Mind Relax Aromatherapy Massage for Face, Neck And Scalp
Too much thinking, worrying, concentration or anxiety all end up on the poor old head and shoulders. A face, neck and scalp massage not only relieves the tight, tense muscles, but also puts the evaporating essential oils right under your nose, so they get to work on the over-tired, overwrought mind by the most direct route. Some of the best aromatherapy combinations for the neck up include:
Best Oils for Head Massage
. bergamot . neroli
. jasmine . orange
. lavender . rose
Best Essential Oils Combinations for Aromatherapy Mind Relax Massage
Relaxing massage
3 drops each rose, geranium and lavender in 30ml (1f1 oz/6 tsps) sweet almond oil
Energising massage
3 drops bergamot and 1 drop each of geranium and peppermint in 30ml (1fl oz/6sps) sweet almond oil
For tense muscles
2 drops each petitgrain and lavender and 1 drop basil in 30ml (1f1 oz/6 tsps) sweet almond oil
For a hair tonic
3 drops lavender and 1 drop each rosemary and bay in 30ml (1f 1oz/6 tsps) sweet almond oil
To go to sleep
3 drops sandalwood and 2 drops of chamomile in 30ml (1f1 oz/6 tsps) sweet almond oil
For a headache
2 drops each rose and lavender and 1 drop chamomile in 30ml (1f1 oz/6 tsps) sunflower oil
Mind Relax Aromatherapy Massage
A face, neck and scalp massage will lift a great weight off tired or tense shoulders. Start by sitting comfortably on an upright chair in front of a table, wearing an off-the-shoulder top or a towel wrapped under your arms for warmth. Make sure your aromatherapy oil is also warm, and close to hand.
1. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend your neck to one side as far as is comfortable, so your ear is parallel with your shoulder. Hold the stretch for a count of five and feel it pulling up the side of the neck. Straighten slowly and repeat on the other side. With your head upright, place your left hand palm down on the top of your right arm. With a downward pressure, stroke firmly across the top of the shoulder and up the side of the neck to the ear. Repeat ten times, then change hands and repeat on the other side.
2. Bend your elbows and place your hands palm down back over your shoulders, on either side of the neck, with the heel of your hand on your collarbone and fingers stretching down your back. Press firmly into the shoulder muscle, so it is pinched between your fingers and palm, and at the same time, drop your head backwards. Hold for a count of ten then slowly raise the head and release the hands. Repeat. In the same starting position, drop your head first down to the left side for a count of five, then over and down to the right, while you pinch into the shoulder muscle. Repeat.
3. Bend your neck forward and place your fingertips back over the shoulder muscles as in step 2. Knead the muscle by pressing in with firm fingers and gradually work up each side of the neck from the nape to the skull. Then use the first two fingers of each hand to make small circles from the top of the neck out along the base of the skull to each ear. With your head still bent forward, place your right hand palm down over the nape of your neck and. do a slow, firm, upward-pulling stroke from the nape up to the crown of the head, with one hand following after the other.
4. Spread your fingertips across the top of your forehead along the hairline from ear to ear. Keeping fingers bent but stiff, press them gently into the scalp and make small, firm circular movements so the scalp itself rotates. Gradually move, inch by inch, back up to the crown of the head. Repeat working from the nape of the neck up to the crown. Then pick up tiny sections of hair close to the root between each thumb and index finger and tug at the hair, quickly and firmly several times. Repeat all over the head to stimulate the circulation and relax the scalp.
5. Lean forward and rest your elbows on a table. Place the heel of each hand over an eye and relax downwards, holding for a count of ten and breathing deeply. Straighten the first three fingers of your right hand and place them across your forehead. Stroke slowly and firmly from the bridge of the nose up between the brows to the hairline. Repeat five times.
Using your first two fingers, gently press in and stroke from your inner to outer brows. Repeat five times. With one hand on either side of the face, do a firm, very slow; palm stroke from the ears, over the temples, forehead and into the hair. Repeat.
6. Using the tips of your first two fingers, make small circles over the whole face, from the jaw, up the cheeks, over the temples and along the hairline to the middle of the forehead. Repeat with a slow, firm, palm stroke. Then, placing the hands with palms over the cheek bones and fingers over the forehead, gently press into the contours of your face and hold for a count of ten. With one palm across your forehead and the other across the back of your neck, press in for a count of ten. With one hand over an ear on either side of your head, press in and hold.
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