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Ayurvedic Tradition
Indian head massage has its foundation in the ancient Indian system of medicine known as Ayurveda. It was the ancient holy men known as Rishi's from the Himalayas that were responsible for founding the Ayurvedic medical system around 5,000 years ago. But Ayurveda is more than just a medical system, it is in fact a way of life. The Ayurvedic system includes knowledge to bring about physical, mental and spiritual health, based upon diet, massage performed with herbal and aromatic oils, cosmetics and even surgery, although not the surgery we know in the west.The word Ayurveda itself means 'the science of life'. It is derived from the Sanskrit words 'ayur' which means life and 'veda' meaning knowledge or science.
Champi has traditionally been performed in India by mothers and grandmothers on their children, to encourage the growth of thick and lustrous hair, and to promote health and wellbeing among family members. The women in India who have practiced this regularly are true testament to the benefit it has on the health of the hair and scalp as is evidenced in their beautiful, shiny, thick hair.
Champi has become popular in the western world as the perfect stress buster - deeply relaxing and yet wonderfully invigorating. Champi has been nicknamed champissage by Narendra Mehta, one of the pioneers who has helped popularise this treatment. The western version of the traditional art is an energetic, stress busting therapy which focuses on the neck, shoulders, scalp and face. Modern champi is rather more gentle than the strokes traditionally practiced in some parts of India, where the head is pummelled and banged quite hard to encourage the circulation.
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| Champi is the Hindi word for head massage, and it was from this, that the english word 'shampoo' was derived. Not surprisingly, champi is a popular treatment offered by barbers in India. |
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