Benefits of Scalp Massage + Why You Need Indian Head Massage Upgrade
* Updated May 2, 2022
The Indian Head Massage is Now the Shiro Abhyanga- Scalp Oil Massage!
Our Indian Scalp Massage was a client favorite, and we heard time and again that clients preferred more time and a stand-alone service. Well, I am happy to announce that we listened!
Indian head massage was a 10-minute add-on integrated into the treatment time. The new service is 30 minutes and is added as additional time to your treatment service. It can be booked as either an enhancement to another treatment or a stand-alone treatment.
What Is Shiro Abhyanga?
Abhyanga, pronounced "abbey - youngah," is a word in Sanskrit meaning to rub limbs. Shiro means Head.
In an Ayurvedic spa setting, Abhyanga is a ritual to coax the body into the deepest state of relaxation and renewal. It is a form of Bahya Snehana, which means techniques for external oleation, such as rubbing oils into the skin.
Snehana comes from the Sanskrit word 'Sneha,' which means 'compassion,' and the word 'Snehi,' which means 'a loving fiend.' This oil massage, Abhyanga, is one of the practices of snehana designed to help a client become loving, happy, energized, and honestly, the best person they can be. Abhyanga promises to unfold the healing qualities innate in each of us.
The effects of Abhyanga are similar to being saturated with love. Like love, Abhyanga can give a deep feeling of strength, stability, warmth, openness, and comfort. So, abhyanga works on all body, mind, and spirit levels.
Benefits of Shiro Abhyanga:
Prevents headache
Prevents hair falling, early graying, or balding
Hair becomes strong and stimulates growth
Skull bones become strong
Benefits of Ear Massage
Prevents ear problems, ringing in the ears
Balances Vata dosha
Prevents stiffness in the neck
Improves hearing
Prevents headaches
The Goal Of Abhyanga:
On a purely physical level, the goal of Abhyanga is to push as much oil as one can into the skin and, through massage strokes, help that oil penetrate deep into the tissues of the body. Ayurveda teaches layers of tissue in the body known as the seven dhatus. Each is successively more concentrated and life-giving. The goal of abhyanga is to ensure that the oil reaches the deepest of these layers.
The goal of Abhyanga is to balance the subtle body system, and it’s components through gentle massage and stimulating marma points, the vital energy points. The massage strokes are done with gentle pressure to help improve circulation, nourish the body, support the reproductive system, detoxify, and support mental health.
Effects of Having Abhyanga:
Corrects and supports the aging process
Overcomes fatigue
Helps support the nervous system
Promotes better eyesight
Nourishes the body
Promotes longevity
Improves sleep
Boosts sturdiness of the body
According to the ancient Ayurvedic text, Caraka Samhita, Ayurvedic massage is like a pot smeared with oil- impurities of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha cannot stick to it. In the same way, if your body is adequately oiled with daily Ayurvedic massage, impurities cannot penetrate, and disease cannot progress.
* Original blog post below
Suppose you struggle with headaches, neck tension, jaw pain, or scalp issues. It is about releasing tension and melting away stress. Keep reading to learn why scalp massage is a must for your next appointment.
Being an Ayurveda-inspired wellness spa, you will see “Indian Head Massage” under the list of services. This scalp massage upgrade is designed to relax the mind, encourage circulation, balance energies, and melt away tension by utilizing acupressure points, called marma points, on the head, face, neck, and shoulders.
This article will go in-depth on the benefits of scalp massage and why you should add this upgrade to your next appointment.
Scalp Massage
A scalp massage is exactly that, a massage that focuses on the scalp and the head, face, neck, and shoulders. It’s an effective way to reduce stress, relax tight muscles, and bring a sense of peace and calm.
At Soma Wellness Spa, we take scalp treatment to a whole new level with Indian Head Massage.
Your therapist will begin by applying Hayaath, a locally made hair oil infused with 21 healing herbs. This oil is designed to condition the hair and scalp, promoting growth and reducing skin irritation from psoriasis, dandruff, and eczema. The scalp massage begins by working this oil into your scalp with gentle, circular motions.
As your therapist works, they will target the muscles and trigger points on your head, neck, and shoulders using deep tissue techniques and invigorating motions. Additionally, a cooling scalp oil will be massaged to your neck, shoulders, and head, leaving your skin tingling and refreshed. Long, flowing strokes will release tension, stretch away stress, and melt you into relaxation.
Your jaw, face, ears, and temples will be massaged with medium-firm pressure to encourage the muscles to release any remaining tension and relax fully.
The Indian Head Massage will finish with acupressure and breath-work applied to the Marma Points on your face.
In Ayurvedic medicine, marma points are anatomical locations in your body where a concentration of life energy exists. Marma points contain the three doshas, Vata, Kapha, and Pitta.
No matter your dosha, Indian Head Massage will help balance your physical and emotional well-being.
You can add Indian Head Massage to any massage or facial service.
Scalp Massage Benefits
When you schedule an Indian Head Massage, you immediately feel more calm and relaxed. Here are the other benefits of getting a scalp massage:
1. Reduces Tension Headaches
Getting regular scalp massages will help to reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of chronic headaches and migraines. This upgrade is also great for TMJ disorder and helps reduce jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
Scalp massage helps ease the pain and tension in the head, neck, behind the eyes, and shoulders.
Hunched shoulders over a computer keyboard, picking up and carrying little ones, or holding daily stressors in the shoulders can lead to tension in the scalp, face, neck, and shoulders, which can cause headaches and migraines.
You can combat headaches and migraines by getting regular scalp massages that will help ease tension. The Indian Head Massage Upgrade focuses on the temples, scalp, behind the neck, and ears to help melt tension and stress, which will help reduce headaches.
2. Promotes A Calm Mood
Like any other massage, a scalp massage helps promote health, wellness, and relaxation. Massage is a great way to help combat stress because it helps release serotonin, a hormone that helps improve your mood and lower your stress levels.
If you suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and stress, this massage is an excellent addition to a full body massage.
The extra attention to muscles in your head, face, neck, and shoulders help decrease stress built up over the day, reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels and allowing the body to heal correctly.
Did you know? Your digestion slows when you have an overabundance of cortisol. When your body feels stressed or in danger, this hormone releases a fight-or-flight response. When this happens, non-essential survival tasks are put on pause.
Long-term effects of having those two functions on pause, or slowed, are poor concentration, reduced immune response, poor recovery from illness and injury, and increased risk for injury and disease
3. Promotes Hair Growth
Scalp massages can help stimulate new hair growth and keep your hair healthy and strong.
Scalp massage stimulates circulation and blood flow to the scalp, which helps increase hair thickness and activates dormant hair follicles, encouraging hair growth. The increase in blood flow aids in feeding and strengthening the hair follicles.
Scalp massage strengthens the roots of the hair and nourishes the hair shafts, promoting new hair growth and strengthening existing hair. Circulation brings oxygen and nourishing nutrients to the hair follicle, which helps the hair become stronger and healthier.
The Indian Head Massage Upgrade will help encourage and promote healthy hair growth.
4. Balances the Nervous System
Scalp massage helps increase blood flow and circulation, which helps balance your central nervous system, reducing the presence and release of the stress hormone cortisol.
A balanced nervous system optimizes the body’s natural healing abilities and keeps the body and mind more harmonized and working optimally. Regular massage helps promote a balanced and healthy nervous system.
The Indian Head Massage Upgrade will help support the nervous system by promoting healthy blood flow and circulation, helping your body balance and harmonize.
Just like a full body massage, the scalp massage helps encourage well-being and improves the health of the central nervous system.
Scalp Massage With Oil
Massaging the scalp with carrier oils can be highly beneficial. The oil penetrates deeply into the hair shaft and follicle to help promote healthy, shiny hair and encourages new hair growth.
The Indian Head Massage Upgrade uses a healing hair oil with ingredients used since ancient times to promote strong and healthy hair.
You will also be massaged with a non-greasy stimulating oil with an excellent cooling sensation on the scalp, neck, and shoulders which helps relieve stress and rejuvenate the mind.
The carrier oils used in the Indian Head Massage Upgrade work to strengthen hair, stimulate circulation and blood flow, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Regular scalp massage with oils will increase blood circulation, improving hair and scalp health, relieve stress, and melt away tension.
Scalp Massage Near Me
At Soma Wellness Spa, we take scalp health very seriously and encourage you to upgrade your massage or facial appointment with Indian Head Massage.
You can book this service ahead of time or let your therapist know before starting your session.
If you are in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, we are here to give you your next scalp massage to relax the mind, encourage circulation, balance energies, and melt away tension.
How To Schedule Indian Head Massage
Head to the booking system and schedule an Indian Head Massage Upgrade to any service.
For full body massage, schedule a 60-minute or 90 minutes massage, and be sure to add the Indian Head Massage Upgrade to your appointment.
Schedule a 60-minute or 90 minutes facial, and add on the Indian Head Massage Upgrade to get extra scalp massage time using the healing scalp oils.
Just want to focus on the upper body? Schedule a 30-minute massage with the Indian Head Massage Upgrade and let your therapist know you want to focus on the scalp, head, face, neck, and shoulders.
Schedule one of the dosha-specific Ayurveda treatments, and be sure to add on the Indian Head Massage for some extra love and relaxation.
Have a membership? Add the Indian Head Massage to any service and get 10% off as a member perk. Yep. Every time.
Things To Consider
The Indian Head Massage Upgrade focuses on relaxing tension and promoting calm and wellbeing, but please be aware that this is not an extremely gentle or slow massage.
Your therapist will use invigorating and uplifting techniques to help stimulate circulation and blood flow. The pressure of the massage will be more firm to help release built-up tension and stress.
If needed, please communicate with your therapist if you need more or less pressure.
The next time you need some focused work on releasing tension and promoting relaxation, we are here for you!
Schedule the Indian Head Massage Wellness Upgrade with your next appointment. Your body, mind, and soul with thank you.
