I Tried It: A Seriously Luxurious Abhyanga Massage in the Maldives

I was then brought over to the open-air treatment area, where my two therapists chanted a prayer of sorts over me that lasts for a several minutes. It took me a second to allow myself to relax and sink into the experience, but this feeling of peace and serenity eventually washed over me.

My therapists eventually guided me to the treatment table, and the core of the massage began. In Ayurvedic practice, nourishing your body with warmed, herbal oils should be a part of your everyday life, and Abhyanga doesn't skimp. In rhythmic movements, oil was poured over the length of my body and the therapists used broad, sweeping motions to massage the oil into my skin. It felt more like caressing instead of the kneading, deep sports massages I'm used to. (Really, it was a welcomed shift.)

Image courtesy of Wendy Rose Gould