Dec 31

Written by:
Thursday, December 31, 2009 

Have you had chair massage lately? It felt great, didn't it? Many people typically receive anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes of chair massage in different settings such as health fairs, fitness centers, homes, pamper parties, places of employment, spas, etc. Human resource departments love it as a perk for employees. Non-profit organizations frequently use chair massage on volunteer appreciation days. Individuals reward themselves for working out, participating in an events such as charity walks, and sometimes the reason is "just because". With the usual customary rate for portable chair massage being $1.00 per minute, this service is definitely a bargain.

If you have not had experienced chair massage yet, you need to know that one of the major benefits is that it relieves stress. It is a powerful, inexpensive service that is a nice complement to a healthy lifestyle.

For those who have had chair massage before, imagine the feeling you had afterwards being heightened. Please don't panic. You do not have to take off your clothes. The use of other tools can create a different chair massage experience. Sometimes chair massage may begin to feel a little stale or routine so it's nice to enhance the experience. We all know that variety is the spice of life!

During the winter months people instinctively tend to hunch over trying to protect themselves from the weather. In addition, people spend a lot of time on the computer and may develop poor posture. Other daily activities, such as parents carrying children or the simple act of driving, create tension and tightness in the body. Unfortunately, the neck and upper back tend to be the most common areas affected.

A little gentle heat to relax the neck and shoulders is useful, and incorporating hot stone massage brings welcome warm relief. The heated stones heat the therapist's hands and allow the therapist to gauge if the stone is too hot for the client. The stones are gently pressed onto the client's neck and shoulder through clothing. Sometimes clients like to just hold the warm stones in their hands.

An alternative method to providing heat involves the use of lava shells, which are actually Tiger clam shells from the South Pacific. These portable shells from the Philippine Islands are an excellent tool for hand massage. The shell ridges are helpful in working between the fingers. Some clients enjoy the addition of cream, lotion, or oil with the heat of the shells. The heat from the shells is great for loosening up tight hands. While the hot stones are effective over clothing or on bare skin, the shells are used on bare skin only. While stones can remain stationary or be moved around, the shells are always kept in motion.

This winter when you see that massage chair, see if there's something new for you.