Review: Indian Head Massage at Essentials Beauty, Garforth

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being invited to Essentials Beauty over in Garforth to indulge in a luxurious treatment of my choice.

As I have been suffering a lot lately with troublesome headaches, I decided to opt for an Indian head massage. Indian head massages are based on the Ayurvedic system of healing which has been practiced in India for hundreds of years, it is thought that the massage can help to release stress and tension that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders making it a great treatment for a headache sufferer like me!

The treatment consists of a range of different movements such as kneading, compressing and massage along the neck, shoulders and scalp, and stimulation of the pressure points on the face.

As I had never had an Indian head massage before, I really didn’t know what to expect but my lovely therapist Hannah ensured to inform me of the process. Hannah told me that it is traditional for clients to sit up whilst the treatment is performed, but in the aid of comfort, I was able to lie down on a pre-heated treatment table and wrapped in warm towels which was relaxing all by itself. The treatment room was decorated in blacks and reds and lit by three candles to really give out a relaxing vibe, a calming CD played unobtrusively in the background as Hannah started my treatment.

Firstly, my feet were cleansed which I thought was a really nice touch. Despite being relaxing, this really helps you to feel grounded ahead of your massage and helps you to feel like any negative energy is literally being washed away. As Hannah began the Indian head massage and worked around kneading, massaging and stimulating the pressure points on my neck and shoulders, she placed a rose stone over my heart chakra – she explained that this would help me to feel grounded and is associated with love, compassion, charity to others and psychic healing. After stretching the shoulders and neck out, and massaging all around my head, Hannah moved onto my face, she placed a stone over my third eye which would help with enlightenment, clarity and positivity and got me to take a few deep breaths. She pressed along the pressure points on my face which really felt like a relief on the heavy ache my sinus area had been giving me for the past few days! After a few more relaxing moments, the massage came to an end.

Hannah cleansed my feet again and allowed me to take a few deep breaths, relax, and get up in my own time. I could have probably stayed right there and slept for the rest of the afternoon I felt so chilled out! Hannah was waiting for me downstairs with a nice cold glass of water before I left the beauty studio and headed back home mentally noting her advice to avoid caffeine, heavy lifting and take an easy day. I certainly didn’t need telling twice to take it easy in the beautiful sunshine we were blessed with!

Driving home afterwards, I felt in such a relaxed state and like my muscles had really let go of the tension that had been plaguing them for some time. I’m not sure if the sunshine helped, but I felt full of inner peace and tranquility which is exactly what I was hoping to feel like. Another small miracle happened too – the next day I woke up headache free which hadn’t happened for around a week.

I found the massage quite relaxing in parts and quite intense at others – as Hannah worked on the pressure points and my stressed muscles, I could literally feel the tension draining away which was a strange feeling and a relaxing one all at the same time. The day after the massage, the muscles around my neck and shoulders felt a little tender, but this soon subsided after a day or two and my muscles were left feeling relaxed and relieved.

Overall, I feel really happy with the results of my first Indian head massage and I’ve found that I’m still reaping the rewards of the treatment days later. I feel calmer, my headaches seem to have subsided and I feel like I’ve indulged in a little well-craved pampering!

Thank you to Catherine for inviting me to Essentials Beauty to trial a treatment and to Hannah for the lovely, relaxing treatment.

If you too would like to book your own massage or even just learn more about the salon, you can find the Essentials Beauty Studio website here.

© This post is copyright of Rachael Divers 2014.