How To Do An Indian Head Massage

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Setting up

Find a quiet place if possible, away from any distractions. You can even play some soft music or light some candles to help create an atmosphere of relaxation.
It is also very important that you let your volunteer know that they should tell you immediately if anything is painful or the pressure is too strong. "Have your volunteer take a seat and make themselves comfortable. Stand behind them and place your hands lightly on their shoulders as you both take several deep breaths.

Step 3: Shoulder massage

Gently begin squeezing the trapezius muscle, starting close to the neck and working your way outward to the shoulder. Return to the neck and repeat 3 times, allowing the pressure to increase each pass.

Bring the hands back up next to the neck with the thumbs extended, and begin making small circles with the thumbs on either side of the backbone just below the collar line. Continue with the circles up the back of the neck until you reach the hair line. Lower the hands back down and repeat 2 more times.

Now place the forearms at the sides of the neck and roll them outwards toward the shoulder by rotating at the wrists. Lift the forearms and move them a couple of inches away from the neck and repeat. When you reach the shoulder, come back to centre and repeat 2 more times.

Step 4: Neck massage

Step to one side of your volunteer and place your back hand at the base of their neck and your front hand on their forehead. This is done with very light pressure and is only used to keep the head from falling forward. With the back hand, spread the thumb from the fingers and begin to glide up the back of the neck, avoiding putting pressure directly on the vertebrae.

Once your reach the hair line, remain there for a moment with light pressure on the back of the head. Lower the back 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 5 times.

When the back hand reaches the hairline for the last time, let it remain there. Slowly allow the head to tilt forward without strain or effort. Then 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, front and back.

Step 5: Scalp Massage

Step back behind your volunteer, loosening the hair if it has been put up, and 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 the hands down and move the hands around to a different area of the head.

Repeat 4 or 5 times, covering the entire scalp.

Now bring one hand to the 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 the back hand vigorously back and forth. Carry on rubbing as much of the scalp as you can reach, and then switch hands and repeat on the other side.
Now briskly rub the scalp all over with the just the finger tips of both hands. Continue this for about a minute.

Step 6: Forehead massage

Allow the rubbing to slowly change to stroking the fingers through the hair from the top of the forehead back. Step closer and let the final strokes draw their head back slightly and then lay the fingers over the forehead. From the centre draw the fingers down and along the brow line to each temple.

With the index and middle fingers extended, make small circles over the temples, then bring the hands back to the forehead and repeat 3 times

Step 7: Finishing strokes

Finish with smooth strokes beginning at the forehead and slowly working your way to the back of the head.

Carry on for about a minute, allowing the pressure to become lighter towards the end, until finally your hands float off the head.