“Press Here! Ayurvedic Head Massage for Beginners: A Practice for Overall Health and Wellness” by Hillary Arrieta
"Press Here! Ayurvedic Head Massage for Beginners gives simple step-by-step guidance on how to incorporate Indian head massage into you and your family's everyday routines to enhance overall well-being and beauty.
The techniques illustrated and explained offer many health benefits, including:
Easing sleep disturbances
Reducing stress
Easing muscular tension, headaches, and eye strain
Promoting increased blood circulation to the head and cephalic region
Enhancing scalp health
Practitioners can also achieve psychological and spiritual benefits, including:
Increasing a sense of human connection between giver and receiver
Creating a meditative mood that encourages deep sleep
Relief from mild depression or life burnout/overwhelm through the release of endorphins
Potential beauty benefits include:
Improves the condition of skin and hair by increasing blood circulation
Provides nutrients to the living cells of the skin and hair
Gives the receiver a refreshed and younger looking appearance
Nourishing hair oils can further increase and customize your beauty efforts along with the massage
The book also addresses safety considerations, including vital areas of caution in the neck and head and when it might be unwise to practice Indian head massage, and cautions with regard to herbally infused oils.
Each chapter covers an important area related to head massage techniques in depth, including foundational principles of ayurveda and how Indian head massage is part of ayurvedic practice. You'll find:
A basic review of Doshas, including details on how to discover your unique, elemental body type—Pitta, Vata, Kapha, and combinations of these
Marma or vital energy points of the head and neck
Preparation tips with a supply list, mood, space, and lighting considerations
Preparing the body and mind to give/receive an Ayurvedic Indian head massage—hygiene, stretches for the arms, shoulders, and hands
Types of massage movements used in Indian head massage, described step by step—nerve strokes, effleurage, petrissage, frictions, tapotement
Also covered:
Self-care rituals with an introduction to touch, step-by-step protocols, communication with partner about pressure and comfort
Hair oil recipes, including everyday hair oil recipes, tips on creating your own recipes, authentic beauty hair oil, headache relief hair oil, mid-day energizing hair oil, peaceful sleep hair oil
Incorporation of rituals, including authentic beauty rituals, step-by-step protocol to enhance one's own natural beauty, headache relief ritual, step-by-step protocol to reduce tension headaches, mid-day energizing rituals, step-by-step protocol to stay alert during the day, peaceful sleep ritual, step-by-step protocol to enhance sleep
The book ends with an Ayurvedic Dosha–type quiz to help understand your personal prakriti or constitution."
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