskincare.com
Attach the shelving to the stand before assembling the rest of the unit.

Tighten the union joints with wrenches as you put each piece together.

If the arm of the stand is sticking in the joint, wipe it with Vaseline.

Place the slider and chain on the arm of the shirodhara stand last.

Be sure the hole in your pot is free from debris by running a pipe cleaner in the valve before the
first use and between each use. Hair can get caught in the valve during the treatment as well. It
is a good idea to have something rigid nearby to run through the hole in this case.

If using the shirodhara pump, insert the tubing into the hose clamp provided, then attach the tub-
ing to the pump. Tighten the hose clamp down with a screw driver so that the tubing adheres to
the pump.

Place the electric burner on the shelving, and your oil into the pitcher. Place the oil on the heater
approximately 10 minutes before the shirodhara will begin. If using a pump DO NOT PLACE
THE PUMP IN THE OIL YET. Turn the burner to the highest setting for about 1 minute. The
turn the burner completely off. Wait 10 minutes. Your oil should be to the proper temperature for
a warm shirodhara treatment. You may now place the pump in the oil.

If using the pump, wrap the tubing around the stand and insert as shown, avoiding kinks. If your
tubing has kinks in it, pinch the kink and bend it the opposite direction. This will round the hose.

Make sure the valve on the shirodhara pot is off. The lever should be turned upward. To open
the valve, simply place the lever pointing downward.

When you start the oil, turn the dial on the burner to between the 0 and 1. Because the burner
has a self regulating thermostat the light may not stay on during the entire treatment.

When finished, close the valve on the shirodhara pot, unplug the pump, and turn the burner off.

To keep your burner, pan and shirodhara pot clean, simply place a quarter sized dollop of liquid
dish soap on a lightly damp sponge. Wipe down completely before rinsing with any water. Drain
the pump, then set it in a bath of alcohol for 1-2 minutes to kill germs and remove oil residues.

To bring your stand back to a shine, scrub with a dry Heavy Duty Green Scotch Brite pad.
Tips for Setting up and Maintaining Ajara
Shirodhara Equipment
Instructions for Assembly of the Ajara Shirodhara Stand

Slider
Place the two copper straps together. Put one screw into one adjoining side and attach a nut. Now put the
chain on the bottom of the two straps. Place the two straps onto the arm and insert the second screw. Tighten
both nuts down with a pliers and screw driver.

Shelf
Center the shelf on the stand, so that there are holes running along each side of the center pole. Place a screw
into a washer and insert from the top of the shelf into the fourth hole from the front of the shelf, along each side
of the pole. Place the tube strap over the screws, and tighten each one down with a single nut. See picture #1
Do the same thing on the back end of the shelf. This time, insert the screws in the second hole from the back.
See picture #2.

Front underneath Back underneath with strap and nuts

Complete shelf

Top Slider (side view)

Top Slider (front view)
Next, bring the tubing to the other side of the shi-
rodhara pot, near the opposite ring. Insert the tub-
ing into the opposite ring from the OUTSIDE to-
ward the inside. The end of the tubing should now
be pointing into the shirodhara pot, and the pot
should be hanging mostly level.
Slide the tubing through both rings until it curls up in
the bottom of the shirodhara pot. Make sure that the
tubing is not hanging anywhere near the clients head or
in the way of the shirodhara stream. Straighten out the
tubing so the oil will run smoothly. Avoid kinking the
tube anywhere along the way.
1
Wrap the vinyl hose around the shaft of the shirodhara
stand. Once the tubing reaches the level of the top of
the copper pot, run the tubing through one of the rings
on the chain going from the outside toward the inside.
2
3
Open the intake vent on the pump all the way, so that the lever runs horizon-
tally. Submerge the pump in the warm oil and adhere the suction cup feet to
the bottom of the pot. Make sure the pump is completely covered with oil, or it
will make noise, and then stop running properly. Turn the pump on by plug-
ging it into the wall. The pump will make a slight whirring noise at first while
it is getting started, and then will be quiet. Once the oil has been running for a
minute or two, you may choose to close the intake vent slightly so the oil runs
slower. Monitor the oil level throughout the treatment. For someone with very
long or porous hair, more oil may need to be added during the treatment.
How to use the Shirodhara Oil Pump
Complete Shirodhara Systems

We have put together two system packages to meet all of your shirodhara needs. One sys-
tem is our traditional hands on system where the therapist pours the shirodhara oil, and the
other is our electrical system that employs the use of a pump. With either system, these
packages take all of the guesswork out of purchasing your shirodhara equipment.
Complete Electrical Shirodhara Setup

This package includes all the equipment needed for
performing a virtually hands free shirodhara. Espe-
cially beneficial for the therapist with shoulder or back
injuries, it requires no heavy oil pan lifting. J ust turn
the pump on and let the oil flow! Using this hands-free
system also allows for Reiki or subtle marma point
therapy during the treatment.

System includes:
Copper shirodhara stand
Copper shirodhara vessel with control valve
Electric Solid Element Burner
1 2 quart Copper Pitcher
Electric oil pump with 6'4" of hose
Vinyl strip
Complete Hands-On Shirodhara Set-up

This is the traditional system for giving a shirodhara treat-
ment. With this hands-on application, the flow of oil
comes from the copper pot, onto the clients third eye,
down the hair and vinyl strip, and into the warming pan,
where the flow continues with the shirodhara therapist re-
pouring the warmed oil back into the copper vessel. While
this method requires skill and an ability to quiet one's own
mind, it is the most energetically positive way to give a
shirodhara treatment

Set-up includes:
Copper Shirodhara Stand
Copper Shirodhara pot w/control valve
2 2 quart Copper Pitchers
Electric Solid Element Burner
Vinyl Strip
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp ground basil leaf
1/3 tsp asafetida
pinch of cayenne
You may adjust the spices to your liking, but if adding salt, wait until after the
rice and beans have finished cooking. Sautee until lightly browned. Be careful
not to let your spices burn! Now add 6 to 8 cups water and bring to a boil. Add
the mung beans, boil until the beans have dissolved. Next, add the rice. Bring to
a simmer on low heat, cover until rice is done. You may need to add more water
during this time. Garnish with fresh ginger and cilantro.
Kitchari
Recipe by Richard Masla ND*
In America, downing a hearty grain dish would not be called fasting. But in
India kitchari - a soupy porridge made from rice and mung beans, lightly
spiced with ginger, cilantro, and other spices - is considered a fasting food
and is used to purify digestion and cleanse systemic toxins.
Ayurvedic physicians often prescribe a kitchari diet just before, during, and
for a short time after panchakarma, a rejuvenative treatment that cleanses
toxins and restores systemic balance. Kitchari provides solid nourishment
while allowing the body to devote energy to healing. You can safely subsist
on kitchari anytime in order to build vitality and strength as it helps balance
all three doshas. For restless vata, the warm soup is grounding; for fiery
pitta, its spices are calming; and for chilly kapha, it provides healing warmth.
The teachings of Ayurveda suggest that all healing begins within the diges-
tive tract, and kitchari can give it a much-needed rest from constantly proc-
essing different foods while providing essential nutrients. The blend of rice
and split mung beans offers an array of amino acids, the building blocks for
protein. Its mixture of spices kindles the digestive fire, which is often weak-
ened by poor food combinations.
Kitchari tastes like a cross between a creamy rice cereal and a light dal, or
lentil soup. If it is a cold, blustery day or you are feeling under the weather, a
steaming bowl of this classic Indian comfort food can both warm up your
bones and restore sagging energy.
First, rinse one cup of split yellow mung beans and then 2 cups of basmati
rice. Keep them separate and set aside. Add 1 tbsp sunflower oil or ghee to
a hot 4 quart stock pot. Add:
*Richard A. Masla ND, LMT is runs the Ayurveda Health Retreat in Alachua, Florida. The retreat hosts guests and patients
from around the world. They come to experience Ayurvedic pancha karma treatments which act to rejuvenate and detoxify
the body, mind and spirit. For more information see www.AyurvedaHealthRetreat.com
The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected
much, even if subjected to accidental injuries or strenuous work. By using oil
massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts
and becomes strong, charming, and least affected by old age.
As Translated from the Charaka Samhita Vol. 1, V: 88-89

Ayurvedic Self-Massage is an important part of any daily routine, yet most of us
have never even attempted it. According to the American Massage Therapy Asso-
ciation, research shows that massage therapy provides several important health
benefits, including:

Improved blood circulation. This aids in recovery of muscle soreness from
physical activity.

Muscle relaxation and improved range of motion.

Increased endorphin levels. This is one of the greatest benefits of massage
therapy. Endorphins are the chemicals the body produces that make you
feel good, which is very effective in managing chronic pain.

We all know that massage therapy is a great way to maintain good health and
well-being. There is increasing medical evidence to show the great value of
touch. It is such a natural part of life that without touch people become de-
pressed and irritable. Children that are raised in families where parents and chil-
dren touch each other tend to sleep better, are healthier, more sociable, and are
generally happier.

Despite all the evidence to show the benefits of touch, we are still hesitant about
touching each other. There are only a few occasions when adults touch each
other freely. Even touching your own body has negative connotations! Massage
therapy helps remove these taboos and puts touch in a positive light.
Dail y Massage for Health
According to the teachings of Ayurveda, oil massage should be done every
single day. Obviously, the expense of receiving a daily massage from a
therapist is cost prohibitive enough to make anyone stop reading this arti-
cle. But daily massage does not have to be given by another person. It can
be done right in the comfort of your home, given by your own hands.

The best time to give yourself a massage is about 15 minutes before your
daily bath or shower. This act is very similar to the snehana and swedana
mentioned earlier in the section on shodana. The massage can be as sim-
ple as slapping on some oil, or as elaborate as you would receive from the
best massage therapist in town. The choice is yours. Just making the deci-
sion to take care of yourself through daily oil massage is a step in the right
direction.
Procedure
The best way to undertake the process of self massage is to
start by choosing the most suitable oil for your doshic type.
Generally speaking, vata types should choose heavy, heating
oils, pitta needs a medium viscosity cooling oil, and kapha
does best with a light, thin, warming oil. Refer to the sec-
tions on vata, pitta, and kapha for suggestions.
Next, warm a few tablespoons of oil and place it in a oil warmer. It is best not
to use a microwave to heat your oil. You can also warm it on the stove (this
only takes a couple of seconds), or fill a dispenser bottle with oil and place it in
a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

Lay a large bath towel on a chair or on the floor in the bathroom. Situate your-
self on the towel, oil in hand, and begin your massage.

The following steps will get you started. You can modify or elaborate on any of
the strokes listed, or make up your own. There are no rules when it comes to
self massage!
1. Put one hand on top of the foot and the other under the sole, then stroke
smoothly from your toes to your ankles. Glide your hands back to your toes
and repeat.
2. Support your foot with one hand and work on each toe individually.
Squeeze it firmly, and gently stretch each toe with a gentle pull.
3. Stroke around the ankle with your fingertips. Stroke up the backside of
the ankle, then over the top and down the front side. Finish by stroking the
foot as you did at the beginning
4. Mold your hands to the shape of your leg, rest your foot flat, and bend
your knee up. Gliding up with one hand on each side of the leg, begin at the
foot and stroke smoothly up the calf, over the knee and up to the top of the
thigh. Repeat five times.
5. Stroke clockwise around your abdomen with one hand following the other
in a circle, using the whole surface of your hands.
6. Glide up and down your sides from your hip bone to your rib cage
7. Reach around your body and firmly glide hands upward from the hip to
the bottom of your shoulder blades. Glide down with a gentle pressure.
8. Make fists and glide from hip to the bottom of your shoulder blade with
your knuckles.
9. Reach your left hand over your right shoulder as far as you can. Pull with
your fingers from in between the shoulder blades, up over the shoulder,
ending on the front of your chest.
10. Starting with the left hand on the right shoulder glide over the top of
the collar bone, across the chest to the underarm. Do the same with the
right hand on the left shoulder. Alternate like this, repeating four times
each hand.
11. With fingers pointing toward the head, glide in an upward motion on
each side of the breast/pectoral muscle. Repeat five times on each side.
12. Place your left hand on your right shoulder . Mold your hand to the
curve of your neck. Starting at the base of your skull, stroke down the side
of your neck, over your shoulder and down your arm to the elbow. Glide
back to your neck and repeat at least three times. Then do the other side.
13. Work up the neck and around the base of the skull, making circular
pressures with your fingertips on both sides of the spine.
14. Knead each shoulder; squeeze and release the flesh on your shoulders
and at the top of your arms.
15. Smooth your whole arm by stroking from the wrist to the shoulder.
Stroke firmly as you move up the arm, then glide gently back and repeat.
16. Knead all the way up your arm, squeezing and releasing the muscles.
Pay particular attention to the fleshy part at the back of the upper arm.
17. Stroke in between each bone in the hand from knuckle to wrist using
your thumb.
18. Turn your hand over and support the back with your fingers. Do firm cir-
cular and static pressures with your thumb, working all over the palm and
around the wrist.
19. Tilt your head to one side, mold your hand to the shape of your neck,
and stroke from the collarbone to the chin, one hand following the other. Re-
peat on the other side.
20. Make small circular pressures all over your chin and around your mouth
with the index and middle fingers of each hand.
21. Stroke from the corners of your mouth to your ears. Use one hand on
each cheek and move them both out together. Then, stroke from your
mouth to your ear, using the tips of your fingers.
22. Mold your hands to the shape of your forehead. Stroke up from the
bridge of your nose to your hairline with one hand following the other.
23. Place both index fingers on the bridge of your nose and make short,
firm strokes upward first, then across.
24. Make circular pressures all over your forehead, working in lines from the
bridge of your nose to your temples, to cover the whole forehead up to your
hairline. Press firmly, but do not drag your skin. Then stroke your forehead
gently with your fingertips to soothe it after the last circular movement.
25. Stroke from the center of your forehead to your temples. Then, circle
slowly and steadily on the temples to stimulate the muscle.
26. Stroke in a circle around your eyes with your middle fingers. Stroke
firmly and evenly from the bridge of your nose out over your eyebrows, press
on your temples, then glide lightly under your eyes, barely touching the skin.
27. Massage your scalp by pressing firmly with your fingers. Start with your
fingers spread out, then bring them in toward each other. Most scalp mas-
sage feels best with deep pressure.
28. Slide your fingers through the roots of your hair. Gripping large
amounts of hair gently make a fist and pull outward. Do this all over your
entire scalp.
Options for Oil Disposal
Therapists often wonder what to do with all of the extra oil left over from their shirod-
hara treatment. Luckily, there are a few options for disposal that wont ruin your drains.

It is important to know that it is usually illegal to dump oil down the drain. Oil can block
drains and cause wastewater overflows from the public sewer system as well as blocking
private plumbing drains. Check with your local authorities about whether or not this is
an option for you.

The most common method of oil disposal is by waste oil recycling. Most cities and
towns have several waste oil removal companies. Contact a company in your area to
find out your options. If your facility is connected with a restaurant, it is likely that
these services are already being provided to your company. Usually, the recycling com-
pany will drop off an empty barrel, which is placed in your prep room or outside a back
door that is easily accessible. When you are finished with a batch of oil from a treat-
ment, simply dump the oil into the barrel. After the barrel is full, you will call the com-
pany and have the oil removed. Then they replace the full barrel with an empty one.
The cost for this service ranges from 10 to 50 dollars depending on your area and the
company used.

Another great way to dispose of your leftover oil is to give it to someone who uses bio-
diesel fuel. This is a relatively new phenomenon being used to get around burning gaso-
line in cars. The cars are converted to burn vegetable oils and fats instead of petroleum.
If you know someone who is using this type of fuel, or know of a station that is filtering
biodiesel, they will be more than grateful to accept your used shirodhara oil. For more
information please go to www.biodiesel.org

Finally, shirodhara oil can be given to the client for home use. Or, if you have a regular
client who comes for shirodhara, you can use the same oil on her up to 5 times, or within
2 months, as long as no water has gotten into the oil. Half gallon jugs are available from
many bottle companies locally and online (see references). Simply place the jug in the
sink, place a funnel in the mouth of the jug and pour in the leftover oil. If your client
does regular home massages, it will be a nice treat for them to use this oil. Make sure to
ask the client if they will want this oil, as some people will have no use for it.

Any combination of the above methods for disposal is ideal. It is always good to have a
backup method in case your oil barrel is too full, or your client isnt interested in taking
their oil home. If nothing else, this oil can be used in place of petroleum in your oil can-
dles, or given to a local farmer to mix with the food for their animals.
Resources
From Nature With Love
PO Box 201
Haleyville CT 06440
USA
Phone: 203.267.6061
Fax: 203.267.6065
www.FromNatureWith Love.com
Carries Dead Sea water by the
Gallon as well as many hydrosols
and aloe liquid.
Bottles

SKS Bottle Company
www.sks-bottle.com
2600 7th Avenue
Building 60 West
Watervliet, NY 12189
Phone: 518.880.6980
Fax: 518.880.6990
Sunburst Bottle Company
4500 Beloit Drive
Sacramento, CA 95838
www.sunburstbottle.com
Phone: 916.929.4500
Fax: 916.929.3604
ED Luce Packaging
13422 Alondra Blvd
Cerritos, CA 90703
www.essentialsupplies.com
Phone: 562.802.0515
Fax: 562.802.0501
Sacred Stone Healing
554 E Main Rd
Middletown RI 02842
USA
Phone: 401.846.6380
www.sacredstonehealing.com
Shirodhara Equipment and Training
Shirodhara Oils and other Substances
Banyan Botanicals
6705 Eagle Rock Ave, NE
Albuquerque NM 87113
USA
Phone: 1800.953.6424
www.BanyanBotanicals.com
3303 S New York Ave
Milwaukee WI 53207
Phone: 414.559.2299
Fax: 623.433.3772
www.AjaraSkinCare.com

A Muzda Enterprises
Albuquerque NM
Phone: 505.269.5409
Email: Viraf1@juno.com
Carries essential oils, and
uniquely blended oil as well as
base oils. Check here for all
the rare ingredients you need.
Diamond Way Ayurveda
PO Box 13753
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Phone: 805.453.9291
www.diamondwayayurveda.com
3303 S New York Ave
Milwaukee WI 53207
Phone: 414.559.2299
Fax: 623.433.3772
www.AjaraSkinCare.com
Sanskrit Glossary

Ajara: Literally without age. Ageless
Ajna: The third eye or brow chakra
Ayur: Life and Longevity
Anupana: Literally vehicle. A substance for herbs to be taken with
Apana: Downward flow of energy
Asana: Yogic postures
Ayurveda: The science of life, the oldest system of health and healing
Dharana: Concentration; one of the seven stages of yoga realization
Dosha: The three basic types of biological forces, determines personal
constitution
Gunas: The three forces of sattva, rajas, and tamas (creation, change, and
destruction) Also refers to the 20 opposite attributes of the doshas
Kapha: Biological force of bodily water. Combined elements of earth and water
Kitchari: a mixture of mung dhal, rice, spices, and ghee
Marma: One of the vital energy points where matter and consciousness converge
Panchakarma: The five actions of nasal cleaning, emesis, purgation, enema, and
bloodletting
Paschatkarma: The third stage of shodana; Actions taken after panchakarma
Pitta: The biological force of bodily fire. Combined elements of fire and water.
Prakruti: True nature; Perfect state of balance
Purvakarma: Before action; the first part of shodana; actions before panchakarma
Rajas: State of change Kinetic energy
Rasayana: The fourth stage of shodana; Rejuvenation therapy
Samadhi: State of pure joy
Sattva: State of creation Potential creative energy
Shirodhara: Medicated oil treatment on the third eye to calm the nervous system.
Shodana: Series of internal and external cleansing practices to rid the body of
toxins
Snehana: Oleation; oiling the body internally and externally
Swedana: Sudation; sweating
Tamas: State of Destruction: potential destructive energy
Udana: Upward flow of energy
Vata: The biological force of bodily air. Combined elements of ether and air.
Vayu: The movement of vata wind
Veda: Pure Knowledge
Vedas: Volumes of sacred texts over 3000 years old
Vikruti: Current state of imbalance
Ayurveda & Panchakarma, Sunil V Joshi MD
Ayurveda & Aromatherapy, Light & Bryan Miller
The Magic of Ayurveda Aromatherapy, Farida Irani
Ayurveda and Marma Therapy, Dr David Frawley
Heavens Banquet, Ayurvedic Cookbook, Miriam Hospodar
Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing, Usha & Dr Vasant Lad
Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners, Bri Maya Tiwari
Ayurveda: A Life of Balance, Bri Maya Tiwari
Whats Your Dosha Baby, Lisa Marie Coffey
The Ageless Woman, Nancy Lonsdorf ND
Path of Practice, Bri Maya Tiwari
The Hidden Secret of Ayurveda, Dr Robert Svoboda
The Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Massage, Dr John Doillard
Ayurvedic Beauty Care, Melanie Sachs
Absolute Beauty, Pratima Raichur
Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing, Dr Vasant Lad
The Yoga of Herbs, Dr David Frawley & Dr Vasant Lad
The Textbook of Ayurveda, Dr Vasant Lad
The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, Dr Vasant Lad
The Vaastu Workbook, Talavane Krishna MD
Yoga and Ayurveda, Dr David Frawley
Yoga for Your Type, Dr David Frawley
Aromatherapy Handbook, Erich Keller
A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, Ruth Winter MS
Organic Beauty, Josephine Fairley
Natural Beauty Basics, Dorie Byers RN
Suggested Reading List
About Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty

Our Humble Beginnings
Nicole Hinterstocker founded Ajara Ayurvedic
Beauty in J anuary of 2002. As a Massage Thera-
pist and Ayurvedic Practitioner at the Ayurvedic
Institute in Albuquerque, NM, she became inter-
ested in the use of herbs for skin care. After do-
ing research based upon suggestions from Dr.
Vasant Lad (a leading Ayurvedic Physician and
founder of the Ayurvedic Institute) the parameters
were clear: the products must be all natural, they
must be dosha specific, and they must contain
potent (but gentle) ayurvedic herbs. From these
guidelines Ajara was born, starting out only with a
cleanser and oil for each dosha. The Ajara prod-
uct line continues to grow steadily by continually
working on new skin, body, hair care items and
shirodhara equipment based on traditional ay-
urvedic values.
Our Mission
To provide affordable, effective skin care for-
mulas using the most natural and ethically
grown ingredients possible while staying true
to real Ayurvedic Principles.
Our Vision
Combining Ayurveda with sound
skin care methods to promote
health and happiness in people
from all over the globe.

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Table of Contents Shirodhara Manual for Practitioners

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