Lifts mood, balances energies. Relieves stress, tension headaches, eye strain, sinus or lymph congestion, mental fatigue, problems with focus and concentration, insomnia. Includes work on the scalp, neck, shoulders, arms, and energy centres (chakras).
Indian Head massage has been developed here in the West from the
‘Champissage’ massage practiced in India for thousands of years, in homes by women for their families, in barber shops by men, even on street corners, and the therapeutic and energy balancing techniques of the Indian Ayur Vedic Medicine system.
Benefits of Indian Head Massage
Indian head massage can:
- relieve tension and stress
- reduce tension headaches and migraines
- relieve TMJ pain and earache - do you clench your jaw or grind your teeth?
- relieve eyestrain
- reduces oedema - fluid retention, eg puffy swollen tissues
- stimulate immunity
- calm the nervous system, reducing restlessness
- drain sinuses, calm and clear the respiratory system, reducing symptoms of asthma, colds, and allergies such as hayfever, etc
- nourish hair, improving hair condition and stimulating the growth of stronger, thicker hair
- calm the mind - do you feel like you never 'switch off'?
- relieve 'brain fog' and mental fatigue
- improve alertness, concentration and memory and allow more creative thinking
- reduce depression and anxiety, lift mood and give a feeling of wellbeing
- relieve insomnia, promoting good sleep.
- renew and balance energy
If you love having your hair washed at the hairdressers, because it feels so good when they massage your head, or if you love people playing with your hair, you will love Indian head massage!
Vigorous rubbing, squeezing, kneeding and 'chopping' (champi) to upper back, especially around the shoulder blades and on the top of the shoulders, thorough work all around the neck, and a little work on lower back if it is accessible from how you are positioned. Arms are squeezed and smoothed downwards.
First kneading, rubbing, ruffling, squeezing, plucking, tugging, tapping and stroking around your scalp and right to ends of your hair.
Energy field
Hands held away from the body, the bodies aura or energy field, and the 7 major chakras (energy centres - the diagram shows the location of each of these, the main associated colour and the Indian and English names) are balanced, to leave you feeling grounded, centred, energised yet calm and peaceful.
Coconut Oil Light and silky smooth in texture, good for gentle gliding massage. I use a fractionated oil which is liquid at room temperature and has very little smell. It is cooling. Excellent for moisturising and softening skin (including skin with excema or psoriasis) and dry, brittle and chemically treated hair. Coconut oil is traditionally used in India for women and in Ayurvedic Medicine for those with a Pitta dosha (constitution).
Sesame Oil Slightly thick or heavy in texture, good for slow, vigorous or deep massage. It has a nutty, slightly woody scent, a bit like raw honey. It is warming. strengthening and nourishing for hair and skin and is traditionally used to help prevent greying, dandruff and head lice. It is particularly used in Ayurvedic Medicine for those with a Vata dosha (constitution) but is good for all constitutional types.
I may also use sunflower, or grapeseed oils, both medium texture. Mustard oil - traditionally used in India for men and in Ayurvedic Medicine for those with a Kapha dosha (constitution) may occasionally be used sparingly as it is very thick and has a pungent spicy smell. It is heating, cleanses the blood and is good for releasing knotted muscles and relieving aches, pains and sinus congestion. Olive oil is a milder less pungent Western alternative which I sometimes use.
Aromatherapy
As I am also a qualified Aromatherapist, I can also make up a blend with added essential oils, either for their beneficial effects on skin or hair or for various physical, mental or emotional benefits. This can be traditional Indian oils such as soothing, spiritual Sandalwood or grounding, calming Patchouli, or something closer to home - eg Rosemary gives shiny strong hair, eases aches and pains, clears the sinuses, and helps give mental focus and improve memory. Let me know if you would like me to incorporate Aromatherapy into your Indian head massage.
- relieve 'brain fog' and mental fatigue
- improve alertness, concentration and memory and allow more creative thinking
- reduce depression and anxiety, lift mood and give a feeling of wellbeing
- relieve insomnia, promoting good sleep.
- renew and balance energy
"My massage with Ceri was a wonderful birthday present. She sorted out all the tension in my shoulder, and left me feeling wonderful after an Indian head massage - floaty and clear headed at the same time!"
Ms Clare Brown, Lancaster.
Other forms of massage focus on relieving tension in the muscles and fascia. Indian head massage combines this with stimulating the free flow of blood, lymph (fluid), and energy in your upper body, and cerebral fluid in the head. Oxygen and nutrients can then flow in and waste products can be flushed out (often called detoxification). Then energy channels and centres in the head (marmas) and along the spine (chakras) are balanced, having a beneficial effect on the whole person, body, mind, emotions and spirit.
What do you do in a Indian Head Massage?
This treatment typically includes vigorous techniques, such as squeezing and rubbing to release tension, alternating with gentler soothing and relaxing techniques, and energy balancing.
It can also include deeper work into stiff or knotty muscles when this is wanted to release tension. People have been known to become so relaxed they fall asleep while sitting up during this treatment, and yet leave feeling uplifted (even euphoric) and energised!
The standard is for this to be a seated treatment. These days I usually sit people on a chair normally, with the chair supporting the lower back. Other positions may be used if more comfortable, e.g, backwards, with you leaning onto the back of the chair and a pillow, or with the chair against the treatment couch and bolsters and pillows so you can lean your forehead and shoulders onto their support.
The upper body is usually wrapped in a velcro-together towel. Women may leave the bra on if they wish, with arms out of the straps. Alternatively, it is possible to do the treatment with the person fully clothed, please discuss if this is your preference.
It can also be done in an adapted way with the client lying down - on your back on a treatment couch. Or for an extended session (65 mins) if you would like extra work on the back, we can start with you face down and then turn over. You will be asked to choose between seated or lying down options when you book.
Back, Neck and Arms
Vigorous rubbing, squeezing, kneeding and 'chopping' (champi) to upper back, especially around the shoulder blades and on the top of the shoulders, thorough work all around the neck, and a little work on lower back if it is accessible from how you are positioned. Arms are squeezed and smoothed downwards.
Head
First kneading, rubbing, ruffling, squeezing, plucking, tugging, tapping and stroking around your scalp and right to ends of your hair.
Then gentle massage, finger tip pressure and sweeping movements along the energy channels and vital energy points (marmas) of your forehead, temples, and scalp, to release tension, clear sinuses and balance your energies.
Please note, as with all sessions, a face covering must be worn, and so the area of the face underneath this is not included in the treatment.
Hands held away from the body, the bodies aura or energy field, and the 7 major chakras (energy centres - the diagram shows the location of each of these, the main associated colour and the Indian and English names) are balanced, to leave you feeling grounded, centred, energised yet calm and peaceful.
Use of Oils on Skin and Hair
In India, various oils are liberally applied to the skin and hair for their moisturising, nourishing and other special and beneficial properties. If you can book a treatment when you are happy for the use of oil and to leave it on the skin and hair for as long as possible before washing it is an excellent deep conditioning treatment. However, in the West, clients sometimes prefer the massage to use minimal oil, to avoid oil on the hair, or be totally oil free. I'll check your preferences with you.You may wish to bring something to tie back your oiled hair after the treatment, or a hat to cover it.
I choose which oil to use depending on you, your skin and hair and what you need from the massage that day. My favourite oils to use for Indian head massage are:
I choose which oil to use depending on you, your skin and hair and what you need from the massage that day. My favourite oils to use for Indian head massage are:
Coconut Oil Light and silky smooth in texture, good for gentle gliding massage. I use a fractionated oil which is liquid at room temperature and has very little smell. It is cooling. Excellent for moisturising and softening skin (including skin with excema or psoriasis) and dry, brittle and chemically treated hair. Coconut oil is traditionally used in India for women and in Ayurvedic Medicine for those with a Pitta dosha (constitution).I may also use sunflower, or grapeseed oils, both medium texture. Mustard oil - traditionally used in India for men and in Ayurvedic Medicine for those with a Kapha dosha (constitution) may occasionally be used sparingly as it is very thick and has a pungent spicy smell. It is heating, cleanses the blood and is good for releasing knotted muscles and relieving aches, pains and sinus congestion. Olive oil is a milder less pungent Western alternative which I sometimes use.
Aromatherapy
As I am also a qualified Aromatherapist, I can also make up a blend with added essential oils, either for their beneficial effects on skin or hair or for various physical, mental or emotional benefits. This can be traditional Indian oils such as soothing, spiritual Sandalwood or grounding, calming Patchouli, or something closer to home - eg Rosemary gives shiny strong hair, eases aches and pains, clears the sinuses, and helps give mental focus and improve memory. Let me know if you would like me to incorporate Aromatherapy into your Indian head massage.
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