What is Indian head massage?

Why is it called Indian Head massage?

Indian head or Champissage is based on ancient Ayurvedic (ai-uh-vay-duhk) texts from over 3000 years ago in India. It was used as an important healing treatment especially when combined with spices, herbs and aromatic oils. Ayurveda is a whole body healing system formulated on the belief that there is a delicate balance between mind, body and spirit. The aim is to promote wellness by ensuring that everything is in harmony which in turn creates good health.

What is Indian Head massage good for?

Indian head massage (IHM) is a fantastic treatment to reduce your neck pain, headaches, tension and stress by promoting relaxation in the muscles of your head, neck and shoulders. It can also provide stimulation for your nervous system, exfoliate your scalp and nourish your hair. Indian head massage can help to strengthen your facial muscles, firm skin and encourage your body’s own natural healing processes. Whilst it has long been seen as an excellent part of women’s beauty and anti ageing routines it is also widely practised by barbers who offer a ‘champi’ which is a vigorous head massage to stimulate blood flow to the hair and scalp.

What does Indian head massage do?

The benefits you can get from an Indian head massage include tension reduction, relief from headaches, back and neck pain. It alleviates stress, stimulates lymphatic drainage, improves circulation, encourages the removal of blockages and promotes relaxation. Indian head massage can you to feel less anxious and or depressed by stimulating the release of happy hormones, creating feelings of calm, peace and wellbeing so your body can work on healing itself.

Introducing a positive touch to your upper three chakras can assist in rebalancing your whole Chakra system by removing blockages. We generally work with seven Chakras (meaning ‘wheel of light’ in Sanskrit) which are spinning vortices, channelling energy into the body to maintain balance and create wellness.

What does an Indian head massage treatment look like?

Traditionally, Indian head massage is performed with you sitting up in a chair, fully clothed. Although to get full benefit, we recommend you uncover your shoulders. I would therefore suggest ladies wear a strappy summer top that you can easily slip your arms out of and we will offer you a towel to wrap around you. We will then utilise a variety of massage techniques such as effleurage, petrissage, compression, tapotement and vibrations artfully curated into a routine over your head, face, neck and shoulders, always working within your comfort levels to create maximum stimulation and relaxation. Treatment times vary between 20-30 minutes and can be done with or without oils depending upon your skin sensitivity.

However, as I have been a massage therapist for over 12 years now, I prefer to offer the treatment from my massage couch. I feel this is more relaxing for you as you are laying down and makes it easier for me to link to other treatments.

Conclusion

An Indian head massage is an excellent tool to aid in relaxation from life’s everyday stresses and strains. If you think that someone rubbing your head is not going to make you feel relaxed, well I can assure you that a trained therapist will. There is something so nurturing about the experience that makes you feel like you are floating on a cloud, you can totally switch off and allow yourself to be immersed in the relaxation that this treatment offers. As you are now so relaxed and comfortable, link this treatment with a Reiki healing or Chakra balancing?

Book in at the Healing shop for an Indian head massage or link to another treatment such as deep tissue massage, facials, reiki and chakra healing or book a discovery call for more information.

Please be aware that all of our treatments are complementary to western medicine and a combined approach will be the most beneficial