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Indian Head Massage

What is an Indian head massage?

Indian Head Massage is a straightforward method of alternative therapy that you don’t have to undress for, that involves gentle manipulation of the head and upper body.

This massage technique can be used to relieve tension, stress and fix blockages and improve circulation throughout the body leading to a lowering of blood pressure. Indian Head Massage began in Asia a very long time ago but the benefits are still very relevant to today’s busy lifestyles.

Tension in the muscles in the human body can cause much discomfort and an imbalance will lead to poor function and tiredness. An Indian Head Massage can manipulate the body to de-stress and even invigorate people, as well as relieving them of existing aches or twinges in the upper body.

Indian head massage techniques

A head massage has always been part of getting your haircut in India and is known to be very healthy for your hair and the skin underneath. Various vegetable oils are often used such as coconut oil or olive oil to provide nutrition and the whole process it is even said to help with hair growth and colour retention.

Massaging the head in this way helps with circulation and the distribution of oxygen, amongst other nutrients, to the brain.

Your face and head are very responsive parts of the upper body which, along with the shoulders and neck, are especially susceptible to the symptoms of our hectic lifestyles. Therefore an Indian Head Massage is a very successful method of stress release and energy correction.

On an emotional level, an Indian Head Massage can also facilitate the rebalancing of the mind by helping to correct the energetic flow and unblock pathways. In doing so, this will enable the body to better cope with stress, fatigue and feeling low.

An Indian Head Massage normally will last for about half an hour therefore it is a quick method of revival that can be done during at lunchtime and prepare you for the rest of the day.

And most modern-day practices not longer apply any oils so, while you do not have to be concerned about having to wash your hair, it may lose its shape so do keep a comb handy!

Call us to find out how a Indian head massage can help you.

Indian Head Massage Techniques

Indian Head Massage is a wonderful ancient massage technique that has evolved over many hundreds of years to encourage healthy hair growth and to relieve muscular and joint tension in the head and upper body. In India it is normal to have a head massage every time you go to the hairdressers, as they believe that it helps encourage a healthy scalp and hair growth.

Treatments vary in length but are often half an hour long so can easily be incorporated into our hectic lives. It is normal to remain clothed and many therapists do not use oils so you won’t leave the treatment looking a state, although if this is a concern you should check beforehand.

The therapist will massage your head, neck, shoulders, arms, upper back and face in order to increase blood flow, ease muscle tension and strain.

Indian Head Massage Techniques

The therapist will usually start the treatment on the head and use a variety of Indian head massage techniques including long strokes (effleurage) this warms up your head, shoulders and tops of your arms and helps you feel comfortable with the therapist touching you. Then they might do some finger circles all over your head, gentle hair tugging which increases blood flow, finger combing through your hair, and static pressure which is where the therapist will push and release over your head which relaxes and stimulates the nerve endings in the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth. Then they might do some tapping, squeezing and lifting of the scalp and finally some gently chopping (hacking).

Indian Head Massage Routine

Continue reading Indian Head Massage Techniques

Indian Head Massages

Originally practised by the women of India, who have used it for centuries as a means of keeping their long hair in a healthy condition by increasing the sebum production of the hair follicles., Indian Head Massages are based on the Ayurvedic system of healing.

According to Wikipedia: “Champissage, also known as an Indian head massage (possibly a portmanteau of chāmpi, the Hindi term for the practice, and massage) is a trademarked term for an alternative medicine massage therapy. In champissage, the head, neck and face are massaged with the purpose of manipulating energy channels. The goal is to clear blocks in these energy channels that cause a build-up of negative energy that are purported to cause ailments. The belief is when the energy does not flow properly, negative energy builds up, causing common ailments, including stress, pain and nociception pains and aches, and baldness or hair loss. Champissage is practiced all over Europe.”

The technique was brought to the west in the 1970s by Narendra Mehta, a young Indian man, who became blind when he was one year old. and experienced the benefits during his childhood. He came to England to train as a physical therapist but returned home, in 1978, to study the benefits and practice of champissage, extending it to include the face, neck, and shoulders and developing a sequence of specific movements which he then brought back to England, although a quarter of a century on, the treatment may vary from one therapist to the next.

The head massage can be performed almost anywhere with the patient comfortably seated and fully clothed. Massage, Shiatsu and Acupressure techniques are used on the scalp, neck, shoulders, arms, hands and face, helping to eliminate muscular tension, rebalance the energy and stimulate the supply of nutrients to the tissues. This, in turn, promotes the removal of the metabolic waste which can cause stress and muscular pain within the body. Treatments normally last between 20 and 45 minutes and allow an opportunity for the client to sit quietly for a few moments once the massage has been completed.

By relaxing muscular tension and increasing joint mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders, Indian Head Massages can alleviate problems with eye strain, headaches and other stress-related disorders, leaving the recipient calm and ready to rejoin the hustle of daily life.

Indian Head Massages should be avoided if the patient has suffered with thrombosis, embolism or spondylosis. It is also contra-indicated if there has been any form of recent surgery or an injury to the head or neck.

After a treatment some clients may notice aching muscles, dizziness and fatigue. They may also experience the urge to urinate more frequently as the body eliminates the released waste materials and toxins.

If you suffer with regular headaches or stiff shoulders, call The Ark: Massage in Southend and Leigh on 01702 710531 to discuss the beneficial effects of Indian Head Massages.