History

Indian Head Massage first came to the West in 1981 as a small part of the much wider and more holistic practice of Ayurvedic medicine and was first mentioned in Ayurvedic texts a staggering 4,000 years ago. Ayurveda is defined as ‘a way of life, aiming to bring spiritual, mental and physical health’, coming from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayur’ meaning life and ‘veda’ meaning knowledge.

Traditionally head massage in India has a rich and varied heritage. Amongst Indian woman it is often passed down the generations as a way of caring and maintaining social bonds, with oils being applied to the scalp and particularly the hair to keep it strong, healthy, luxuriant and lustrous. Amongst men the ‘champi’ (from which we derive the word ‘shampoo’) or head massage is a regular part of grooming at the barbers and is highly stimulating and fast, in order to invigorate and revive.

Treatments

If you have chosen Champissage/Indian Head Massage you have various options. For the full benefits of the massage it is usually best to remove your top or shirt to allow direct contact with the skin, but it can be given through clothing. You can also choose to have the massage with an essential oil blend, plain carrier oils or without oils entirely if you prefer not to have oils in your hair. Indian Head Massage can be performed seated upright, at a massage couch or lying down and if required can be a quick, fast invigorating or long, slow and relaxing treatment as you require.

I practise both this more traditional form, Champissage – a vigorous massage of the shoulders, neck and head which can have revitalizing and stimulating effects, and the more Westernized Indian Head Massage, which is a slower and more calming treatment based upon traditional Champissage. I was trained at the London Centre for Indian Champissage International, who hold the only accredited courses for the original Indian Head Massage and Indian Champissage techniques.

Benefits of Indian Head Massage

There are many potential benefits, not least because it can be performed easily if required – without oils and clothing still on, with no specialized equipment or need to lie down or undress, although many still prefer to use oil blends. Although it focuses upon only the upper body it can also work on the mental and energetic levels as well as physically, so many clients report on a balancing effect for the whole body.

Physical Benefits

Muscular system

Circulatory system

Hair & Scalp

Lungs

Skeletal system & Joints

Skin

Face

Psychological Benefits

Stress & Tension

When too much mental or physical strain is put upon a person the hormonal system changes and the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. This in turn releases adrenaline and other hormones, causing elevated energy levels, agitation and the ‘fight or flight’ response. This can be crucial in survival situations and highly useful for short periods of time when required, such as a work deadline.

However, during such times the normal equilibrium of the body becomes unbalanced and each individual has their own ‘stress threshold’, that point at which we can no longer cope with the level of stress. This can also lead to poor sleep patterns, exhaustion, increased levels of smoking or drinking, and poor diet, which can create a downward spiral and yet more stress. All sorts of problems and disorders can result: skin conditions such as Ezcema and Psoriasis, digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, depression & irritability, insomnia & poor sleep, cluster headaches and migraine, high or low blood pressure, trouble focusing and concentration.

Subtle & Spiritual Benefits