Hands On Shirodhara Treatment - Promolife

9. Pour the contents of the second pitcher into the shirodhara pot. To do this move the vinyl
strip into the empty pitcher. Take the half‐full pitcher off the electric burner and set it down
on a table next to you. Now, quietly set the empty pitcher on the electric burner. Refill the
copper pot with the warm oil from the pitcher that just came off the burner. Do this as quietly
as possible so as not to disturb the client’s meditation.
10. Keep checking the oil temperature during the treatment. As the pitcher on the burner
fills to the halfway point repeat this process. You will likely need to do this every 3 to 4 minutes
until your treatment is over. Generally a shirodhara treatment will run 20 to 30 minutes.
When finished, let the oil run completely out of the copper pot and cover the hole with your
hand to make sure it does not start to drip. Taking the shirodhara pot and the empty pitcher
with you, quietly leave the room.
11. Wash the shirodhara pot and extra pitcher in a different room. Place a quarter size dollop
of dish soap on a damp sponge. Without wetting any of the equipment, rub everything
down with the soap. Rinse and dry.
12. Re‐enter the room. The client may be asleep. Let them know you are there by removing
the towel rolls from the sides of their head. Straighten out the vinyl strip and remove the
washcloth from their eyes. Now you can talk to them and ask them how they are feeling.
Gently squeeze the oil out of their hair. Have them lift their head so you may remove the
towel roll and vinyl strip. Let the vinyl strip rest in the pitcher until ready for cleanup. Use
the large towel under their head to help absorb the rest of the oil out of their hair
13. Take 5 drops of essential oil into your palm. Spray some rosewater into the oil and close
your palms together. Hold your hands just above the clients’ face and encourage them to inhale
deeply. As they exhale, apply the mixture avoiding eye area.
14. Begin Marma Therapy on the face neck and scalp (see Ayurvedic Facial Massage Sequence)
15. Remove the blanket. Tell the client you will be holding up the sheet over your eyes and
they can sit up facing away from you. Wrap the sheet under their arms and around their
body. Come around the table to help them stand up. They may be a little disoriented. Escort
them into the bathroom for their shower. Advise them that it is preferable to leave the oil in
the hair for some time, but if they must remove it to put the shampoo into their hair before
wetting in order to assist removal of all the oil. Thank them and leave them to their shower.
16. Begin the rest of your clean up. Dispose of shirodhara medium (see options for oil disposal
in Appendix.) Wipe the vinyl strip down with a paper towel. Take the second pitcher
and the vinyl strip to the sink. Wash as before, rinse, and dry. Wipe down the stand and massage
table with a dry towel, and then a moist towel with a cleaner like Citra Solve or Simple
Green.