Champissage - Indian Head Massage

By Arthur Bakeright

There are many systems of massage, some centuries old. Touch therapy, as it is sometimes called, can have a profound effect on ones well being. This article focuses on one of the older systems, ‘Champissage.’

Champissage is a system of Indian Head Massage. It is one of the most popular forms of head massage in India and is now enjoying growing popularity around the world as it becomes better known.

Indian Head Massage is soothing, revitalizing and relaxing. It conveys reassurance, warmth and a sense of self worth. It relaxes tight muscles and eases stress, tension and anxiety.

History of Champissage

It developed over thousands of years of practice in India. Traditionally, Champissage began as a system of family grooming with mothers massaging their daughter’s hair with oils to encourage long lustrous locks.

Champissage has many styles and variations, with varying sequences of massage movements, influenced by local traditions. Just as different parts of a country may have different dialects in the language, so too does Indian Head Massage vary in different regions.

Over time, Indian Head Massage developed and began to incorporate massage of the face, neck and shoulder utilising a combination of acupressure and shiatsu to help relax tense areas, clear any concentrated areas of negativity and rebalance energy.

Benefits of Champissage

Here are some of the benefits claimed be advocates and practitioners of Indian Head Massage

• The head has several acupressure points so Champissage can be felt throughout the body, benefiting the entire system and not just the head.
• While it can be done dry, scalp oils are preferred as they nourish the hair and calm the nervous system.
• It is beneficial to those suffering from emotional or mental stress as it improves circulation in the head, improves memory, enhances senses, and promotes clearer thinking.
• Indian Head Massage is therapeutic for migraines, headaches, vertigo, depression and insomnia. It also helps those affected by air conditioning and artificial lighting.
• Champissage also helps reduce greying hair, premature balding and general hair loss.
• When concentrating on massaging the eyebrows, forehead, and the temples, it assists with eyesight and concentration problems.

Depending on your location it may be a challenge to find a practitioner of Champissage, but the benefits of Indian Head Massage are widely acclaimed and worth the effort to experience it.