INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE

15 minutes for ONLY £10

Indian head massage is based on the ayurvedic system of healing which has been practiced in India for over a thousand years. It provides Indian families with relaxation and healing on a daily basis, as well as playing a part in rituals such as weddings and births, not to mention everyday events like a trip to the barber.

How does it work?

The aim of Indian head massage is to release the stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders.

What does it involve?

The client, fully clothed, sits in a massage chair for the treatment. The therapist uses a range of different movements including application of deep kneading and compression movements over the neck, shoulder and scalp areas. In addition, the therapist will also gently stimulate and stroke pressure points on the face. The session will usually last from twenty to forty-five minutes, and most therapists like their clients to sit quietly for ten or twenty minutes once the massage has been completed.

What is it good for?

Indian head massage is especially good for relieving stress, tension, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, migraine and sinusitis. Clients report that the experience is deeply calming and relaxing, leaving them feeling energised and revitalised and better able to concentrate.

What are the benefits?

Indian head massage helps increase joint mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders, improves blood circulation and lymphatic flow, frees knots of muscular tension, relaxes connective tissue, and aids in the elimination of accumulated toxins and waste products. It is particularly good for reducing the effects of stress and tension.

What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?

Following a treatment some clients experience tiredness, dizziness, an increased desire to urinate (as the body eliminates toxins and waste materials) or aching muscles. All of these side effects usually last for no more than a few hours, after which clients generally experience increased energy and alertness. Indian head massage should be avoided if you have had recent surgery, or a head or neck injury; a history of thrombosis or embolism; spondylitis or spondylosis. If you have high or low blood pressure, diabetes, Indian head massage is particularly good for reducing the effects of stress and tension epilepsy, any kind of heart condition, cancer or osteoporosis, talk to your doctor before arranging a treatment. Always make sure that you avoid alcohol for at least five hours before the treatment

RIEKI HEALING

£15 for 30 minutes

The word reiki means ‘universal life energy' in Japanese, where this therapy originated at the turn of the century. Reiki is based on the premise that illness is caused by a disruption in the body's energy field or life force. By using specially designed symbols and channelling energy, it is believed that the body can be filled with positive energy causing the disease-making negative energy to disappear.

How does it work?

Reiki heals by charging negatively affected parts of the energy field with positive energy. Energy fields in the body each have different vibratory levels and reiki practitioners use their hands to affect and hopefully rebalance these vibrations in the negatively affected part of the body.

What does it involve?

Although the reiki practitioner may ask questions about the client's health prior to treatment, it is important to note that no diagnosis, prognosis or advice will be offered. Remaining fully clothed, the client prepares for treatment by relaxing on a massage couch, or sitting if that is more comfortable.

The practitioner may then rest their hands lightly and gently on the body in a sequence of positions, each one being held for a couple of minutes.

Alternatively, they may work ‘absently', or away from the body. Although personal experiences differ, some people report feeling an intense heat from the practitioner's hands during the process. The client does not have to think about or do anything, as it is the practitioner's aim to provide a gentle, warming, vital energy appropriate for the recipient.

What is it good for?

Reiki can be used to relieve the symptoms of chronic illnesses such as anxiety, insomnia, back pain and arthritis, and it often produces long-term beneficial changes. In most cases the practitioner will suggest a course of four, six or twelve treatments for maximum benefit.

What are the benefits?

Aside from treating physical, mental and emotional problems, most clients report that a reiki treatment feels wonderful, and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.

What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?

As a general rule, reiki can't do any harm because it is a form of non-invasive energy healing and will adjust itself to create the most appropriate effect for each individual person. However, although most people feel peaceful and relaxed after treatment, it can stir up emotions as part of the healing process. Some people also experience a healing reaction such as a headache or flulike symptoms, but any discomfort should be short-lived.

AROMATHERPY FULL BODY MASSAGE

£20 for 45 minutes

Massage - the manipulation of the soft tissue of the body - has been used as a healing therapy for many thousands of years. Records dating back to 2700 B.C. show that in China massage was used to treat paralysis, chills and fever. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician writing in 400 B.C., recommended that physicians should treat sports and war injuries with massage and rubbing.

The ancient cultures of Japan, Egypt, Rome and Arabia all considered massage to be calming, soothing and relaxing, and also very important as a healing therapy. Now, in the 21st century, there are many different kinds of massage therapies available, each of which offers specific benefits to the mind and body.

What is it good for?

These forms of specialised massage can be used to treat a wide range of conditions including stress, insomnia, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, the muscle spasms and general aches and pains associated with pregnancy, and the mental and emotional problems associated with cancer, Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

What are the benefits?

Massage relieves the symptoms of stiff, tired joints, speeds up digestion and encourages improved circulation, promotes relaxation and improved sleep. Clients who have experienced these forms of specialised massage report that they find the treatment soothing

What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?

Massage of any kind should not be carried out on clients with fever, contagious or infectious diseases. Clients with any form of cancer must obtain their doctor's permission before having any kind of massage treatment. Clients with cardiovascular disease, arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes or trapped nerves should always have a chat with their doctor first.