Indian Head Massage is a treatment which has its roots in old Ayurvedic techniques involving work on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp and face. Various massage movements are used in and around these areas and an average treatment session will last approximately 45 minutes. The aim of Indian head massage is to release the stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders. A variety of massage movements are used to relieve accumulated tension, stimulate circulation and restore joint movement. IHM is also used to aid the condition and health of the hair, including stimulating growth, particularly when combined with the use of natural organic oils. Indian Head Massage is used by practitioners to help reduce stress and fatigue, increase mental clarity, and relax and rejuvenate the receiver. The Hindi word for head massage is "Champi" and aspects of the treatment have a long tradition in Indian families. Mothers would stroke their daughter's hair to promote its growth and health. Narendra Mehta - blind from the age of one - grew up in India and head massage was an integral part of his life. He came to England in the 1970s to train as a physical therapist and in 1978 returned to India to study the benefits and practice of champissage, extending it to include neck, shoulders and face. On his return to England, he developed a sequence of movements. There is no right or wrong way and sequence of movements vary from one therapist to another. Remember that Indian Head Massage is reduced by 40% on a Tuesday! One hour treatments are £15 instead of £25 very Tuesday!!!

I've been thinking about what I should do for my husband for our second anniversary in April. Both of us really enjoy complementary therapies and a bit of pampering. So, whilst I've got a few days holiday this week, I've been looking at the spa packages for our local spas. I started at the Ivy Bridge Spa in Fishguard and you may not think it's very close to Edwardsville, but it's local to my family! There are some great overnight accommodation / pamper deals available there. I also looked at St Davids Hotel and Spa, Cardiff Bay; Vale Hotel, Golf Spa Resort ; Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa and Laguna Health & Spa. But, it seems that the overnight spa packages are better value for money. So, I'm going to have a look at Bath and the 'Thermae Bath Spa' and the Bath Priory. Ideally, we'd like a little lottery windfall which could take us to the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik! The Blue Lagoon is a pool of geothermal seawater. People suffering from psoriasis benefit from the active ingredients: minerals, silica and algae exert in the water that has a beneficial and positive effect on the skin. So, I'll keep looking and if you have any recommendations for spas in the UK or nearby, then please do let me know!

It seems that the popularity of IHM is growing rapidly. The vast majority of my recent new clients have come for Indian Head Massage. Most of those new clients have been new to IHM, having never experienced it before.

My Google analytics page suggests that the most popular search or 'keywords' for the Red Raven website are: 'indian head massage', 'history of indian head massage', 'what is indian head massage'!

IHM is a very effective therapy and it is far more than just a 'head' massage. It focusses on the upper back, shoulders, arms, neck, head, ears and face. It's a great all round therapy and perfect for those people who hold tension in their shoulders, neck and jaw. During the therapy session, it is wonderful to see the positive visible impacts on my clients; tension releases, breathing slows, heart rate decreases and relaxation is achieved.

From March, a new special offer will be available; 'The Tuesday Treat', which will see all one hour Indian Head Massage treatments reduced from £25 to £15. That's an excellent saving of 40%!!

Last night I gave an introductory presentation / training session to Merched y Wawr Cwmbran. It was a really great evening and it was lovely to see so many ladies there.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r merched i gyd am y croeso cynnes iawn. Nes i fwynhau'n fawr iawn cwrdd a'r merched ac hefyd rhannu gwybodaeth am adweitheg, pwnc agos at fy nghalon.

I'm looking forward to my next Merched y Wawr evening will be on the 11th March in Newport.

I thoroughly enjoyed giving the lecture at the Welsh Instute of Chiropractic, University of Glamorgan on the 2nd February. For those of you who did not know, it was my first ever lecture and I was grateful for the 'not throwing of tomatoes and rotten eggs!' The presentation is accessible here. Please remember that this information may be current today but may not tomorrow; the law moves very fast and you must always ensure that you rely on the very latest statue.

Today I've been at the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic today once more, giving my second law lecture, focussing on 'Descrimination and Diversity'. You can access the lecture here....