Basti Treatments
with Linda Sheehan
In Ayurveda, the body, mind, and spirit are never separate.
A dough basti is a beautiful therapy that nourishes on every level.
The Sanskrit word basti means “to hold.” In traditional Ayurveda, it refers to therapies that hold herbal preparations in or on the body for healing. Dough bastis are external, where a ring of dough acts as a reservoir to hold warm herbal oil in place.
From a physical perspective, warm herbal oils penetrate the skin to nourish the tissues, calm inflammation, and increase circulation. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this pacifies vata dosha, the principle of air and space that, when aggravated, causes pain, dryness, and tension.
Here the body receives sustained nourishment in one place, and the mind is invited into quiet, supportive rest. This is where physical and emotional healing meet.
On the emotional and energetic level, the steady warmth and containment of the oil create a safe space for the nervous system to unwind. This allows the subtle body to release held emotions, quiet restless energy, and restore harmony.
It’s not just the oil, it’s the intentional holding, warmth, and presence that make the therapy so powerful.
Dough bastis may look simple, but their healing effects are anything but. They offer relief for pain, stiffness, and tension, while also holding space for emotional healing, whether that’s stress, grief, or the weight of daily life.
Hrid Basti
45 minutes
Kati Basti
45 minutes
Netra Basti
60 minutes
Applied over the heart center, this is a deeply calming and emotionally supportive treatment. This subtle yet profound therapy creates a sense of peace while supporting the heart muscle. It is a powerful treatment which removes stagnant energy and blockages from the area supporting emotional ease, releasing old wounds, sadness and grief.
Applied over the lumbar spine, this is a deeply restorative treatment to soothe the lumbosacral region, indicated for low back pain, sciatica and subtle energetics of the spine. The oil deeply penetrates the tissues, bathing the vertebrae, nerves, and muscles. Energetically, it strengthens our foundation, offering stability and support in times of stress.
Therapeutic treatment for the eyes. A soothing treatment beneficial for many eye conditions and for calming and balancing the mind. A dough dam is placed around the eye and warm ghee is gently poured inside, bathing the eye and surrounding tissues. This treatment improves eyesight, relieves tension, and reduces migraines. It also draws excess heat (pitta dosha) from the body. Each eye is treated for 30 minutes.
Add-On Options – $25 each
Basti treatments are greatly enhanced with the addition of either Nasya (nasal oiling) or Karna Purana (ear oiling). These can be added on at the time of your treatment.
“My first Shirodhara treatment with Linda was deeply profound. From the moment the session began, I felt my nervous system being gently nourished. I left feeling deeply relaxed, clear and rested — a level of calm I haven’t experienced in years.”