What is RSS Anyway?
RSS stands for “really simple syndication” …. which allows you to subscribe to websites, blogs, news agencies and have the content delivered to you.  As one author said “it’s like having the news you want find you instead of you having to find it.”

Why it Matters:

1) RSS gives the massage therapist or other health practitioner a way to easily stay abreast of news, articles, events and more in the over all health, wellness and massage industry.  RSS feeds into an what is called an RSS Reader such as Google Reader ( the one I use), Yahoo Reader or many others.  This allows you to quickly SCAN down a list looking for relevant information.

2) SAVE your best finds to folders in your web browser OR better yet to an application like Evernote (free download for Mac or PC) where you can “clip” web pages in their entirety and drop them into relevant folders or what Evernote calls notebooks.  You might have a notebook for Massage Research, Health Tips or Sports Massage for example.

3) Once you have collected some “relevant information” …. in other words relevant to your niche(s) and of interest to your target market then the next step is to SHARE your gems along some of your channels.

For Example:

• Updates to your Facebook “Page”
• Mini-blog posts complete with links through your Twitter account
• Status Updates on your Linkin Account
• Inspired Blog posts on your company or personal blog
• Interesting articles and tidbits for your Bi-Monthly E-Newsletter
• Clippings that you can forward to individual clients via email to show how much you care

The list is endless!

4) Be known as the expert in your niche! A flow of relevant and timely information that you can pass on not only puts you in “the know” but more importantly establishes you as an expert in your niche and a leader in your field, two very important components of a comprehensive personal branding strategy.

How to Find Good RSS Feed Material
Having an RSS Feed Reader set up is only half the battle.  The other half is to find great material to feed it.  Google Reader has a search function which is pretty good for general purposes but for  the best material you’ll need to do a little web research.  I’ve listed a few resources below to got you started:

Alltop: One of my favorites sources of information and setting up feeds is Alltop.  Along with many other categories they have a huge cross section of information regarding health, wellness and fitness.  Although Alltop and some of the suggestions below are a kind of a feed in and of themselves, they are also a great starting place for setting up your own custom feed right into a web browser.

Other places to search for great sites to set up RSS feeds from are Digg,  Stumbleupon and and for more offbeat stuff  Reddit.

The Massage Therapy Foundation has a bank of interesting articles on research.

If this is all new to yoI urge you to take a few minutes to go through the excellent slide share presentation below to see just how easily you can put the RSS Genie to work for you.  It is easier to set up then you think!

Pay It Forward:
Find Relevant information of interest to your target market and pay it forward.  As a friend of mine sums it up …. SCAN, SAVE and SHARE …. you, your clients, colleagues and friends will be glad you did.

Note: If you find some other good sources please list them here under the comments section of this post.

A Quick Note About Me:
My name is Rhett Hatfield and in addition to being the owner and Director of Education for the Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School I am am indigenous therapies researcher in Asia and South East Asia and normally spend several months there every year. You can read more about me and my travels in the Blog section Body Wisdom Global

Section 6 Overview:
Having covered all the preparations for Shirodhara in sections 1-5 we are now ready to perform the actual technique itself in the traditional way.  In truth the proper preparations for giving Shirodhara are just as important if  not more important than the actual treatment itself.  If you have not followed these posts up until now you might want to take a few minutes to review the background and preparations that have brought us to where we are now.

Links to sections 1-5
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #1: “Intro.”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #2: “The Droni (table)”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #5 “Final Preparations for Treatment”

Medicines to Taken the Morning of:
As stated previously the best time for Shirodhara is in the morning on an empty stomach.  In some cases the Ayurvedic physician will prescribe medicine to be taken in the morning.  Normally this will Gandharvahaatadi kashayam which is both a laxative and digestive.  However if Pitta is in predominance for proper evacuation of the bowels a decoction of grapes and Haritaki is better.

Spiritual and Other Preparations:
All preparations and materials should be completely prepared before the patient enters the room for Shirodhara and the practitioner should have taken care of their own calls of nature, washing of hands and cleansing of teeth and mouth (this is traditional).  When the physician calls the patient should wash the feet once more and enter the treatment room and stand before the “lamp” facing the East.  Traditionally in the treatment room there will always be a table with an arrangement of traditional Hindu items including a lamp, incense holder, pictures of the sacred Hindu deities and sometimes a picture of the physicians teacher.  The patient will then offer his own prayers to his deities (Gods) and pray for the success of the treatment to come.  In India there are very few if any undertakings in life than do not have prayers and offerings attached to them and Shirodhara is no exception.  Now the patient seats himself on the table and the physician (practitioner) stands at his side and mentally pays homage to his teacher and God.

Note: Whether or not you or I agree with the Hindu religion, in the interest of documenting a traditional therapy as I found it in the country of origin (in this case India) I have included the Ayurvedic approach in its entirety including their approach to spirituality.

Anointing the 7 Vital Points:
As mentioned in Section #5 of this series, it is traditional before starting the Shirodhara to rub Rasnadi powder mixed with a little oil on the 7 vital points in the body.  There are 3 vital Marma points on the head including the crown of the head and the other four points are at the center of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.  These points are to be massaged in a circular fashion and in a direction that is appropriate for each side of the body.

Anointing the Body with Oil
In most cases just prior to the Shirodhara the practitioner will anoint the body of the patient with oil.  Ksheerabala oil is the oil most commonly used for this purpose and the massage itself is called Abhyanga.  Abhyanga is performed with warm oil and the course of the massage is rotated through seven traditional positions of the body including sitting, prone, side lying and supine and is done in a particular pattern, direction and certain order until completed.

Final Preparations:
After the Abhyanga, the patient is brought into a sitting position and a piece of cloth or rolled gauze is put as a band around the head just above the eyebrows with a knot on the side (the knot is placed on the side for comfort when the head rests on the Droni table).  The purpose of the gauze headband is to prevent any oil from entering the eyes during the Shirodhara.  A pillow covered with vinyl or plastic (to prevent absorption of the oil) is placed as a headrest for the comfort of the patient and the patient now lies down on the table and gets comfortable.

The Shirodhara Process:
There are two attendants necessary for a traditional Shirodhara.  Attendant #1 will take care of the Shirodhara pot and attendant #2 will be responsible for heating the oil and replenishing the oil back into the pot as it runs out over the course of the treatment.  These attendants should be a well practiced team that can work efficiently and also silently throughout the treatment.

Attendant #1 will adjust the height of the shiro pot and position it so that the string is hanging right over the center and 2 inches above the top of the forehead of the patient.  This attendant will bring the pot back off of the head of the patient and attendant #2 who will have already warmed the oil to the proper temperature will fill the pot with oil.  While the oil is being transferred into the Shiro pot attendant #1 will hold their finger over the hole at the bottom of the pot preventing the oil from beginning to flow out.  After the Shiro pot is completely filled with the warmed oil (or other liquid depending on the type of Dhara) attendant # 1 will remove their finger from the pot allowing the oil to flow on to the table first so that the stream of the oil can be adjusted properly.  Only when the stream is flowing properly will attendant #1 bring the oil stream onto the forehead of the patient.

The Shirodhara Stream:
The height of the string over the top of the forehead should be about 2 inches above so that the stream does not strike the forehead too hard nor too soft.  The thickness of the stream should neither be too thick or to thin but rather of a thickness that is pleasing to the constitution of the patient.  The stream should be moved back and forth over the forehead of the patient continuously without stopping.  This is the traditional way and my consultations and training with many Ayurvedic doctors confirms that it is considered dangerous from an Ayurvedic perspective to allow the stream to just run over the center of the forehead for expended periods of time or even for the entire length of the Shirodhara as is commonly practiced in spas these days.  The speed of the movement should be of a medium and consistent speed throughout the length of the Shirodhara. The temperature of the oil should be constantly monitored throughout the treatment and the oil heated as necessary to maintain the proper temperature.   This and constantly refilling the Shirodhara pot to keep the pot at least 1/2 full is the job of attendant #2.  Another job of the attendant #2 is to periodically drain excess oil from the hair and keep the oil in the Droni moving toward the collection area and into the transfer pot.

All these factor are very important as well as monitoring the condition and reaction of the patient throughout the treatment and can only be learned under the supervision of a qualified teacher and not via a post such as this one.

Resolution:
When the Shirodhara is complete, usually after 30-60 minutes but can be as long as 90 minutes if given in a series of 7 or 14 sessions  (refer to previous posts in this series) the stream must be moved off of the head of the patient and NOT allowed to drip, drip, drip to completion over the forehead.  During this time is is VERY important to maintain a completely silent environment and not be milling around cleaning up items etc.  It is very likely that the patient is in a very deep state of relaxation and possibly deep inner reflection as well.  Because of this complete silence and stillness should be maintained for at least a period of 10-15 minutes to allow the session to completely resolve and integrate.

Post Treatment:
After the period of resolution the patient can be invited to sit up right on the table and the excess oil is blotted from the hair.  Right after the treatment the patient is taken to the shower area the the previously prepared Amalaka herbal infusion is poured over the head and the whole body.

Normally green gram or other flour is rubbed on the body to remove the excess oil.  Soap is not used in the traditional approach.  Afterward a towel or cap is placed on the head (depending on the temperature) to make absolutely certain the the head does not get cold.  It is considered VERY important that the head not become chilled at any time!!  The client can then go somewhere and lie down in an relaxing environment for full resolution.  If using oil, leaving the oil on the head for a couple of hours after the treatment allows the healing benefits of the Shirodhara oil to continue.

An traditional Ayurvedic doctor will normally advise the patient on the proper foods to eat and possible medicines to take according to the condition and constitution of the patient post treatment.

Clean Up:
All surfaces and equipment should be completely cleaned and sanitized after the treatment in preparation for the next client or patient.

In the final installment of this series I will discuss several options for performing a modernized Shirodhara.  See you then …. !!

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

The Five Element Theory utilized in Chinese Medicine stems from ancient Chinese philosophy. The five elements are symbolic for the different phases, or primal forces within the universe, nature, and our bodies. Each element is also attributed to a certain personality archetype. Knowing which element(s) predominates our personalities can help further insight into our lives and relationships.

The massage blends below were formulated with TCM 5 Element Theory in mind.  As you may know essential oils have a direct effect on the limbic system thereby altering the emotional and mental qualities of the body mind. In TCM it is believed that emotions relate to different organs in the body and through herbs, oils, color and scents (in addition to acupuncture and other bodywork modalities) we are able to help rebalance.

Prepare the blends below and either choose your scent intuitively (works very well) or take the 5 elements questionnaire online listed at the end of this article.

Enjoy!!

Wood: Yin Meridian Liver and Yang Meridian Gall Bladder. Color geen, a sour taste and a feelings of anger or rage.

1.5 tbsp olive oil
5 drops Lemongrass essential oil
10 drops Ginseng essential oil

Fire: Yin Meridian Heart, Yang Meridian Small Intestines. Color red, a bitter taste and feelings of happiness joy or shock.

1.5 tbsp olive oil
5 drops Rose essential oil
10 drops Cinnamon essential oil

Earth: Yin Meridian Spleen, Yang Meridian Stomach. Color yellow, sweet taste and worry or thoughtful feelings.

1.5 tbsp olive oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops fennel essential oil

Metal: Yin Meridian Lung, Yang Meridian Large Intestines. Color white, spicy taste, and feeling of sorrow.

1.5 tbsp olive oil
5 drops peppermint
10 drops eucalyptus

Water: Yin Meridian Kidneys, Yang Meridian Bladder. Color black, salty taste and feeling of fear.

1.5 tbsp olive oil
5 drops Jasmine essential oil
10 drops chamomile essential oil

Take the online 5 Element Personality Questionnaire here

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

.

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

.

In our modern world of stress and tension any massage therapist can tell you it mostly comes down to neck, shoulders and lower back.  Most people are either “neck and shoulders” OR “lower back” and a few are both (sorry for those guys).

In the videos that follow you will find a basic neck massage routine (Video #1)  followed by a somewhat more advanced approach (Video #2) from our Therapeutic Massage Series at Body Wisdom School.  Both videos are basic entry level techniques that should be within the capability of any trained massage therapist and are offered as a review and for informational purposes and not to replace safe, qualified instruction in a classroom environment.

Hope the videos below will help to make the world a more relaxing place .. heaven knows we all could use a little more relaxation …   Enjoy!!

Video #1: Superficial Layer Neck Massage Techniques

.

Video #2: Second Layer Neck Massage Techniques

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

.

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

.

Overview:
For those of you coming into this 7 part series a little later, allow me to provide a little context.  I am owner of the Body Wisdom Massage School here in Des Moines, Iowa and I have also operated as a global spa trainer and indigenous researcher in South East Asia for a few months out of each of the past few years.  An up and coming spa treatment which you may not have heard of but is very, very popular in today’s destination spas in both the US and abroad is called Shirodhara.  Shirodhara is the pouring of warm oil on the forehead for an extended period of time.  Although is may seem quite odd to the uninitiated it is one of the most relaxing experiences that can be had along with a massage or other spa treatment.  The purpose of this 7 part series is to report on my documentation of this traditional Ayurvedic treatment during my trips to India and in parts 6 and 7 still to come to describe the traditional approach as well as recommended adaptions of the original for today’s spa community.  Part of my work in documenting this treatment is as the current Chair of the Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Task Force on Indigenous Therapies dedicated to documenting and preserving traditional therapies in South East Asia.  See Body Wisdom Global

An introduction to Shirodhara is one of three therapies we teach in our Best of Asia Signature Spa Course here at Body Wisdom, the only one of its kind in the nation.  Best of Asia is just one of several Spa courses we offer at Body Wisdom in addition to European Spa, Hot and Cold Stone Massage and Bamboo Massage to name a few.

If you like take a look at Parts 1-4 to get up to speed on where we are at the moment.
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #1: “Intro.”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #2: “The Droni (table)”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”

We teach the basics of “How to Give a Shirodhara” in the Body Wisdom Best of Asia Spa Course.

OK, now on to the treatment itself (what follows would probably be most interesting to medical anthropologists such as my good friend Carroll Dunham or the global spa industry or individual practiitoners of Ayurveda.)

The Best Time for the Treatment
In India July-August, October-November and February-March are considered to be the best time for Shirodhara. Ideally in whatever climate you find yourself the climatic conditions should be free of excess of wind (drafts) mist (dampness), cold and rain.  Ideally is should be done on an auspicious day according to the Indian calendar and in the morning hours when it is still cool and prior to any meals.

Attendants
In traditional Shirodhara or any kind of Dhara (pouring of oils) the attendants are considered to be a very important aspect of the process.  For traditional Shirodhara three attendants is considered to be the ideal number. This is in addition to the Ayurvedic physician to completely oversee all aspects of the process.  One attendant to reheat the oil to maintain a consistent temperature throughout (since it cools off over the course of the treatment), one to replenish the oil back up into the Shirodhara pot and one to move the Shirodhara pot and the oil stream carefully back and forth across the forehead.

The attendants need to be very well trained, have experience in working together, remain completely focused and have the greatest well being of the patient in their minds throughout the entire treatment.  I have been a witness to and occasionally a recipient of what I could only characterize as a “Shirodhara disasters” both in and outside of India.  As a practitioner and receiver of this amazing treatment I can truly say that the attitude and focus of the practitioners all things being equal is the main determinant of a successful outcome for the patient.

The Ayurvedic Physician
The Ayurvedic physician in attendance should be well versed with the treatment and the patient’s condition and should oversee all aspects of the preparations and delivery of the Shirodhara to see that no mistakes are made.  This includes the equipment, the prescribing of the medicines for internal use before and after the treatment as well as the preparation of the Shirodhara liquids to be used during the Shirodhara.  From a strictly traditional stand the absence of an Ayurvedic physician to be in attendance throughout the treatment would be considered completely wrong!

Other Preparations
Other preparations include a special pillow covered with a plantain leaf (made soft from heating) upon which the patient’s heads rest and which will allow the oil to run off the head in the direction of the collecting well at the head of the table.  A roll of cloth to tie around the head just above the eyebrows to prevent the oil from getting into the eyes of the patient, a transfer pot to collect the oil and reheat and or transfer back into the Shirodhara pot, two or three small cups made of leaves, oil for the Abhyanga massage prior to the treatment, herbal shampoo, Amalaka water for washing the head, greengram for removing the oil from the body and any medicinee to be taken immediately after the treatment and bath.

Medicated Oil for the Head
Medicated oil for the head should be prepared according to the doshas of the patient but generally Bhringamalakadi, Manjishtadi, Asanavilwadi, Triphaladi, Chandanadi and others are used for this purpose.

Medicated Oil for the Body
Traditionally a complete oil massage is given to the patient prior to the Shirodhara itself.  This is done in 7 traditional positions right on the same Droni (table) and medicated oils (tailam) such as Ksheerabala (most often) and Pinda and Dhanwantaram tailams are also used for this purpose.

The Amalaka Water
The Amalaka water is used at the very end of the treatment to pour over the head of the patient. This water is made from ten grams of Amalaka (Embelic myrobalan) seedless which is put in 1800ml of water, boiled and reduced to half.  If there is an excess of Pitta, Vetiver can be added, for Vata type conditions leaves of Bala (Sida cordifolia) and for Kapha conditions Haritaki are also added to the water as per the instructions of the physician.  This water should be prepared the day before and made ready for the treatment.

Warm Water
Warm water should be prepared on the day of the treatment to used to pour over the whole body.  This should be prepared with herbs to reduce Vata by boiling with the leaves of the castor plant or of the Jack tree.  It should not be too hot especially in the case of a Pitta constitution.

Power for Rubbing on the Head:
It is traditional before starting the Shirodhara to rub Rasnadi powder mixed with a little oil on crown of the head.  This the powder most commonly used but other powers such as Kachoradi and Manijishtadi are also recommended.

The Medicine to be Taken Prior to Treatment
In general before any Dhara the common practice was to take Gandharvahastadi kashayam both a laxative and a digestive.  In the case of Pitta is was recommended to rather take a decoction of grapes and haritaki to promote proper evacuation of the bowels.  There are several other medicines that can be given based on the physician’s observation of the Dosha and the tissues involved.  Prior to receiving Shirodhara in India I was never asked to take any medicines beforehand but rather only to come to the early morning treatment with an empty stomach.  Certainly eating before hand would be strictly contraindicated.

Room and Equipment Preparations
It is very important that the room is free from drafts and cold of any kind as this would aggravate the treatment.  The Droni (table) needs to wiped clean and the pillow put in place.  The Shirodhara vessel should be suspended directly over what will be the forehead of the patient and minor adjustments can be made when the patient (client) is resting in place.  The height adjustment should be estimated to so that the wick coming out from the bottom of the Shirodhara pot is approximately two finger widths over the head of the patient.  Make sure that necessary towels cloth for tying around the head are at hand and available.

With all this ground work layed it gets a lot more interesting in the upcoming Part 6 where I will cover the actual traditional treatment and in Part 7 will demonstrate and suggest adaptions that can be made to the traditional to accommodate today’s busy spa world.

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

.

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

One of the exercises from our 58 Hour Business and Marketing Course for Massage Therapists

Everyone knows they need one, but how to come up with one? Here are three easy to do and FUN exercises.

An “Elevator Speech” is good for brief introductions such as when networking or meeting someone for the first time.  Answers the question “what do you do?”

The “I Support by” Model:

I support #1 ________ in their desire to #2 ____________ by means of #3 _________.

#1 Who: Types of People, target audience

#2 What: they want to accomplish, their “needs, desires and goals.

#3 How: you help them get what they want.

I support [people, women, athletes, etc.] in their desire to [reduce stress, feel and look better, stay on top of their game, etc.] by means of [regular massage sessions, massage, exercise and nutrition, regular maintenance massage and injury rehabilitation, etc.].

Samples:

Coaching Example: I support small business owners in their desire to bring more balance into their lives through weekly coaching sessions.

Coaching Example: I work with busy professionals to grow their business with the least amount of time, energy and money.

Massage Example: I support people in this desire to live stress free lives though a regular health maintenance program of massage, exercise and nutrition.

Massage Example: I support people in their desire to become free of debilitating pain though a program of massage and easy-to-do exercises that only take 5 minutes a day.

The “You Know How” Model:

You can create a more informal intro-speech using this model:

You know how name a problem that a target market has?  I tell them about your easy, fast, simple, painless solution.

Coaching Example: You know how everyone seems so busy lately?  I help you to grow your business while FULLY enjoying life!

Coaching Example: You know how sports professionals have invested in themselves with a personal trainer to get on top of their game?  Busy entrepreneurs work with me to stay on top of their business.  They like having a business partner who doesn’t get their profits.

Massage Example: You know how everyone seems so stressed out and busy lately, I help people to relax and enjoy their lives more through a total wellness program of regular massage, nutrition and exercise.

The People Tell Me Model:

People tell me that I name a benefit that you provide or a problem that you solve.

One says ______, while another says _______.

People say that I add value to their lives by ____________.

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

.

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

Written testimonials can be a powerful way to spotlight your product, business or service.  The only problem seems to be that seemingly you need to rely on luck to get just the right relevant content.  This article discusses some of the traditional and non traditional ways of mining for testimonial gold

One of the exercises from our 58 Hour Business and Marketing Course for Massage Therapists

You can simply ask the person to write one up for you. There are a couple of problems with this approach: It seldom gets done. It’s not a real priority for your customer. They may have good intentions, but they are busy. So the job of writing a testimonial for you goes to the very bottom of their to-do list.  You have no control over what the person is going to say or what they may focus on. For example, you may want a statement relating the results that they’ve seen in your organization, but they may write largely about what a pleasure it’s been to work with you.

Another approach is to give the customer an evaluation form to fill out and ask for permission to publish their comments with attribution. There are drawbacks with this approach as well: It seldom gets done. It may be easier to do than writing a letter, but the return rate for evaluation forms is still quite small.  It may not elicit the feedback that you want to get. General feedback questions will get you general responses. Most comments that speak in a general way about the service are not very powerful. The answers may be vague or sketchy. We’ve found that even when we ask very open ended questions, we get very brief responses, often a couple of words or a single sentence. These don’t read well when published.

Probably the best approach is to write the testimonial for your client. I know that it may sound somewhat dishonest, but it’s not. Here’s how you do it.

After you complete the job and the customer’s excitement is at the highest level, follow up with them by phone or in person. You are following up to get their feedback. As you speak to your customer focus the conversation on some of the elements that are most important to you.

Make sure to take notes. Try if you can to capture key points in the customer’s words. You may also choose to record the conversation for future reference.

Then after you are finished the follow up, you can say something to the effect of, “I really appreciate your feedback. You’ve had some great things to say. Do you mind if I get a testimonial from you. I know you’re busy, so here’s what I’ll do to make it easy for you. I’ve taken some notes. I’m going to go back to the office and summarize some of what you’ve told me. I’ll type it up in a Word document and email it to you. If you could print it on your letterhead and send me a copy to use, that would be great. Feel free to edit it or make any changes you feel are appropriate. Would you do that for me?”

Almost everyone agrees. They would like to help you out and you’ve just made it really easy for them. Get the testimonial letter written right away (and I really mean immediately – within the hour) and email it to them. Try to use some of the expressions or wording they’ve used. If you’ve recorded the conversation you can actually use their phrasing or quotes.

Now, all they have to do to give you a testimonial is open your file, look it over and put a piece of paper in the printer. It’s no big deal for them. So you’ll find that you get a fair number of them printed and returned to you.

What’s really great about this approach is you can structure the letter to meet your needs. You can focus on the elements that will be of most interest to future customers. You’ll likely find that most customers will do very little if any editing to your testimonial. So the testimonial will remain largely as you’ve written it.

Be sure to follow up if they don’t respond to your request within a couple of days. Resend the letter with another request.

Sure it takes a little more time …. and if you are not happily engaged with providing your service you will have that time.  Its a great investment that you can use over and over online and off.

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

.

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

We teach the basics of “How to Give a Shirodhara” in the Body Wisdom Best of Asia Spa Course.

Introduction to the Preparation of Medicines and Liquids for Shirodhara:
One of the most unique aspects of Shirodhara is the wide variety of liquids that can be used to treat the various conditions of the patient.  I refer to patient here rather than client or guest because in the traditional sense there neither was nor is the aspect of Shirodhara as a relaxing “spa-like” treatment.  In ancient India right up to today Shirodhara is prescribed by an Ayurvedic physician as a series of treatments for a specific illness or imbalance in the patient. On the other hand of all of the Ayurvedic treatments the spa industry as adopted Shirodhara is the one most in use and enjoyed by thousands of spa-goers world wide.

The purpose of this series of articles is to take a look at the pure traditional process to see how and where we can retain the spirit of the original while adapting this amazing treatment to the restrictions and demands of today’s global spa market and that of individual practitioners.

Types of Shirodhara and Preparations of Medicines

Dharadravam (the liquid for Dhara)
Traditionally the liquid for Dhara was prepared with the utmost care and concern for both the quality of ingredients along with strict methodology for preparation. It is held that the effectiveness of the Dhara depends upon the type and the quality of the liquids selected.

Snehadhara or Talia Dhara (Dhara with oil also called unguents)
The most popular types of unctuous liquids used are oils, ghees, fats and marrows.  These can be used singly or mixed and per the dosha conditions of the patient. The liquids can be used raw or most commonly in India they are medicated.  Medication can be added though boiling with herbs (see how to make an Ayurvedic oil) or by adding medicines in powder or liquid form. If though boiling extreme care mist be taken to ascertain that absolutely no water will remain in the oil which is thought to severely disturb the process. The doctors that I have studied with in India would often heat the oil along with some camphor to remove any remaining water before use.

Most modern spas today choose only one kind of oil to use for all clients like sesame or olive oil.  This would certainly be considered incorrect in the traditional sense as some oils are good for a particular dosha imbalance while others will actually aggravate the imbalance.  The work around is to use a tri-dosha oil that works for all Ayurvedic constitutions.  In general for a Vata constitution which tends to be dry the use of sesame oil will be agreeable.  For a Pitta constitution which is “hot” sunflower or coconut oils are considered to be cooling.  For Kapha constitution which is oily, olive oil or ghee is considered to be better. A good tri-dosha oil combines the benefits of sesame with the lightness of sunflower.  All the different medicines that can be combined to treat the various dosha imbalances are outside the scope of this article and frankly require the attention of an Ayurvedic physician.

Takradhara (Dhara with buttermilk)
This is not simply Shirodhara with raw butter milk as the name might imply but rather butter milk that is mixed with a decoction of Amalaka or other liquid. A bundle of the roots of Musta with the outer skin removed is put in the raw buttermilk with 4X the amount of water (or decoction of Amalaka).  All the water is removed by boiling over a medium heat while being stirred repeatedly though out the process.  As mentioned above if any water remains it is thought to be the cause of many problems so this step is very important.  The bundle of medicines put in the butter milk earlier is squeezed well and removed after the boiling process is over.  In addition to Musta (Cyperus rotundus) other medicinal herbs like Sandal wood, Liquorice and Hribera (Coleus vettiveroides, aka Vetiver) are also put in the milk while boiling as directed by the Ayurvedic physician. In general, Musta alone is thought to be sufficient for most imbalances and diseases.  The whole process is a rather lengthily one when done properly. The reason I mention the traditional process here is to differentiate it from those who would promote the use of buttermilk alone as the original.

Ksheeradhara (Dhara with milk)
For Ksheeradhara warm milk fresh from the cow is used in India. This is very practical since you are never far from a cow in India.  The raw milk can be used alone or prepared with medicines of cold potency like Sandalwood, Vetiver and sometimes Musta.  Sometimes medicines are ground and mixed in with the most common being Borneo Camphor.  Additional herbs may be selected from ginger, aloes, and Marma gulika.  Sometimes according to the Dosha’s buffalo milk is also used.

Other Dhara Liquids
Other Dhara liquids used include tender coconut water, Aranala decoctions and pure water among others.  Since water is plentiful fresh water is added to the put to refill it instead of recycling it as with other Dhara liquids.

The above is a very broad over view. and practices and even preparations can vary from Ayurvedic family to family, village to village and the different geographical locations around India.  Although I do have exact recipes for the mixing of ingredients and preparation of liquids I feel that these are the intellectual property of the indigenous healers of India and not suitable for wide distribution over the internet.

General Benefits (non medical)
Neck and Shoulder Complaints
Stiff Neck
Headaches
Insomnia
Improves Mental Clarity
Improves Memory
Lower Anxiety
Aids in Meditation and Concentration
Calming

Contraindications (not complete, consult your physician)
Pregnancy (any stage)
Low Blood Pressure
Rash, Cuts, Skin Problems
Acute Stage Head or Neck Injury
Head Tremors
Drugs or Alcohol Intoxication

Below are some pics from one of the Ayurvedic Doctors I have studied with in the South of Kerala.

Preparing Raw Herbs to Put in the Milk

In the picture above Dr Jalaja Suresh is teaching me how to prepare Takradhara or Dhara with buttermilk.  She has a small Ayurvedic practice where she specialzes in doing everything very close to the old traditional way which takes a lot of extra time to prepare for her treatments.  Luckily she has a small devoted staff to help with patients and attend to prepare the herbal remedies many of which she makes herself to her exact specifications.  Even in India it is hard to find this level of personal attention to the details of Ayurvedic practice in today’s fast paced world.

Pouring in the Decoction of Amalaka

In the pic above Dr Jalaja and her husband pour the Amalaka decoction that was prepared previously into the raw buttermilk at a ratio of 4 parts to 1 part buttermilk.  They are cooking over a small gas stove as do almost all small Ayurvedic clinics in India.  Proper preparation of medicines and herbal oils traditionally would have been done over a wood fire and often take many days to make a larger batch.

In Part #5 of this series I will describe the final preparations just before treatment Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #5 “Final Preparations for Treatment”

Since I will be referring to Ayurvedic constitution in future posts you may want to discover your Ayurvedic constitution by visiting this site and taking their ‘dosha test”.

Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #1: “Intro.”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #2: “The Droni (table)”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #5 “Final Preparations for Treatment”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #6 “Traditional Shirodhara Technique”

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

.
Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

Composition of the Traditional Shirodhara Pot
One of the most important aspects of a traditional Shirodhara is the Shirodhara pot which needs to be made with great care and understanding.  I am amazed when I see articles on the internet that suggest that a squeeze tube used for basting is an adequate delivery system for Shirodhara instead of a specially designed Shirodhara pot. The traditional Shirodhara pot is actually made of clay much to the surprise of most practitioners.  Yes, a very good pot can be made of copper, brass, silver and even gold but it is said that some liquids used for Shirodhara may not agree with the metals.  This is why many of the most authentic clinics in India still use the clay pots.  However these days many clinics and spas in India have switched to copper or brass or even stainless steel. I myself use both copper and brass and find them both to be very functional and without any problems.

Pictures and text to follow ….

Construction of the Traditional Shirodhara Pot
The original traditional Shirodhara pots made of clay were quite large in volume totaling 5.5 liters but most practitioners these days use a pot with a capacity of approximately 2-3 liters. The sides of the vessel are formed so that the liquid is drawn to the bottom from all sides equally.  A hole is bored in the bottom of the pot and tradition states that the size of the hole should be about the same circumference as the finger of the patient (or the average person in any case).  Strong woven strings or metallic chains are attached to the sides of the pot and the whole apparatus is suspended from the ceiling or better yet a Shirodhara stand specially designed for the process.

Natural Flow Control
A ½ coconut shell of the proper size (usually pretty small) and shape is selected and serrated edges are cut into the edges of the shell and a hole is bored in the center.  Additional flow control is achieved in the traditional method by the addition of plantain leaves that have been first softened by heating and then punctured with holes here and there.  The coconut shell and the plantain leaf combination prevent the flow of the liquid from varying when the pot is moved back and forth and when the liquid is replenished by pouring back into the pot during the treatment.  Different Dhara liquids require different flow control so this ancient system works out quite well.

Note: Modern versions of Shirodhara pots use a valve instead of the traditional method.  Most Ayurvedic doctors would consider this quite improper but the dictates of the modern spa world and Ayurvedic practice outside of India often make use of this time saving and easier-to-use system.  In addition where as most traditional Shirodhara pots are quite wide at the mouth which allows additional liquid (oil in most cases) to be transferred into the top easily, many modern pots are quite narrow at the top.  It is always best to get a pot with as wide a mouth as possible.

The Shirodhara Wick
The purpose of the wick is to provide a surface for the liquid to run down before flowing onto the head of the patient. The wick should be made of a series of soft cotton strings of medium diameter. The strings should be cut to about 12 inches in length so when they are doubled over they will be approximately 6 inches total.  The wick is doubled over and tied to a small stick and then run down though the top of the coconut shell and out the bottom of the pot. There should be four inches extending below the pot and the end of the wick should be placed 2 inches about the head of the patient while lying supine on the droni (table).

(Secret) Shirodhara Wick Trick:
There is an update to the traditional braided strings type of Shirodhara wick for the oil to flow down.  It works like a charm and actually delivers a much better experience since it tends not to clog up so easily.  Take some 2″ or 4″ rolled gauze (you may have to order it since most drug stores have only the pre cut these days) and cut off a piece that is pretty long the first time to experiment with.  Later you will know exactly how long to cut it.  The 2″ makes a smaller diameter wick than the 4″ and it all depends on the side of the hole in the pot.  The twist this piece real tight, fold it and it will magically make itself into a twisted wick of whatever length.  See pictures below with the coconut and the wick combos.

OK, well having said all that here are quite a few pics that illustrate the various kinds of equipment along with some notes.

Droni, Shirodhara Stand and Shirodhara Pot (my personal set up in one of my treatment rooms)

Head of the Droni with Drainage for the Oil

In the pic above note that the head rests on a small pillow (oil proof) and lies in the small semi-circular area at the left side of the pic.  The oil flows onto the forehead and then drains out the top through the small gap, into the collecting bowl and then out the bottom into a transfer pot.  An alternate method used by some practitioners is to put a stopper in the hole and then scoop the oil out with a small cup and back into the Shirodhara pot.  I will discuss all the fine points of the technique in a future post in this series.

Copper Shirodhara Pot with Coconut and Top of Wick

In the pic above notice the serrations that have been cut into the coconut that control the flow of oil towards the center.  The only thing I have not shown here is the addition of the plantain leaves described in the text earlier that offer additional flow control.

Coconut Shell and Wick Bottom

In the pics below and above notice the use of the gauze that has been twisted as described above in the body of the article.  If I was not using this system I would use the braided strings folded over and tied to the top of the coconut with a small stick.

Coconut Shell and Wick Top

…

Shirodhara Stand with Shirodhara Pot Set Up

In the next post I will cover all the different types of medicines and preparations used in various kinds of Shirodhara Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”

Since I will be referring to Ayurvedic constitution in future posts you may want to discover your Ayurvedic constitution by visiting this site and taking their ‘dosha test”.

Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #1: “Intro.”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #2: “The Droni (table)”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #5 “Final Preparations for Treatment”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #6 “Traditional Shirodhara Technique”

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs

When we are speaking of a traditional Shirodhara the first requirement is for the proper table called a Dharapati or Droni.  The making of a proper droni has many requirements starting with the selection of a suitable wood.  In Ayurveda the wood itself it considered to be a part of the healing process. There are many trees that can be used but one of the best is a droni made from wood of the Neem tree which is also used as an herbal remedy in Ayurveda for inflammatory skin conditions, itching and other skin conditions.  On average the droni must be about 80cm wide and 2.5 to 3 meters in length

In the pictures shown you can see the progression from the raw pieces of wood to the nearly finished state.  This process that can take several days when crafted by hand.  These pictures are from a small factory in southern India where I was able to see the process from beginning to end.  There are many kinds of dronis available in India ranging from all kinds of wood and also fiber dronis which are far lighter.  On the last point I have seen some dronis in doctor’s offices that would take four very strong men to pick up because they are that heavy.  I own a fiber droni that I shipped back from India for the reason of portability since I need to take it to the Body Wisdom Massage School when teaching Shirodhara.  Otherwise I would much prefer to have a wooden droni for their increased stability and the beauty and healing properties of the wood.

You will notice when looking at the pictures below that there is a little ledge near the top of the droni.  This is to separate the flow of oil so that when the oil is poured on the head that it drains off and into the collecting basin and not down the table and along side the patient’s (guests) body.  The collecting basin has a hole in the center and the oil then drains out the hole and into a collecting pot where it is then transferred back up to the Shirodhara pot but more on the technique itself in a future post.  You will notice that the dronis are built with the sides higher than the center and there is always some contouring to allow drainage to the sides.  This is to allow the oil when a localized dhara (pouring of oil) is being performed or many other oily treatments like Abhyanga (massage with oil), Pizhichil (dripping of oil on the body) to drain off the body, down the sides and out a hole in the bottom of the table or collected again from the sides and reused.  For these and many other treatments like Udwarthanam (dry power massage) the clean up is quite easy compared to any other method.

Here are a few pictures that I have taken in Kerala of the process.  I consider them all to be my copyrighted work, (please do not steal).  Enjoy … !!

The Raw Materials for Droni

Chipping out the Basic Pattern

Sculpting the Droni with Hand Tools

Almost Done

Example of one type of completed Droni

In my next post (#3) I will talk about the rest of the necessary traditional equipment and set up Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”

Since I will be referring to Ayurvedic constitution in future posts you may want to discover your Ayurvedic constitution by visiting this site and taking their ‘dosha test”.

Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #1: “Intro.”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #2: “The Droni (table)”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #3 “Shirodhara Pot and Stand”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #4 “Preparations of Medicines”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #5 “Final Preparations for Treatment”
Link to How to Give a Shirodhara Part #6 “Traditional Shirodhara Technique”

Please let me know what you are thinking by commenting on this post

Rhett Hatfield, Owner/Director of Education Body Wisdom School
“750-1600 Massage Therapist Certification Programs, 5 Different Career Tracks.” Create your “custom massage certification program” of anywhere from 750-1600 hours of World Class Massage and Bodywork Education.  CEU Programs available

Find out about the Body Wisdom Career Track Program and our list of Program Electives and CEU Programs