An Indian Head Massage Treatment is a massage of the upper-back, arms,
neck, head and face which is carried out on a fully-clothed client,
usually sitting in an upright chair (as opposed to lying on a therapy/treatment
couch).
Indian Head Massage was brought to the United Kingdom by Mr. Maeda,
an Indian citizen who, while travelling in London, was disappointed
to find that when he visited a British barber to have his hair cut,
all he got was a hair-cut !
He was disappointed because in his home in India he was used to receiving
a head-massage as part of the standard service provided by barber's.
In the culture he was used to women also received regular head massages,
although from female relatives rather than their hairdressers.
Mr. Maeda returned to the UK (he has since returned on subsequent occasions),
and taught the techniques that have now become known as "Indian
Head Massage". This treatment became so popular that approved training
courses have been developed by several major beauty/therapy examining
boards and are now approved by insurers.
Consequently, 'Indian Head Massage' treatments are now popular and
widely available - offered by hairdressers/barbers, therapists, beauticians,
in public places, leisure centres, exhibitions/conferences, and even
in many offices and work-places in the UK and other countries.
Routines vary as each therapist tends to develop his/her own particular
Indian Head Massage. Treatments generally include:
* _ Massage of the upper-back (including across the shoulder blades);
* _ Release of
tension across the top of the shoulders;
* _ Massage of
the
arms;
* _ Gentle massage
and tension release from the neck;
* _ Intensive
massage of the head and scalp - which is likely to disturb
all but the shortest hairstyles;
* _ Gentle massage
of the face using pressure-point techniques.
Indian Head massage treatments are given to fully-clothed clients
and so may take place in open areas such as offices, shopping centres,
conference centres, and similar.
