Ayurvedic head massage is an ancient therapeutic treatment that has been practiced in India for 5000+ years. It involves a variety of pressure techniques, including circular massage strokes that focus on your head, shoulders, and neck regions. The therapeutic benefits of an Ayurvedic head massage are comprehensive, suggesting that you make it a part of your overall health routines. They include:
Relief from pain and stiffness in the muscles of the face, neck, upper back, and shoulders.
Increased mobility of the neck joints.
Relief from tension and hangover headaches, eye strain, TMJ, and nasal congestion.
Renewed energy.
Reduction of depression, anxiety, and other stress-related issues.
Higher levels of creativity, clarity, concentration, and better memory.
A sense of tranquility, calmness, and positive well-being.
Sound, restful sleep, that leaves you refreshed.
Deeper, calmer respiratory system.
Stronger immune system.
Improved skin tone, health, and color.
Healthy hair and scalp.
Increased self esteem and self worth, with greater self awareness.
Balanced chakras.
How to Perform Ayurvedic Head Massage
Have the recipient take a seat and get comfortable. Explain what you will be doing, and tell them to notify you of any discomfort or pain. Start by applying Rasnadi choornam to the Brahmarandhra Marma Point. Then stand behind them, placing your hands lightly on their shoulders as you both take several deep breaths. Apply oil over the neck and shoulders.
Start by massaging the shoulders, begin easing away fatigue and tension with an upper shoulders, arm and neck massage. Squeeze the trapezius muscle (at the base neck) gently, starting close to the neck. Work your way outward to the the shoulders. Repeat this three times, allowing the pressure to increase with each pass.
Bring your hands back up the next to the neck with your thumbs extended, make small circles with the thumbs on either side of the back bone just below the collar line.
Massage the tops of the shoulders by placing your forearms at the sides of the neck and roll them outwards towards the shoulder, by rotating the wrists. After rotating lift your forearms and move them a couple of inches away from the neck and repeat. When you reach the shoulder, come back to center and repeat this process two more times.
Work up to the base of the skull. Continue with the circles up the back of the neck until you reach the hairline. Lower your hands back down and repeat two more times.
Massage the neck. Step to one side of your volunteer, and place one hand at the base of the recipient's neck, and your front hand gently on their forehead to keep their head from falling forward. With the rear hand, open your thumb and glide your hand up the back of the neck. Don't put pressure directly on the vertebrae.
Once you reach the hairline, remain there for a moment with light pressure on the back of the head. Lower your rear hand and repeat from the base of the neck. You can even add some circling to the upward stroke if there seems to be a lot of tension present. Repeat this about five times. When your rear hand reaches the hairline for the last time, let it remain there.
Slowly allow the head to tilt forward without strain or effort. Keep your hand at the recipient's hairline.
Move the head back. Gently lift the head back to vertical and continue backwards, again without forcing, simply allowing the head to move within its own range of motion. Repeat this 3 times, forward and backward.
Step back behind the recipient and loosen his or her hair if it is restrained. Apply oil to your hands and the head. Bring your hands, with fingers spread, to the sides of the head, fingers pointing up. Use a light pressure and slowly move the hands up with a shampooing-like motion, trying to keep the heel of the hands in contact with the scalp as well as the fingers.
Once you reach the top of the head, allow the fingers to rise off while maintaining a gentle traction from the heels of the hands. Now lower your hands and move them around to a different area of the head. Repeat four or five times, covering the entire scalp.
Rub the scalp. Bring one hand to the volunteer's forehead for stability as you place the heel of the other hand in contact with back of the head. Begin rubbing the scalp by moving your rear hand vigorously back and forth. Continue rubbing as much of the scalp as you can reach, and then switch hands and repeat on the other side.
Briskly rub the scalp all over with just the fingertips of both hands. Continue this for about a minute.
Stroke your fingers through your recipient's hair from the top of the forehead back. Let the final strokes draw their head back slightly, and then lay the fingers over the forehead and draw the fingers down and along the brow line to each temple, making small circles over the temples. Repeat this process three times.
Finish up. With smooth strokes beginning at the forehead, slowly work your way to the back of the head. Do this for about a minute, allowing the pressure to become lighter towards the end, until finally your hands float off the head.
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Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease