HOLISTIC MASSAGE THERAPY
For Vitality, Longevity & Healthy Ageing
" We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
WHY YOU SHOULD INCLUDE HOLISTIC MASSAGE IN YOUR PRACTICE?
In our modern society, stress, poor eating habits, pollution, and lack of exercise, sleep and fresh air all contribute to a variety of ailments settling in the body and mind. In sanskrit, Jarahar is the word used to describe massage and literally means ‘remover of old age’ because it provides nourishment to the seven tissues of the body. Today, the best available scientific evidences show us that, among other things, massage treatments may be effective for a wide variety of everyday illnesses, diseases and disorders as a way of prevention, to reduce the pain, to help manage a health condition and to enhance wellness.
​
In Eastern cultures the main emphasis is on ‘creating’ the health. These cultures understand the link between mind, body and spirit and how everything is interconnected. True health is a state of balance, inner peace, calm and stillness. These cultures seek to generate equilibrium between one’s mind and the nature.
​
Both, Thai Yoga Massage and Indian Head Massage, work on significant areas of the body, and they often bring immediate relief. Tensions are eased, fibrous knots and nodules melt away. The efficiency of the circulatory and lymphatic systems improve, wastes and toxic debris like lactic acid are dispersed from tense muscles, and flexibility and fluidity of movement is restored. By relaxing the muscles, a head and body massage can improve blood and lymph flow, invigorates the nervous system, alleviate anxiety, increases ability to absorb nutrition, strengthens the body, relieves pain and relax your whole body. A combination of rhythmic strokes will sooth and rebalance the energy flow, creating feelings of ease, softness and peace, gives a general feeling of well-being assisting in balancing Mind, Body and Spirit.
​
As in many similar practices, these massage therapies may not be suitable for everyone. If you have an underlying health condition as indicated below, ask your doctors if any of these traditional forms of massage is safe for you.
​
Thai Yoga Massage
Centuries ago, a dynamic bodywork-therapy for physical well-being and spiritual energy was born in the temples of India. In 2019, UNESCO has added this ancient skill of traditional Thai Yoga Massage to its prestigious heritage list, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and it has gained a global recognition.
Ancient Thai Yoga Massage is a unique form of Body Therapy that incorporates Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda (Science of Life), Reflexology, Martial Arts, Meridian Work, and Acupressure.
In this unique healing system of Thai Yoga Massage, the practitioner guides the recipient through a series of passive Yoga postures by using stretching, pulling, rocking, palming and thumbing techniques along the body's energy lines (sens) and acupressure points while recipient lies fully clothed on a massage mattress on the ground. In practice it is like an evolving, flowing sacred dance between practitioner and recipient. The positions and the deep stretches utilised resemble yoga postures, and through the intense concentration required during a massage both giver and receiver can immerse themselves in a deep meditative state.
​
Appointments are subject to advance booking only by honouring an agreed date & time.
*(Contraindications are vary. Please get in touch for the details.)
Indian Head Massage
Indian Head massage, also known as champissage, is an ancient therapeutic practice that has its origins in the ancient system of medicine known as Ayurveda (circa 1800 BC) which was developed in the Himalayan region of India.
It is an extremely effective therapy that has evolved from traditional techniques practised in India as part of family rituals for over thousand years. It is a relaxing holistic treatment that uses acupressure massage to release stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the upper back, shoulders, upper arms, neck, face, and scalp, with the client usually remaining seated in an upright position and through light clothing. It requires no oils or equipment, making it a very accessible treatment, perfect for newcomers to massage.
The underlying philosophy of Indian Head Massage is that health results from harmony within one’s whole self. Having been a part of daily life in India for thousands of years, massage is an acknowledged method of cleansing and maintaining the total wellbeing of the body, and understood to be an extremely beneficial practice for achieving good health, joy and inspiration.
​
Appointments are subject to advance booking only by honouring an agreed date & time.
*(Contraindications are vary. Please get in touch for the details.)
Thai Yoga Massage
Benefits
Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is both preventive and therapeutic. It can benefit your health in numerous ways, many of which are supported by scientific studies. Thai Yoga Massage also represents and reflects the 4 divine states of mind – Loving kindness, compassion, vicarious joy and equanimity. Therefore, it has many meditative benefits to improve the mental and emotional health as well. It is like a counterbalancing, harmonious and therapeutic "dance" between the giver & receiver that imparts physical vibrancy, grace, and spiritual energy. It can relieve tension, promote relaxation, improve blood circulation and cardiovascular health, reduce the severity of your headaches and migraines, decrease lower back pain and joint stiffness, increase your flexibility and range of motion, calm your anxieties, help quality of sleep and revives your energy in your mind and body. Also helpful in releiving arthritis, whiplash pain, paralysis, numbness, sciatica, and some other conditions. Thai massage incorporates whole body movements, many of which are yoga-like, with the aid of your practitioner. Which is why it's also called passive yoga / lazy man's yoga, and for that reason, many people report that they leave Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated in the same time.
​
Indian Head Massage Benefits
If your head and spine is healthy, you are healthy. The skull is covered with a thin layer of muscle which tightens when you are feeling tense, resulting in muscular tension throughout the entire body, headaches, eye strain, neck and shoulder stiffness or feeling of anxiety. Head massage not only proves an invaluable realxing treatment, it also helps relieve stress related problems, especially in the neck and shoulder, even in the hip area where stress affects major muscle groups and organs. It helps clear the blockages in these areas further increasing energy flow and allowing the body to heal. Indian head massage stimulates the nerves starting from the head area. This helps you to relax which, in turn, improves mental and physical health. It also increases circulation, exfoliates the scalp and nourishes and promotes healthy hair growth. It can generate relief from sinusitis, jaw ache & tinitus, and improve the quality of sleep.
The head, more than any other parts of our body, represents who we are. It is the centre of our nervous system and home to our identity and intelligence. The head and neck region includes the most vital and important organs of the nervous system (brain & spinal cord), as well as the organs of the special senses which connect us to the world. In addition, in this region we also find the major cranial and spinal nerve pathways (associated with some major energy centres of the body in Ayurveda) that connect the central nervous system to the other organs, skin, and muscles of the body. When these structures all work together in harmony to control every part of the body, and receive sensory messages from the environment and the body’s internal structures, we consider ourselves hale and hearty.
​
Abi
I’d never had anything like this before but Aslihan made me feel at ease and explained everything beforehand which gave me every confidence in her. She worked her magic on my head, neck and shoulders with different techniques and styles of hand and finger work, stroking and pressure. She was firm but gentle. (You can chose one of three levels of firmness.)
By about half way through I was feeling very relaxed and afterwards, totally. I’d had some tension in my shoulders which disappeared during the massage. The accompanying music added to the relaxed feeling but you can opt for silence if you wish. She didn’t use oils so after a quick brush of the hair I was good to go.
​
Afterwards I spent a great evening basking in relaxation, a great night’s sleep and felt refreshed in the morning. All in all it was a great experience and would recommend Aslihan’s Indian Head Massage to anyone.
Sam
Aslihan provides such a wonderful, nourishing space both on and off the mat. I have experienced Aslihan's yoga classes, workshops and Thai Yoga Massage, and all come highly recommended. She puts everything into ensuring you, as the client, have the best experience possible.
​
Most recently I scheduled a Thai Yoga Massage, and it truly was one of the best massges I have had - and I have had a lot of massages!
​
Aslihan connects with the individual and makes time for everyone on a personal level.
MASSAGE THERAPY PACKAGES
INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE
This treatment starts sitting in a comfortable chair, ideally wearing a vest top. It begins with a neck, shoulder and upper back massage routine, then works with the sculp, lastly moves to the face and ears by using acupressure points and finishes with a short breathing practise.
There are gentle / firm effleurage movements, frictions, squeezing, rolling, plucking actions involve to stimulate / soothe the nerve endings in the skin, increase the blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, generate heat in the muscles, loosen stiff and tense muscles, remove the waste from tissues, encourage fresh supplies of oxygen, and reduce build up stress.
As the massage proceeds you will relax and breathe more deeply, and can release suppressed emotions and negative energy making room for more positive feelings. Indian Head Massage is both, subtle and deep, leaving you feeling deeply relaxed, rejuvenated and uplifted.
​
A 30-minute-session is ideal for its relaxing and therapeutic effects, and a 45-minute-session is more for those who would like to work with a problem area to help alleviating symptomps such as stress related mental tension, muscular tension, Alopecia, Bell's Palsy, headaches or migraine, postural issues etc.
Single 1x 30min session £30
Single 1x 45min session £45
​
THAI YOGA MASSAGE (FULL BODY)
The combination of stretching, movement, and pressure is what distinguishes Thai Yoga Massage from other types of massages. It is based on the idea that energy flows through your body along predictable lines or pathways known as sens. Thai Yoga Massage is often considered as a form of art or some might view Thai Yoga massage as a dance of energies between the practitioner and the recipient.
To increase the flow of energy along the sens / nerve pathways, I will move your body into yoga-like positions in addition to pulling and rocking your body in various ways in order to benefit from deep muscle compression, joint mobilisation and acupressure.
​
In this treatment, full body massage starts from your feet, slowly working up to your head by focusing on all problem areas, as well as the general feeling of deep relaxation at the end. It includes all supine, prone, side lying and seated positions. You will lie on a padded mat / massage mattress on the floor, not on a massage table, in your comfortable clothes. Once on the mat, I will slowly move your body through multiple stretches, using the weight and pressure of my body (hands, thumbs, elbows, forearms, and sometimes even my feet and full body weight) to reduce tension in your muscles and joints, and to manipulate your nervous system throug the SEN lines for better health. No oilling involves unless booked with add-on 1/2 hour back & neck thai oil massage - please book it seperatly.
​
Single 1x 60min session £60
Single 1x 90min session £85
Single 1x 120min session £105
​
(ADD-ON) 1/2 HR BACK & NECK OIL MASSAGE
Add an extra half an hour on to your booked Traditional Thai Massage with additional benefits of aromatherapy and the techniques of Thai Oil Massage.
This treatment includes only back, neck and upper chest of your upper body in prone and supine position towards the end of your main treatment.
This treatment is received with no clothing in the upper body by the time it is applied. Towels are used to cover the body.
Single 1x 30min add-on session £30
​
(ADD-ON) THAI HOT HERBAL COMPRESSES
Add an extra revitilising, indulgening, and healing treatment application to your booked Traditional Thai Massage with additional benefits of hot aromatic compresses and the techniques of Thai Medicinal Herbs. This treatment can be also combined with Thai Oil Massage, and in any package you desire.
The herbal blend I mix in hot compresses wrapped in ball shaped cotton fabric is based on the individual needs of my clients. My special recipes include ginger, lemongrass, eucalyptus, galangal, kaffir lime (fruit and leaves), and camphor with some lemon balm, peppermint, anise leaf, rosemary, lavender, jasmine, cinnamon or other sweet medicinal herbs and flowers.
The Thai herbal compress ball is steamed until it becomes in comfortable heat when it’s applied to your skin along the sen lines on the stomach, chest, back, arms, legs and face. It feels very relaxing and invigorating experience, especially with all the amazing smells released from the herbal ball.
BODY THERAPY: These herbs have a host of therapeutic benefits that help restore the body’s health by helping to ease inflamation, heal bruises and scars, soothe and condition your skin by opening the pores and bringing a medicinal heat to muscles to induce relaxation. It’s also a fabulous treatment, to target specific pain points and ease the pain. Yet, because of the heat, it allows the therapist to go deeper into the tissue to tackle stubborn knots without damage and minimal pain compared with say a deep tissue massage.
INHALATION THERAPY: Smelling and inhaling herbs during a compress session can be healing and relaxing. Many herbs have a balancing effect on the mind, and help to reduce stress. Primary herbs such as eucalyptus and camphor used in Thai compresses act as decongestants for the lungs and sinuses. Using hot compresses on the chest and throat and sinuses can loosen mucous from the lungs and chest, and open up the nasal passages.
Single add-on application of Thai medicinal hot herbal compresses £30
Get in touch to enquire about stand alone Thai Hot Herbal Compress Therapies, personilised herbal bath infusions, herbal poultice, herbal remedies and balms.
​
THAI YOGA MASSAGE (FOOT & LEG)
Thai Foot & Leg Massage is a massage of the whole legs and feet that originated in Thailand around two thousand years ago. It has become an integral part of traditional Thai Massage and has elements of Ayurveda, Reflexology, Chinese massage and Yoga incorporated into the massage itself.
According to the theory of the practices of acupuncture and acupressure, there are an outstanding 7,200 sensory nerve endings in each foot which are connected to the internal organs that spread throughout the body. Thai Foot & LegMassage involves hands on stretching and massage to ‘open’ the Sen (energy) Lines, along with the use of palm, finger, thumb, knuckle pressure to stimulate the reflex points and nerve ends.
​
Thai Foot & Leg Massage balances and restores the healthy flow of energy in the body, and can help to improve circulation, stimulate lymphatic drainage, remove toxins, reduce stiffness, improve flexibility, boost your immune system, accelerate physical healing, help to stimulate the mind and improve sleeping. This package is also extra benefitial for atheletes, and for those who have tired legs and feet.
This treatment is received fully clothed, however your clothing can be rolled up above the knee level to apply oiling.
​
Single 1x 45min session £45 (dry)
Single 1x 60min session £60 (with oil application)
​
THAI YOGA MASSAGE (UPPER BODY)
This massage uses the same techniques as the full body massage and aromatic oil applications, but it is focusing only on the upper body by working on your spinal alignment, chest, back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands and head.
This package of Thai Yoga Massage is a relaxing massage aiming to release the tension, relieve stress and alleviate aching muscles in the upper body. It also helps alleviate muscle tension, back pain caused by poor posture like sitting and standing habits. Poor posture is the posture that results from certain muscles tightening up or shortening while others lengthen and become weak, which often occurs as a result of one's daily activities - such as desk bound work, your use of technology like mobile devices (text neck), stress, slouching, inactivity, heavy lifting, prolonged muscle spasms, shoe choice and the way you wear them. It may lead to pain, injury, or other health problems.
This treatment is received with no clothing in the upper body by the time oil is applied. Towels are used to cover the body.
​
Single 1x 60min session £75
​
HOLISTIC MASSAGE Wth. GUIDED RELAXATION
This package is a combination of either Indian Head Massage or Thai Yoga Massage treatment (for details see above) and seated or reclining Guided Deep Relaxation practices (15 to 30 minutes) by using different meditation techniques to relax, de-stress, recover, accelerate your spiritual development, and enhance your resilience and the quality of your life. It aims you to benefit from both, massage & meditation, for an optimized bespoke wellness experience.
​
It is an ideal choice, when you look for a simple and effortless meditation and relaxation practices as an alternative to the traditional forms of unguided self-meditation techniques in your day. When guided carefully, meditation / relaxation is not only easy, but also a very powerful tool for personal development.
​
During this practice, first, you will receive massage treatment of your choice that promotes immediate relief, ease and softness in your body and soothes your nervous system, so that your mind can be cleared of clutter and dysfunctional thoughts easily, and then filled with a state of deep inner stillness, clarity and greater focus.
​
Following the massage treatment, you will be guided towards a state of meditation by my spoken word guidance. I will walk you through the process step by step by using personalised and well-crafted guided meditation and relaxation techniques of your choice - from breath counting, guided imagery or autogenic practices to tea ceremony. They often include positive suggestions and positive visualizations which help you to have an inner experience of the changes you are seeking in your outer life, to transform them and their constructive effects into reality.
​​​Single 1x 45min session £45 (wth. IHM ONLY)
Single 1x 60min session £60
Single 1x 90min session £85
Single 1x 120min session £105
​
HOLISTIC MASSAGE Wth. RESTORATIVE YOGA
This package comes up with the aim of total relaxation to empower you through a mixture of Indian Head Massage OR Thai Yoga Massage and restorative practices in a tranquil environment. It shares practical restorative sequences alongside ayurvedic principles.
These sessions are absolutely for everyone who needs a little down-time away from the demands of the daily tasks and responsibilities. It's a great way of prevention of chronic stress related illnesses and a safe antidote to soothe and smooth the side effects of every-day stress in the body & mind. Specially designed to release the muscular tension that is created by bad-posture, sedentary or athletic/overstimulated way of living, demanding life style, unpleasant conversations that cause strain in the neck, back and hip area, digitally challenging environments, long commuting, heavy lifting or daily chores etc.
It's extremely mind quietening and certainly provides you a safe refuge to get connected and feel physically, mentally and emotionally balanced.
​
Single 1x 60min session £60
Single 1x 90min session £85
Single 1x 120min session £105
​
DEEP-REST IMMERSION
This is an investment package on your wellbeing which may help you to cultivate and maintain a new and regular personal care practice in your daily life. It is like a mini-spa treatment and designed to support and empower you for building up a strong foundation of new relaxation skills and more content way of life by learning how to be in the flow, fully present, here & now!
​
It may help you developing the wisdom to pull yourself out of autopilot and teach you to live richer within and fully connected with yourself, others and the nature. You may choose this package for feeling inspired, more vibrant, deeply rested, energised and fresh, and to tap into your innate capacity of strength and wholeness.
Your package contains;
-
Ayurvedic Constitutional Assesment (find your dosha type and current imbalances) and related practice suggestions for that particular time / season / body & mind condition including a PDF ayurvedic yoga sequence,
-
massage of your choice (IHM or TYM),
-
Yoga Nidra (lying down yogic sleep meditation),
-
handouts for practical self-care activities,
-
a gratitude gift as a talisman representing your connection to your intention.
​
Single 1x 120min session £120
For bespoke sessions please get in touch with me! Duration, location and your investment to be confirmed.
​
CONTRAINDICATIONS
If you have any of the following medical conditions, you should consult with your GP or a medical professional first to ascertain whether Indian Head Massage or Thai Yoga Massage is appropriate for you: Angina, heart or blood (cardiovascular) conditions, diabetes, high / low blood pressure, aneurosa, ankylosing spondylitis, severe asthma, severe arthritis, osteoporosis, acute rheumatism, medical oedema, whiplash or any other neck condition, slipped disc, epilepsy, cancer, any dysfunction of the nervous system (e.g. muscular sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease), kidney disease, undiagnosed pain, Bell’s palsy, trapped/ pinched nerve (e.g. sciatica), inflamed nerve, recent surgical operation, muscle injuries, bone fractures, joint dislocations, postural deformities, spastic conditions, haematoma, hernia, when taking prescribed medication, hormonal implants, and nervous/psychotic conditions.
​​​
Please get in touch with me, in case of you may need a GP referral letter to explain the treatment.
It is not recommended to have Indian Head Message or Thai Yoga Massage in the first trimester of pregnancy and maybe longer with a history of miscarriage, under severe migraine attack, with fever or high temperature, diarrhoea and vomiting, localised infections or fungus to skin or scalp, acute infectious diseases, nits, venous problems such as thrombosis or embolism, varicose veins, abdomen (first few days of menstruation, recent scar tissue, open cuts or abrasions, sunburn, lumps, swellings, inflammation in the body of after a heavy meal.
All massage treatments take place in my studio, Epping & Loughton. Terms & conditions apply for home visits, please get in touch for details.