COLLEGE lecturer Adele O'Keefe is hoping to get "a head" in the health and beauty business with the publication of her first book all about an ancient Indian art of healing.

Adele, who is head of Bolton College's Hairdressing, Beauty and Holistic Therapies Department, has co-written an 112-page guide to the finer points of Indian Head Massage which is in the shops now.

Entitled Indian Head Massage -- A Practical Guide, the book has been produced in partnership with Adele's opposite number at Preston College, Muriel Burnham-Airey.

The book contains step-by-step instructions and dozens of photographs and diagrams.

And Adele says it will be an invaluable handbook for students as well as an excellent reference source for experienced head massagers.

For the uninitiated, Indian Head Massage has been practised in the East for more than 1,000 years but has recently gained in popularity in the West.

Officially called Champissage, it covers the face, neck and upper shoulder areas of the body -- areas which are believed to hold the most tension.

Adele says the benefits of the practice are in relieving stress, improving blood circulation, relieving eye strain, headaches, sinusitis and insomnia while it is even believed to promote hair growth.

Adele is currently working on her second book which she says will cover a wide range of body massage techniques including sports and baby massage.

And you could learn from the author herself because Bolton College offers a range of Indian Head Massage and other Holistic Therapy Courses throughout the year.