What Can I Expect

Slide into a blissful state of relaxation or even fall asleep when you enjoy an Indian head massage at Reading's Crowne Plaza! There's nothing quite like lying down in the treatment room, closing your eyes and letting the combination of the ambient music and the most gentle of healing touches send you into an almost trance-like state…

This might all sound a little hippy-ish, but in India the subtle art of giving head massages has been practiced for thousands of years, so there must be something in it. And despite the name, it doesn't just concentrate on your head, it's a lot more holistic than that, working from your upper back to your scalp via your shoulders, arms, neck, face and ears.

Shiro Abhyanga, as it's called in India, is a very gentle, yet powerful massage, which is believed to relieve tensions, energise your mind, body and consciousness. Rather than working your joints or muscles like a standard massage, it works by increasing blood flow around your head, which is full of sensitive nerve endings.

In fact, it's very difficult to describe just what it feels like to have an Indian-style head massage, so the best thing you can do is book yourself in for one and find out for yourself just how utterly sumptuous they can be. You might even find the phrase 'magic touch' is pretty accurate when trying to summarise your treatment!

As this is such a calming experience, we highly recommend using all the facilities at this Reading hotel before your head massage. That way you can dive into the fresh waters of the 19m pool, do a few lengths and stretch those muscles, or maybe burn a few calories off in the gym, before rewarding yourself with your therapeutic treatment.

After all that activity and subsequent chilling you out, you might want a quick aperitif in Monty's Lounge Bar before heading off back home, or you can even make an evening of it and make a reservation for dinner at the Caprice restaurant. Who'd have thought an Indian head massage in Reading could be so thoroughly effervescent and yet so soothing at the same time? One of our favourite spa treatments.

When Is It Available

• Available on Mondays to Fridays and Sundays throughout the year, subject to availability
• The spa is closed from the 1st December - 31st December

Suitable For

• Minimum age 18