Indian Head Massage has been practiced in India for hundreds of years where these skills and all the benefits are passed down through the generations. It arrived in the UK in the 1970s when Dr Narendra Metha – who had been studying here and really missed his homeland’s stress-busting therapy – developed the original techniques from India and introduced it as a highly beneficial therapy. Now you can find it in lots of places, including at your hairdressers where you can get a basic Indian Head Massage while having your hair washed and conditioned!
For the majority of us, modern living presents us with a lifestyle where little physical labour is required and we may spend much of our days indoors, without natural light, or even fresh air, and few ways of working our muscles. Apart from mental and emotional pressures, our physical environment also contributes to us having tense, achey muscles, fatigue, tension headaches and many other symptoms of stress.
Massage of all types helps us counteract this, and head massage is very effective. Why?
- A head massage can benefit the whole body because stimulation of the head results in stimulation of the brain, and this is where our Central Nervous System is found that reaches every part of our bodies. When stimulated in the right way, it will help ease muscle aches, take away tension headaches and even counteract insomnia.
- Indian head massage not only focuses on the face and scalp, but also the neck, shoulders, upper back .. and at Acorn we also include arms and hands too. So it’s a wonderful upper body treatment. These areas often hold a lot of tension that has accumulated from poor posture and repetitive movements (like being at your keyboard everyday!) The massage helps relax taut muscles, ease stiffness, stimulate blood flow and drain away excess toxdins, so helping to relieve headaches, eye strain and improve join mobility.
- Regular massage sessions can also help improve condition of skin and hair. It stimulates blood and lymph circulation to ensure that living cells are well oxygenated and provided with fresh nutrients. Increased blood flow to the brain can, of course, also help improve concentration and improve memory retention.
- Indian Head Massage is a truly pleasurable experience; it helps release the body’s natural feel-good hormones, endorphins, that contribute to your feelings of contentment and happiness.
- Part of Indian Head Massage includes the stimulation of certain acupressure points on the case and scalp that help to release blockages in energy pathways of the body. You can gently massage these points yourself and will often notice that some are more tender than others, indicating an energy imbalance/disruption on that particular therapy. At Acorn, your therapist Eileen will give you a handout sheet that shows you where these are, to take away with you after your treatment.
After your massage, it’s a good idea to rest and relax and avoid strenuous activity for atleast 12 hours. You should drive plenty of water to speed up the elimination of toxins from your body .. better out than in ! Also, cutting back on caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee or cola will help too. Your body will be detoxing .. so cut back on alcohol too! And avoid a heavy meal straight after. These are all sound aftercare tips that will help you get the most from your massage.
Remember, your body will be detoxing so be gentle with yourself and help support it’s healing processes! Take care if you’re driving home afterward too .. deep relaxation may cause your reactions to slow down temporarily.
A regular Indian Head Massage can become an important and enjoyable part of your health and wellness regime!!
Taster sessions of 20 mins are available here at Acorn on 23 July at our BloodBikes fundraising event.
Otherwise, our Indian Head Massage therapist Eileen is at Acorn every Friday from 1130 a.m. to 7.30 pm and you can book online.
