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Indian Head Massage
Indian Head Massage is part of Ayurveda practice which goes back over 4000 years. It can be used on babies and people of all ages, traditionally family members would work on each other regularly. It was introduced to the West as a stress relief. Indian head massage is also known as champissage, using a variety of strokes & pressure, working holistically with you as a person creating a harmonising treatment. It helps to clear blocked energy, helping it to flow more easily throughout your system as a whole. During the massage we use marma points, there are 107 main marma points around the body, each relating differently to mind and body. In Ayurveda it’s believed that a person is healthy when all their energies are in balance, these are Doshas, namely vata, pitta & kapha which involved five elements.
The areas of the body I work on are; the top half of the back & shoulders, your neck and base of head, your arms and then all over your head and finally your face. I can treat you with your clothes on or a simple wrap around your chest and with or without oils.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a whole-body (holistic) system of medicine that began in India more than 3,000 years ago. Ayurveda means the study of life. It takes a natural approach to all aspects of health and well-being.
Ayurveda is based on the idea that each person has certain life forces (doshas) and everything in the universe is connected. An imbalance in 1 area can affect another. When the imbalance is not fixed, disease and illness can occur. Ayurveda mostly uses nutrition, lifestyle changes, and natural treatments. These are used to support balance and a return to health. Ayurveda is very focused on overall health. But it may use specific treatments for some diseases. Treatments in Ayurveda include diet and herbalism, aromatherapy, colour therapy, sound therapy and touch therapy.
Doshas
Doshas are a central concept in Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medical system, that describe the three main energy patterns that flow through the body and mind:
• Vata Responsible for cell division, movement, excretion, and cognition. People with a vata dosha may be lean, have dry skin, and be sensitive to wind.
• Pitta Responsible for metabolism, energy homeostasis, vision, and attention. People with a pitta dosha may be highly motivated, goal-oriented, and competitive.
• Kapha Responsible for growth, maintenance, storage, and stability. Sleep is caused by increased kapha.
What are Chakras
Chakras are energy centres in the body that are believed to be spinning wheels or circles that life energy flows through. The word "chakra" comes from Sanskrit and means "wheel" or "cycle".
Here are some details about chakras:
Location
There are seven main chakras that run along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head. Each chakra is associated with a specific colour and location on the body.
Function
Chakras are thought to receive, digest, and express energy. When chakras are balanced, life energy can flow through them, connecting you to the world around you.
Imbalance
Stress, unhealthy food, poor posture, and self-destructive behaviour can cause chakras to become imbalanced. Imbalance can lead to physical illness, musculoskeletal issues, and mental health challenges.
Balancing
Some ways to balance chakras include meditating on each chakra, chanting mantras, and joining guided meditations.
What are Marma points
Marma points are energy points in the body that are a key part of Ayurvedic medicine:
Location Marma points are found at the intersections of muscles, ligaments, bones, joints, and veins. They are located throughout the body, including the head, neck, chest, stomach, arms, and lower extremities.
Purpose Marma points are believed to contain life energy, or prana, and are thought to affect the body, mind, and spirit. Stimulating marma points is said to promote health and healing by signaling the body to produce hormones and neurochemicals.
History The concept of marma points has been around since roughly 2 B.C. The word "marma" literally translates to "a point that can kill", and some marma points have been used in martial arts.
Comparison to acupuncture Marma points are similar to acupuncture points in Traditional Chinese Medicine in that they are both thought to regulate vital energy. However, marma points originated in ancient India, while acupuncture points originated in ancient China.
Marma therapy Marma therapy combines marma point stimulation with other techniques, such as massage, detoxification, acupressure, aromatherapy, yoga, and meditation
Oils I use during treatments
The use of oil is optional when massaging the scalp. Oil that is applied to the head is absorbed into the roots of the hair which are connected with nerve fibres leading to the brain. Applying oil to the head helps to strengthen the hair, remove dryness, and by relaxing the muscles and nerves of the head, fatigue is eliminated leaving the recipient feeling refreshed and revitalised. Massaging the head increases the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and improves the circulation of spinal fluid around the brain and the spinal cord. There are several oils which may be used for Indian Head Massage. Traditionally oils such as sesame, coconut, olive, mustard and almond have been used by Indian women as part of their grooming ritual to keep their hair in good condition. I also have a selection of aromatherapy massage oils which are lovely to use on other parts of the body.
I will always have a reasonable choice of oils for my clients to choose from for your treatment. Quite often a different oil for each area might be suitable, ie your back, your head and your face. Obviously, we would take into account any allergies you might have along side your skin type.
I highly recommend you leave the oil in your hair for a few hours or over night before washing it out, you will then find that it feels gorgeously soft.
When you should NOT have an Indian Head Massage treatment
It is advisable to avoid an Indian head massage treatment if any of the following apply to you:
Epilepsy – During a migraine – Blood clot or Thrombosis – Whiplash or slipped disk – Some scalp conditions – 1st trimester of pregnancy – Vaccinations & antibiotics in the past 7 days.
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