Head Massage with Elements Wellness and Massage

What’s a Head Massage ( or Scalp Massage 

A scalp massage is a head massage designed to relax the mind and encourage circulation. Many times, tension is felt within the head and neck, so scalp massages can be very effective as a stress reducer. Warm oil is massaged throughout the scalp, working to relax tight muscles in the temple and neck regions.

This type of massage is often used in conjunction with either reflexology or the Raynor Massage treatment we use at the massage centre 

Benefits of a head massage

Scalp massage is said to offer a variety of benefits, which may include stress relief, reduction in headaches and migraines, and a boost in blood flow. The increase in blood flow aids in feeding and strengthening the hair follicles, which may cause the hair to grow at a faster rate, as well as aid in the fight to avoid hair loss.

When your scalp is massaged, the rest of you relaxes, too. That spillover effect may explain why the scalp massage is gaining popularity at many spas.

A simple shampoo has always included some kneading and stroking, but today many spas are offering services that focus exclusively on the scalp and are even sneaking scalp rubs into treatments for the body.

Origins:
Traditional scalp massages were accompaniments to oil-rich scalp treatments that conditioned the tresses and stimulated the hair follicles for healthy growth. But today’s massages are meant more for relieving tension.

You might enjoy an oil-free 20-minute scalp rub while waiting for the moisturizing effects of a body wrap to set in. Or your spa may combine a scalp massage with a reflexology treatment or a facial. Others offer scalp massages with neck-and-shoulder rubs or on their own—with oil optional.

As with any good massage, a scalp massage with tried-and-true techniques can turn a feel-good rub into something with greater benefits. Experts suggest massaging with fingertips and palms as well as using acupressure, which involves applying finger pressure on certain points on the head.

Like acupuncture, acupressure is based on the idea that lines of energy (called meridians) run throughout the body and that blockages along these lines cause discomfort, fatigue, and even illness. It’s thought that applying pressure on key points along the lines releases the blocked energy, remedying the problem.

To enhance the relaxation effects of the massage, breathe deeply.

Many spas feature scalp massage as an à la carte service on their menu, however, it is also a popular add-on with hair and styling treatments.

Good to know that a Scalp Massage is the Same 

Clients should note that oils used during scalp massage are different than what masseurs use while performing a full-body or back massage.

Head massage oils may include jojoba oil, olive oil, or sweet almond oil, topped off with an essential oil such as peppermint, rosemary, or lavender.

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Raynor Massage - As used by Element Wellness and Massage Therapy

What is Raynor Massage

Raynor Massage is a system of bodywork and massage developed by Australian trained Naturopath Brandon Raynor. It covers not just the muscles of the body but also the skeletal system and the subtle energy systems of the body.

Raynor massage is not performed as a routine massage, although we do have particular techniques, stretches & adjustments that we have developed.

Instead, the goal of Raynor massage is to find any residual tightness or blockage in the body & get rid of it. Whatever technique we plan to use, we must always evaluate it against this goal. “Is this move that I am doing helping to get rid of the person tension or not?” is a question that should always be asked by all masseurs

Residual tension means tension that is in the person’s body when the body is resting, for example on a massage table. In other words if a person has muscle tightness in an area when they aren’t using that area this is what we can residual tension and our goal is to get rid of this tension.

Importance of Raynor Massage

Another important concept of Raynor massage is that the source of some of the residual tension in the body can be from emotional or stress related reasons. We believe in the well accepted Eastern medical theories that the physical body is a gross manifestation of a subtle body composed of life force and emotions and other subtle energies. We refer to this life force as chi or prana. A blockage or disruption in the flow of chi or prana will cause an area of the physical body to become tight, blocked or forced out of position in the case of the bones.

We also believe that the body is one holistic organism and we don’t believe that dealing with one part in isolation is as effective as dealing with the whole person. So, in this way we recognize that one part of the body may be tight but that area is being held tight by another area which could then also be held tight by another area again.

We also recognize that the subtle body of emotions and the gross physical body are related and so we see that some tension may not be released in the body unless the corresponding emotion is also released. In this way we work holistically not just with our massage techniques but also with our rhythms. We encourage our clients to breathe deeply into their bellies during the treatment and to allow any emotions out that need to come out and to not hold them back.

Raynor massage has some of its origins in Eastern forms of massage like shiatsu, Ayurvedic massage, eastern chiropractic work, Lomi Lomi and yoga breathe work. However, we have integrated and evolved these techniques to fit in with our simple philosophy of finding every bit of tension in the body and getting rid of it.

We have emphasized certain extremely important parts of the body that are often neglected by traditional massage therapists, such as the abdomen, the sacrum, the hips and the feet, hands and head.

These areas tend to hold a lot of stagnation and blockage of the life force and freeing them up will generally have a great benefit not just to the areas concerned but to the whole being.

Raynor massage is generally recognized as one of the most powerful and effective forms of massage therapy today. It goes well beyond the realm of what most people consider to be the confines of a massage treatment.

Although Raynor massage uses knowledge gained from traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Reflexology and Hawaiian medicine among others we don’t let one particular philosophy dictate how we should treat. We learn their techniques but then we rely on our own senses to diagnose a situation and a client’s condition.

For some people, good massage may be very uncomfortable if they aren’t used to it. Then as their healing crisis finishes their body should feel a lot better, have more mobility and a general feeling of being more relaxed should ensue. The word “relax” actually means to bring back to a state of looseness. “Re” means to bring back to and “lax” means loose. So Raynor massage is actually a form of deep relaxation massage.

 

This article was written by  Brandon Raynor the Principal and Founder

of Brandon Raynor's Massage and Natural Therapies School

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