An Indian massage at Olive Spa starts with a seated Indian head massage for the scalp, neck, shoulders and face, then warm oil for the back and legs, from AED 120 for 60 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Best when tension sits in your head, neck and shoulders
- Hair oil is optional, so you can leave with dry hair
- Pick 60, 90 or 120 minutes; longer means more time on the back
How we work: You choose whether your hair is oiled before the head massage begins.
Further reading: Head massage (Wikipedia)
What is an Indian massage?
The short answer: In everyday language, “Indian massage” can mean many things, because India has many regional massage traditions. At Olive Spa we use the name for one clear treatment with two parts:
- Indian head massage (champi). The word champi, from Hindi, is the root of the English word “shampoo”. For generations, families across India have oiled and massaged each other’s hair and scalp at home. In the 1970s this family habit was developed into a structured therapy, often called champissage, covering the scalp, neck, shoulders, upper arms and face.
- A warm-oil body massage. After the head massage, you lie down for steady, medium-pressure work on the back, shoulders and legs with warm oil.
The result is a session that gives as much attention to your head, neck and shoulders as most massages give to your back.
Duration and price
| Treatment | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Indian massage | 60 minutes | From AED 120 |
| Indian massage | 90 minutes | AED 180 |
| Indian massage | 120 minutes | Ask us when you book |
Prices are the same for hotel guests and visitors. Indian massage can be booked any day from 9:00 AM to 3:00 AM.
The Indian head massage, step by step
The first part of the session usually takes place with you seated comfortably, fully clothed from the waist up apart from your shoulders, with a towel around you. Your therapist works through a familiar sequence:
- Shoulders and upper arms. Kneading and pressing across the top of the shoulders and down the upper arms, where tension from typing and driving collects.
- Neck. Gentle squeezing and thumb pressure up the back of the neck to the base of the skull.
- Scalp. Rhythmic rubbing, circular pressure and light tapping through the scalp, with or without oil.
- Face. Soft pressure around the temples, eyebrows, cheeks and jaw, an area many of us clench without noticing.
You may feel the difference early on: the jaw softens, the shoulders drop and breathing slows.
Your Indian massage, step by step
- Book 60, 90 or 120 minutes, and say whether you want oil in your hair.
- Come up a little ahead of time (about 10 to 15 minutes) on the 1st Floor of V Hotel Fujairah.
- Consultation about pressure, tension areas and health notes.
- Seated head massage: shoulders, upper arms, neck, scalp and face.
- Then the table: warm-oil work on the back and legs.
- Rest, shower and tea in the relaxation lounge.
The techniques used in an Indian head massage
The head massage part of the session uses a small set of traditional movements, done while you sit upright and relaxed:
- Shoulder kneading to warm the muscles where tension tends to collect first.
- Neck strokes along the back and sides of the neck, with gentle pressure at the base of the skull.
- Scalp work with the fingertips in slow circles, plus light friction across the scalp, with or without oil.
- Face and temples, finished with soft pressure around the forehead and jaw if you would like it.
After the seated part, you move to the table for warm oil massage on the back and legs. The pressure is medium and can be adjusted at any time.
Who usually chooses an Indian massage?
- Office and remote workers with stiff necks and tired eyes after long hours at a screen.
- Drivers and commuters who spend hours holding a steering wheel on the drive to and from Dubai, Sharjah or Kalba.
- Students during exam season who feel it in their head and shoulders.
- Guests who grew up with champi at home and miss a proper head and hair massage.
- First-time spa guests who feel more comfortable starting seated and partly clothed.
When the tension sits in your head and shoulders
Some days the tiredness is not in your legs or back. It is behind your eyes, across your forehead, along the top of your shoulders and up the back of your neck. Hours of screens, phone calls and driving on the E89 and the coast road all leave their mark there first.
An Indian massage is designed for exactly that. It starts where the tension lives, with a traditional Indian head massage, and then moves down to the back and legs with warm oil. At Olive Spa, on the 1st Floor of V Hotel Fujairah, the seated head massage is always the first part of the session.
Oil in your hair, or not?
The short answer: Traditionally, an Indian head massage uses oil, and the hair is left oiled for a while afterwards. That is lovely on a day off, but not ideal if you are going straight back to work or out to dinner. So you choose:
- With oil: the most traditional version. Plan to shower and wash your hair afterwards; shampoo is available at the spa.
- Without oil: the same movements done dry through the hair, so you can leave looking as you arrived.
Tell us your preference when you book, or during your consultation.
Clothing for an Indian massage
For the head massage you can keep your clothes on; we provide a towel or wrap for the shoulders. For the body part, you undress to your own comfort level and lie under a sheet, with disposable underwear provided. Your therapist leaves the room while you change. Remove earrings, hair clips and glasses before the head massage, and tie back long hair afterwards if you have chosen oil.
How long should your session be?
The short answer: In 60 minutes, roughly the first third is the head massage and the rest is back and legs. If you want both a generous head massage and unhurried work on the back and legs, choose 90 or 120 minutes. If your head and shoulders are the main problem, ask your therapist to spend most of the time there.
When to check with us or your doctor first
Head and neck massage is gentle, but please tell us if you have a recent head or neck injury, migraines that pressure can trigger, a scalp condition, high or low blood pressure, epilepsy, or if you are pregnant. We may adapt the session or suggest something else. Massage is for relaxation and wellbeing and is not a medical treatment.
Helpful guides
At a glance
- Starts with
- Seated Indian head massage (champi)
- Then
- Warm oil on back and legs
- Pressure
- Medium
- Hair oil
- Optional
- Price
- From AED 120 for 60 minutes
- Best for
- Screen fatigue, tight neck and shoulders
Book your Indian massage in Fujairah
If your head feels busy and your shoulders feel tight, this treatment is a good place to start.
To book your session, use our online form, call +971 54 594 0701 or +971 50 271 8276, or send a message on WhatsApp. Unsure about oil in your hair? Ask us before you book.