What Is Shirodhara?
Shirodhara oil stream over third eye.
Over time, Shirodhara has become one of Ayurveda’s more iconic symbols or methods of body work. A copper pot hung directly over your head pours a steady fluid (oil or milk) just above the brow line onto your third eye. The word comes from Shiro, meaning head, and Dhara, to pour. These combine creating Shirodhara—to pour over one’s head. There are many forms of Dhara, which can include streaming a liquid over joints or any chakra points.
Before I dive into why this practice is so important, let’s chat about the significance of the third eye. In our chakra system, the sixth chakra, know as Ajna, is located at our third eye point in the center of our forehead. Ajna means command, thus making our sixth chakra our command center. I think it helps to think of our chakra systems as a place where our natural energy, or prana, is already flowing. Keeping these balanced maintains our own well being.
Our Ajna chakra is physically correlated with the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. These are part of our endocrine system, making them the master controls of our autonomic nervous system. When our prana (life force) flows, we have a normal hormonal output. In Ayurveda, we practice a simple logic to help with anyone’s health—like increases like. Therefore, too much of anything is a bad thing. Too much flow of prana could create a surge of many hormones, just as the opposite, a lack of flowing prana, would create not enough hormones. Both scenarios create an imbalance.
The sixth chakra psychologically helps build an experience of the world that is in line with our deepest beliefs, thus being our inner perception. On a spiritual level, this is where our perception of soul originates. So, the deeper into our Ajna chakra we go, the more insight comes.
This brings me to why it is so important to try Shirodhara. Personally, my first Shiro experience was like seeing clearly for the first time from my third eye. I meditate regularly and felt that this practice took me to a deeper state of insight which came from within. My own experience made me understand how special and delicate Shirodhara is. While in school, I was taught to be gentle with clients because the Shirodhara creates such stillness. For some, especially if they have never felt this before, it can generate a large emotional response, and they will need the space to have this experience. This is why I work slowly with anyone new to the process, as it can take some time to be comfortable with these types, of deep internal perception.
The gentle stillness created from the flow of warm oil with infused herbs allows the body and mind to settle down. Not only is this a very relaxing experience, but it also is a wonderful modality for chronic head-aches, insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness. It helps you quiet the mind with your meditation practice, and additionally the oil provides a glorious hydration for your locks that have been soaking up all that summertime sun shine. I recommend leaving the oil in your hair for a few hours to soak in the goodness. In my practice, I work with a tridoshic oil blend to help sooth all doshas, but I also offer custom blends to anyone who is interested or who may need further balance for their specific dosha (particular elemental makeup).
Today is always a good day to try something new. If you are still feeling unsure or would like any information please feel free to contact me with any questions. I’m happy to help.