The Treatment
Indian Head Massage involves not only massage to the head but also to the upper back, shoulders, arms, neck and face. It is an adaptable treatment and your personal preferences will be taken into account.
During your Indian Head Massage treatment I will use a range of soft tissue manipulations of varying pressure and rhythms that will have both a physical and mental effect. The massage can also include gentle stroking and stimulation of pressure points on the face. Oils can be used and some have their own therapeutic benefits such as improving hair condition, enhancing relaxation or clearing the head. A treatment can last 25 / 60 minutes and can be performed seated over clothes or on a massage couch lying down.
At your first visit a health and lifestyle consultation will be carried out to establish how best to tailor the treatment to your needs and expectations.
This is reviewed at each subsequent visit as life and health is not static and treatment needs and expectations can change – for instance if your shoulder is aching on one occasion then I will adapt your treatment to suit. Indian Head Massage techniques can be adapted to be more relaxing or more invigorating, as required.
Why have Indian Head Massage
The massage will aid the release of tensions and stresses that have built up in the muscles, tissues and joints in the head, neck, shoulders and arms. It is also said to aid circulation, lymphatic flow; to eliminate toxins and generally induce feelings of relaxation and calm; to elevate the mood and alleviate stress, anxiety and worry.
Origins
Indian Head Massage has its roots in Indian Ayuvedic Medicine that is thousands of years old. Massage has been part of daily Indian family life for centuries and the practise of head massage was developed by women to promote good health and strong shiny hair. Sometimes referred to as “champissage”, it was also practised on men at the barbers.
Narendra Mehta is credited with bringing it to the West in the 1970s when he came to the UK to study physiotherapy. Finding himself here with no one apparently able to perform the techniques he returned home to learn about it himself. On his return to the UK he began teaching head massage and promoting its therapeutic benefits. Its popularity grew in the West as it gained a reputation for being a relaxing and stress-relieving treatment. Today it is an important holistic therapy best performed by qualified therapists for maximum therapeutic benefit.