Indian head massage is a type of therapeutic massage that focuses on treating the patient through conducting massage techniques on the head and on the areas surrounding it such as the face, neck, upper arms and shoulders. It uses gentle massage strokes on these parts to stimulate the nerves, loosen up tight muscles, relax superficial tissues, and remove stress both emotionally and physically.

This type of massage is also known as Champissage where champi stands for the Hindi word for head massage. Indian head massage is a traditional form of natural therapy practiced in India during the early centuries. The Indians use this alternative medical treatment to soothe and heal physical and emotional problems due to stress and fatigue.

Traditional Champissage was introduced in the West in 1978 by Narendra Mehta who was a blind physical therapist. During his early years in India, he always enjoys his visit at the barber shop because of the head massage he receives after getting a haircut. He became familiar with the technique as he was a regular customer at the barber shop just to have a therapeutic massage on his head. However, when he left for England, he was disappointed in finding out that there were no types of head massage offered there. Mehta moved back to India in 1978 to study the art of Champissage so that he can introduce it in England. He later on developed a more effective and relaxing massage which not only focuses on the head of the client but also on the face, neck, should and upper arms. The Ayurvedic system as well as the oriental belief in the circulation of energy within the body was applied in this massage therapy.

Champissage or Indian head massage can be done with or without using massage oil on the skin of the patient. Using massage oils however gives the therapist better manipulation and gliding of the hands as he or she conducts the various massage strokes and techniques. The preference of taking off the clothes or leaving it on is also enjoyed by the client. Instead of lying down which is usually done on most types of massage therapies, patients who are into this type of massage are asked to sit comfortably in a chair during the therapy. The sitting position allows the therapist to have a full view and access of the head, face, shoulder, neck and upper arms on all angles.

This type of therapy works amazing results in giving natural treatment to various conditions such as the relief of headache, removal of physical and emotional stress, treatment of neck, shoulder and upper arm pain, calming of stiff muscle areas, treatment of eye strain and many more.

Indian head massage also has risks and contradictions which should be carefully considered instead of focusing only at its health benefits. Individuals who have a history of head injury should never try this therapy or should consult their doctors prior to arranging any sessions. Seek your doctor’s advice, opinion or suggestion regarding this therapy.

I write for TIR Massage Stone about performing hot stone massage therapy and obtaining a proper hot stone massage kit.

Editor: This is a guest article by Sara Ryan. Hope you enjoy it.

Congratulations on being a new parent! This really is probably the most exciting times that you experienced, otherwise probably the most exciting amount of time in your lifetime. You might be the initial parent and wish to start your child off right. This can be your next, third or maybe more baby and you’ve got just discovered the advantages of massage for infants.

You might purchase only the very best formula and/or breastfeed your infant. You need to give what’s perfect for your child. You learn that massage will work for your infant.

The numerous advantages of massage for infants include: infant massage is ideal for bonding together with your baby. Fathers will bond well using their baby once they provide them with a massage. Become familiar with about kids desires and needs better whenever you give massages to him/her. Your child will have the a feeling of being loved. You and your baby will love the relaxation massage gives her or him. What parent isn’t keen on to obtain their baby sleep? Infant massage promotes better sleep. Keep the baby healthier with massage since it boosts his/her defense mechanisms. Your child will take advantage of sensory stimulation when massaged. Massage also improves skin ailment. Blood flow is going to be improved. Digestion is contributed to massage. Respiration is balanced.

Maybe your child is within pain and also you don’t know how to proceed. In case your baby is struggling with teething pains or another pains, massage can help relieve this. You’ll help your child with gas problems in addition to waste elimination. Whenever you massage your precious baby you’re stimulating oxytocin the industry hormone that both male and females produce. Both you and your baby will feel more calm whenever you massage your child.

You’ll feel great understanding that whenever you massage your child you’re stimulating all your baby’s body systems like the circulatory system, elimination system, defense mechanisms, central nervous system and breathing.

Massaging your child is great if you need to work outside the home and then leave your child. It will cost quality time together with your infant whenever you give her / him a routine massage.

When you’re prepared to give your sweet baby a massage look for a comfortable and quiet place in which you won’t be distracted. Place your child within the cradle that’s formed whenever you sit cross-legged. (When your baby is simply too big to sit down inside your leg cradle, simply place her or him alongside your outstretched legs on the ground.) Infant massage techniques include looking your child within the eyes and grasping his/her legs. Move kids legs inside a bicycling motion and softly inform your baby, “relax…relax.” Make use of an edible oil in your baby while massaging her or him.

To rub kids legs and arms make use of a twisting motion. Roll his / her legs and arms between your hands and incredibly gently press your thumbs into his body. Whenever you complete this finish off with light strokes towards the legs. Next slide your hands across the rib cage from center to back and sides again. Consider it flattening pages inside a phonebook. Both you and your baby will both benefit whenever you perform massage for infants.

The neck is one of the most flexible organs of the body that has a great deal of functionality. It is quite susceptible to injuries, because it is subjected to a lot of stress and weight and to a certain extent because of its flexibility. Neck pain is usually caused by the stress, misuse, overuse, poor posture, accident or a sport injury.

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints that may become a constant problem if remain untreated and ignored. In holistic medicine, massage therapy is considered as the most significant natural treatment that helps provide effective pain management. In this article I will discuss the role of massage therapy in dealing with neck pain.

Massage Therapy – A Natural Way of Pain Management

Massage therapy is the natural way of treating neck pain. It is a profound and non-invasive holistic approach that is effective for people of all age group. It not only provides pain relief and management, but also decelerates the progression of neck problems. All neck problems including injuries require immediate assistance of a health care practitioner, because damaged muscles, ligaments and nerves may lead to a serious condition called osteoarthritis. Furthermore, neck injuries that occur due to accidents can lead to more severe neck problems including whiplash, herniated disc, fracture, pinched nerve and paralysis.

How Massages Help Relieve Pain?

Highly contracted muscles and poor blood flow to the neck are the main reasons of various neck problems. A professional massage therapist uses method of mind/body integration and various hands-on-techniques to generate feeling of frothiness that gently relieves pain. A massage therapist provides small body movements and a gentle touch that effectively relaxes muscles and connective tissues and improves blood circulation to the affected areas.

Types of Massages for Neck Pain Relief

In holistic medicine there are several types of massages available that can be performed by an experienced massage therapist to help relieve neck pain. Some of them are:

1. Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is especially intended to reduce severe tension in the muscles and connective tissues. A professional massage therapist applies an intense, focused and hard pressure to release the sustained deep pressure from the neck and upper back.

2. Shiatsu Massage

In this type of Japanese hands-on-therapy, a massage therapist applies pressure to the affected area of the body by using his fingers and palm in order to correct the imbalance of the body and promote sense of well-being.

3. Swedish Massage

Swedish massage includes a variety of manual therapies that help release muscle tension and provides relief from neck pain.

4. Trigger Point Therapy

In trigger point therapy, manual pressure, vibration or some other treatment is applied by the massage therapist to alleviate myofascial pain from the affected body area. This manual therapy effectively enhances blood flow to the damaged areas, releases neck muscle spasms and promotes the natural healing process.

There are various other types of massages that significantly release muscle tension and help provide neck pain relief. A certified and licensed massage therapist can better analyze the severity of the condition and recommend the particular type of massage therapy that will be suitable to fix the condition and promote health. Regular exercises and good posture i.e. aligned spine position are also recommended to decrease the neck pain.

Here’s a video on a really crazy Indian head massage. It’s a very special kind of head massage, I guess the guy is trying to do some energy work or something there. The subtitle says cosmic energy work, so I guess that is what it is.  Looks more like a shamanistic ritual than a massage in some way, but I guess it feels really good.

The guy obviously is a great showman, and my guess is that he’s charging like 10 times what other shops in the area charge for a head massage, but hey – he’s having fun, the customer is happy, so why not.

And I could be totally wrong and he’s not a conman at all and actually does great energy work there. The dude on the chair definitely looks very zoomed out.

The massage techniques that he uses here are not something to necessarily try at home – I’m all for a vigorous head massage, but this one is high on the intensity scale, but from a technical perspective not very advanced.

So in case you ever make it to Pushkar, Rajastan, India try to spot this guy and tell me what he’s like.

Here is a nice video massage tutorial on how to help people get rid of a headache using simple massage techniques.

In my opinion, the techniques are important – they give you a frame in which to operate. But at least as important as the techniques and mechanics of massage are that you really put your feeling inside. Don’t just go through the moves, but pour your heart into it.

It’s important to  note that in this video she is DEMONSTRATING how to do a headache massage, so to me, I just look at her and can see that she is not “into” it. But I am quiet sure that when she does a real treatment, she has that attention focused on her clients, rather than on a camera, and that’s what you want to do.

If you want to massage a headache away, perform circular motions with the fingers and thumbs around the ear tissue. Massage the head and scalp to relieve a headache with tips from a massage therapist in this free video on massage techniques.

This video is a really good mechanical demonstration of a certain Thai massage stretch.
Yeah, the demonstrator is a big uptight and hectic, but as I said she’s got the mechanics down really good and can explain them well.

Watch out specially for her body posture and how she uses body mechanics.

She also demonstrates very well how she exactly to place the pillow and the body, how and where to touch the body. The best way to learn from this video is by just imitating the movements.

Here’s a short 3 minute clip on a simple back oil massage.

It shows some effleurage moves. It explains what the purpose of effleurage techniques is:

1. To spread the oil over the body,
2. to warm the muscles up
3. to acquaint yourself the person you are massaging, and also so that the person who is getting the massage to get a feel for how you touch the person.

The massage therapist who demonstrates the massage techniques is doing an excellent job and just by watching I can tell that she gives great massages.

Then a friction movement is demonstrated – which gets the muscles warmed up very quickly. I like the fact that the commenter even spells out the fact that if you become too energetic here it can be unpleasant to the person recieving the massage.

Here you can see how to give a relaxing neck massage in laying position. You have to use a massage oil or a massage lotion.

It’s a very simple and nice-feeling technique. However, just be sure you don’t apply very strong pressure. Because there is an important artery located in that area and if you cut the blood flow there a person can become unconcious.