Indian head massage is said to be both a science and an art. It provides many benefits such as keeping hair strong, shiny and healthy and relieves conditions such as tension and migraine headaches, insomnia and sleep disorders, stress and related illnesses and tensions. back, shoulders and neck muscles. Indian Head Massage is a wonderfully relaxing therapy that leaves you with a feeling of peace, calm, refreshment and rejuvenation that restores natural harmony and balance to the body and mind.
What is Indian head massage and where does it come from?
Indian head massage is a combination of massage strokes and techniques that will vary from therapist to therapist, hence the reference to it being a science and an art. Each stroke or touch affects the mind, body and soul in one way or another and being in balance with how the stroke or touch is applied creates the art. Each therapist will bring their own energy.
Indian head massage comes from the Vedic wisdom of Ayurveda, the ancient healing system that originated in India thousands of years ago. Traditionally, in India, a head massage is practiced from birth with oil. In addition to increasing blood circulation, the gentle touch of a mother massaging her baby is both soothing and comforting. Their energy will intertwine and resonate.
Most people are familiar with the “soft spot” at the top of a baby’s head. Known as the fontanelle, this membrane-covered opening is the space between the two bones of the skull that do not completely come together until around 9 months of age. During this first stage of a baby’s life due to fontanel, massaging the head with nourishing oils can directly affect the nervous system, which in turn promotes the development and functioning of the brain and eyesight . Indian mothers also often place a piece of cotton soaked in oil on their baby’s head to provide maximum nourishment to the baby’s brain. Traditionally, sesame, mustard, coconut, almond and olive oils were used. Nowadays, therapists use the healing properties of essential oils which bring many other benefits to head massage.
Around 80% of India’s population lives in small rural villages where the tradition of Indian head massage is part of daily life. Head massage is an enjoyable family and social activity and its skillful art is passed down from generation to generation. It is not just limited to family life and in fact, in India, barbers used to offer “champi”, which means a head massage as well as a haircut. Interestingly, the English term “shampoo” derives from the Hindu term “champion”.
What are the other benefits of Indian head massage?
The regular Indian head massage treatment of the Indian:-
- strengthen the central nervous system and help all body systems recover and renew;
- increase energy levels;
- relieve tension headaches and migraines;
- a drop in blood pressure;
- provide an immediate feeling of peace, relaxation and calm;
- relieve stress, anxiety, depression and other stress-related conditions;
- increase the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain, leading to optimal brain function and higher levels of clarity and concentration;
- increase blood flow, which leads to the dissolution of toxins accumulated in the body;
- immediately relieve sore, stiff and tense deep and superficial muscles located in the upper back, shoulders and neck;
- allow energetic cleansing and balancing of specific marmas (pressure points) located in the head;
- stimulate the three main head chakras helping to restore and balance the mind, body and soul;
- promote hair growth and shine;
- reduce premature baldness and graying;
- promote calm and relaxed sleep by promoting a natural sleep structure;
- maintain the electrochemical balance that ensures rejuvenation and longevity;
- increase the secretion of hormones necessary for growth and development of the brain
The stress and strain that our modern life imposes on us leaves us little time to completely relax. Many people don’t give themselves the time or space to recharge and restore the natural, harmonious balance that is essential for a healthy mind, body and spirit.
A shocking 75% of all GP visits are related to stress and conditions such as digestive disorders (IBS, diarrhea, constipation), ulcers, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart swings. mood, hypochondriasis, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite and headaches to name a few can be attributed to stress.
In seeking to relieve stress-related conditions, people become more aware of the underlying causes of their stress and so, apart from being a very effective therapy for relieving stress, head massage also allows people to become more self-aware and therefore healing can take place from within, resulting in good personal energy.
Indian head massage can be provided with or without oils. The use of essential oils will 🙂
- strengthen hair
- eliminate dryness that causes hair weakening
- soften skin and scalp
- delay hair loss and graying
- promote healthy hair growth
- nourish the scalp
- revitalizes hair leaving it soft and shiny
- manage dandruff
- eliminate (sometimes instantly) itchy and dandruff scalp
- reduce brittleness caused by coloring, perming and processing
- help relieve insomnia, eye fatigue and tension, and migraines.
Each individual essential oil brings its own unique healing properties to the head massage treatment.
Marjoram is particularly effective in treating migraines and tension headaches.
Lavender is very calming and soothing, perfect for insomnia, aches and pains.
Frankincense has the ability to slow down breathing and is therefore the ideal choice for anxiety and stress-related conditions.
The therapeutic properties of Clary Sage are antidepressant and calming, making it a good oil for Indian head massage.
The choice of oil will depend on the individual’s conditions and symptoms. Often a massage blend can be used containing lots of essential oils which will not only enhance the physical and emotional benefits but will add to the health of the hair.
How is Indian head massage performed?
The beauty of Indian head massage is that it can be done anytime and anywhere!
While some therapists offer an Indian head massage in a salon, often lying down or using a massage chair, as long as the space is clean, relaxing and peaceful, all that is needed is a comfortable chair with a low back (head massage begins in the middle of the back). This makes it the perfect therapy for lunch break or in the comfort of your own home. Traditionally, Indian head massage is performed with the person receiving the massage sitting upright in a chair fully clothed, but this varies from therapist to therapist.
Whether the head massage room is in a salon, at the therapist’s home, or at the client’s home, the therapist will prepare the room with relaxing music, dim lights, candles, and a burner with relaxing aromatherapy oils that generally complement those used for head massage.
The massage begins at the 10th thoracic vertebra and using a combination of massage movements such as petrissage (fingertip pressure), effleurage (thumb sweep), kneading and hacking clears the flow of energy towards the head making it more susceptible to massage. By rubbing, squeezing, manipulating, kneading, massaging and tapping the muscles and marmas, which as previously mentioned are pressure points located throughout the body, in this case in the upper back, shoulders, neck and the head, the central nervous system is strengthened. The central nervous system impacts all other systems of the body and therefore an Indian head massage gives the effects of a full body massage.
Therapists have their own massage sequence, techniques and movements. Typically, this begins with the back, then shoulders, upper arms, neck, head, ears and face, and ends with cleansing and balancing the subtle energy system known as the chakras .
Although not all therapists practice chakra and energy cleansing and balancing, it is a huge aspect and major benefit of head massage and certainly what brought me to this wonderful therapy.
Can I practice Indian head massage myself or do I need a therapist?
My own recommendation is to balance the two. I encourage you to seek out a good therapist and have at least one head massage a month, two if you can. In the meantime, get a head massage once or twice a week. There is a specific book I recommend for this purpose at the end of this section.
- Check that your therapist has a recognized qualification in Indian head massage.
- Tell your therapist about any conditions and/or symptoms you have.
- Learn about the uses of oils and their properties to find the one or blend that’s right for you.
My own introduction to Indian head massage
My daughter had a bicycle accident that seriously injured her hand and broke her finger. The doctor said it would take about 8-12 weeks for his finger to fully heal and that we would need to go to the hospital every week to have the finger repaired and examined.
I have spent most of my life realizing my ability to tap into what I could previously only describe as “energy.” I might sense something in a particular house or environment, know distinctly when something was wrong, or pick up on other people’s feelings and thoughts without them actually communicating them to me.
Until my daughter injured her hand, I had often been very afraid of this “energy” and most of the time, I was afraid of her.
My little girl was in so much pain with her hand that without thinking, I said I would heal her finger for her. From the day of the accident, I would regularly sit and hold his broken finger, focusing my “energy” on healing him. I visualized this healing energy flowing from my heart, down through my arm, and out of my fingers to heal his finger.
She was released from the hospital after just four weeks. The more opportunities I spent “healing” his finger, the better it seemed to look on the outside, and when we went to the hospital we were told it had improved. After just three weeks we were told he had completely healed, but we visited again in the fourth week to check that everything was okay.
I felt like I had magic fingers. We kept this experience to ourselves because I don’t think I was totally convinced that it was my “healing hands” that healed my daughter’s finger so quickly. But my daughter had no doubt that mom’s magic hands had done the trick!
Afterwards, I did some experiments. My mother had been having tension headaches and she would often come in complaining of another headache and I would sit her down in one of my kitchen chairs and just put my hands on her head and focus my energy on healing his headache. In most cases, his headache would disappear completely.
In the fall of 2006, I came across an Indian head massage and felt that with my newfound ability to use my energy, it was the perfect next step. Up until this point in my life, I had always worked in busy office environments, and by taking this course I changed the focus of what I now consider ‘work’.
I have found that during massage, particularly around the back, shoulders and neck, I can feel the tension in particular muscle groups and thus work effectively on those areas to remove the build-up of toxins that cause pain , stiffness and muscle pain.
Tension is often released when I massage the upper arms and neck.
Stress is felt during scalp massage and generally the less freely the scalp moves, the more stress the person usually feels.
Energy is transmitted from therapist to client and vice versa. Before starting a head massage, I always focus on the person in front of me and the massage itself.
When I work with the subtle energy system at the very end of the head massage, I can feel which energy center is most out of balance. I allow myself to be open to receiving this energy so that I can cleanse, heal and help restore balance. The massage ends with a jet of this energy, although subtle, it is an important aspect and thus completes the therapy by providing a refreshing feeling of peace, calm and relaxation.
I feel privileged to be able to do this, to help others in such a simple and yet very effective way.
Originally posted 2019-08-27 14:17:27 .