Purchasing a massage chair is similar to purchasing your first car. It is important to buy it from a manufacturer that has a proven track record, offers reliable customer support, and a good product warranty (3 years is the standard).

So, what it is the top massage chair brand?

Well the answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might think. There is no such thing as a perfect massage brand, but if you select one that has an established good reputation in the industry it will mean you are one step ahead of the game.

Let’s rundown the leading brands in the marketplace along with what their unique selling propositions are (or in other words, what makes them stand out from the crowd).

Panasonic

Among the industry leaders in robotic systems and home appliances, Panasonic has been dominating the massage therapy chair market as well with products aiming to replicate the sensation of human touch.

The way they attempt to achieve this is through adhering to three robotics principles: Technique, Brain and Sense. The concept ‘Sense’ just means that they engineer their chairs so that they are responsive to the user’s needs.

For example, the Panasonic MA73 chair features various massage settings that can be adjusted for coverage and intensity. In addition, it is one of just a couple massage chairs that has memory settings that make it possible for users to save all of their favorite massage series.

Although Panasonic is based in Japan, it is very important to know that they manufacture some of their chairs in China to save on costs. However, Panasonic does assure consumers that they oversea their operations and their massage chairs are engineered and designed in Japan which means the quality stays first-rate.

Inada

Touted to be the best massage chair in the world, Inada has lived up to consumer’s expectations on a consistent basis. Apart from its many accolades in the industry, Inada massage chairs are renowned as an industry leader and trailblazer.

The granddaddy of all chairs is the Inada Sogno. The chair features innovative body styling, shoulder air bags, Dreamwave technology in the chair’s seat, arm massage and 3D massage technology.

Inada is the oldest of the manufacturers (the company opened for business in 1962), and continues to outperform the competition not just in Japan where 15% to 22% of all households have a massage chair), but in the U.S. as well where the market continues to grow at a steady pace.

For example, the new massage therapy chair called Inada Dreamwave, is an incredible hugging machine that features 1,200 square inches worth of body coverage – which is the most of all massage chairs. In addition, it features unique infrared technology that scans the back so that it can deliver relaxing massages in the parts where massage is most needed.

The Inada YuMe is a zero-gravity recline and shiatsu chair combination. YuMe utilizes innovative Rotary Rocker Technology, and is the world’s only and first rocking chair.

Osaski

For individuals who have a mid-range budget (under $3,000), they should definitely check out what Osaki offers. The company is based in the state of Texas, but its massage chairs are made in China, which is why they are less expensive.

Despite the widespread misconception that Osaki is a Japanese company, it continue to aim for excellence. The company’s massage therapy chairs are renowned for having mechanical foot rollers that are very relaxing. Heading the list are the new OS-4000T, OS-3D Pro Dreamer and OS-7075R.

The Osaki OS-4000 has received high praise for its computer body scan and two-stage zero-gravity features, which are things you usually only see on chairs that are more expensive.

Human Touch

With numerous accolades and over 35 years of research, Human Touch is one of the leaders of the massage therapy chair industry.

The aim of these chairs is replicating a therapist’s “human touch” through world-class designs and patented systems which have received many Design Excellence awards from the Design Journal Awards (ADEX).

The robotic massage chairs from Human Touch are the only chair that are tested and recognized by the World Federation of Chiropractic. That means that professionals approve the Human Touch series and are considered to be an effective supplement to various back care therapy methods.

Infinity

The Infinity Therapeutic Massage Chairs, although not launched until 2009, are slowing becoming one of the industry’s best-sellers, which is backed by reputable and reliable customer service, starting with pre-sales support all the way through post-sales technical help.

Infinite Therapeutics manufactures the chairs. This is a company that is part of Infinite Creative Enterprises (I.C.E.), which has 20 years of experience already.

It is stated on their website that the company is comprised of a management team that has a combined 60 years worth of experience in supply chain logistics, manufacturing and product design.

Infinity chairs are renowned for combining aesthetics and cutting-edge technology. One of its most popular products, the Infinity Iyashi, is the only massage chair that we have seen that has a 49-inch roller track that extends down your buttocks. Most popular brands lack this feature.

Your vet may be able help you massage your dog in a firm and practiced manner, but for those that want to try it out at home here are some basic steps.

Make sure that your dog is on a firm but soft surface, like a carpeted floor. Starting at the head, gently move your hands in soft, slow strokes down to the tail.

As your dog begins to relax you can gently rub around the ears, forehead, cheeks, under the chin, over the nose and between the eyes.

Using a gentle, but firm circular motion, move slowly down over the neck, shoulders and chest.

Feel the difference between areas that have thick muscle beneath the fur, like chest, and areas that have very little, like the nose. You can use a stronger massage on areas that have muscle, but you must be gentle with areas that don’t.

Starting at the top of the foreleg, gently squeeze down the length a couple of times. If the dog is not afraid of having their feet handled you can very gently massage the paw in a similar manner to your own hand. Gently rubbing the padded areas and stroking from the wrist joint down to the toenails.

Move back up to the neck, and stroke from the head to the tail two or three times, with a firm hand. Imagine the dog were wet and you were trying to slick the water out of his coat. Slow but firm strokes.

Now placing your hands over the thicker muscles on either side of the spine, and using a strong circular motion start moving down the spine towards the base of the tail.

Going lower, start at the thicker muscles on the chest, and using the same strong circular motions, massage back towards the tail once more. This time massaging the outside of each thigh.

Gently squeeze down the hind legs as you did with the forelegs, likewise massaging the hind paws.

Finish by lightly stroking the dog’s entire body, starting at the nose, and moving back to the tail. If the dog does not mind, continue down the length of the tail and every paw.

The best massage chair in the market is said to be made of leather. Leather is a very durable and flexible material that could last longer than other upholstery materials. Even though it is beautiful and elegant, the main challenge of maintaining the aesthetics of a leather massager is to clean it without causing any damage to its surface. Maintaining a leather massager could be a pretty challenging task, but if done properly you can be assured that it would definitely last for the years to come.

Prior to cleaning your leather massage chair, make sure that you know what type of leather you are working with. This information is written on the tag attached to your massager, or if you can’t find such information you could contact the manufacturer to know the leather detail. You must also be aware that almost all manufacturers of these massaging tools include tips on how you should clean your massager. Hence, it would be more advisable to follow these tips first before you actually use other cleaning procedures for your leather massage tool.

Basic cleaning of a leather massager chair could be carried out using a gentle moisturizing soap and soft cloth. Upon doing this procedure, try not to over saturate your massager with moistness and never rinse it with water; always put in mind that your massage tool is made up of mechanical materials that could corrode and electrical items that could pose dangers like electrocution and fire. What you should do is to wipe your leather massager with damp cloth to remove excess soap. It is also important to dry dust your massager at least twice or thrice a week using a dusting broom, or if you have a vacuum cleaner attach a soft brush to it and use it to dust your massager.

Of course, your leather massage chair could acquire stains unintentionally especially if there are children around the house. When removing stains try to test a small amount of cleaning agent in an inconspicuous area of your massage chair and if color changes occur do not use such cleaner to remove the specific stains from your massager. For ink stains, dab a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and lightly rub it to the affected area, then using a blow drier set at a minimum, dry your massager. For blood, food drippings and other dark stains make a paste using a part of tartar and lemon juice and rub it to the area; leave it for about ten minutes and remove the cleaning agent using a damp rag and moisturizing soap, then buff with dry cloth.

Your leather massage chair could also acquire grease and newspaper stains. What you have to do is to wipe the grease stain using a dry cloth and never use water to remove such stain, and for the newspaper mark spray the area with aerosol spray and immediately wipe with soft cloth. Try to avoid using abrasive cleaners on you leather massager including ammonia-based cleaners, bleach, varnish, saddle soap, and alkaline cleaners as these agents could certainly ruin the aesthetics of your massager. As much as possible keep your massager away from direct sunlight, heat, and air conditioning sources to prevent it from fading, cracking and drying.

Always take into account that even the best massage chair requires regular cleaning in order to maintain its functionality and aesthetic appeal. Once you’re able to utilize appropriate cleaning agents and procedures over your leather massager, you would definitely lengthen its service life. However, if you are still not sure what cleaning process you should use or if your tool is in need of serious cleaning, do not hesitate to seek the assistance of a professional to clean your massager for you.

Nakedness and what it evokes is a real issue for bodywork therapists, especially female therapists because of how some clients, men or women, will use the massage session to display sexual behavior.

For this article we are not dealing with how bodywork therapists and massage persons can attempt sexuality with their clients, but only about clients displaying sexuality during the session.

I speak as a former Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Relationships counselor in the State of California, USA. I have done bodywork myself as part of the therapy I do. I have had many years of bodywork done with me, as well as a number of training courses in bodywork therapy.

I speak from counseling massage therapists in my own practice. I also am familiar with psychotherapy for sexual uses, including therapeutic sexual massage that is effective.

Sexual massage is more practiced outside the United States than in the States because of severe sexuality issues and attitudes in the United States differing from Canada and Europe.

Here is a sexual issue example:

A man asks the woman massage therapist over the phone: do you include the genitals in your massage work? This is rather direct. The presenting problem may be more, do you work with sexual problems as part of your massage work?

How is a male or female massage therapist to respond? Is this a sexual come-on? Or is this a cry for help?

A massage therapist comfortable with their own sexuality may be willing to take on a client who does have sexual problems. Many females are upset that they cannot orgasm. Males may easily get erections, but while in a woman be unable to orgasm.

It would be unusual indeed if at least half the people who come in for massage treatment do not have sexual problems. What is the massage body-worker to do?

Some forms of massage do include massaging the naked body of the client, with a towel over the pelvic region or not. Other forms work with light clothing on and consist more of stretching movements.

Rolfing works with the naked body so as to see the alignment. There is hardly a chance in this form to feel pleasure responses because Rolfing itself is to break up muscles and facia that have been emotionally tense for years, and so the work can be extremely painful.

It is rare that a male client will directly attack a female massage therapist, but it is still considered good practice not to give massage to persons you do not know fairly well in places where you have no protection should you need to call for help.

WARNING – It is the generally accepted practice to never work alone with a massage client in a building alone. Always work were there is someone who knows you within calling distance. Work where your live-in partner is at home next room over, or in a building with other therapists or businesses.

Once I did a screaming session with a member of a therapy group in a new place and the motor car salesmen and manager from downstairs came running up and loudly banged on the door. They thought someone was being murdered. We had not told them yet that we did therapy with people!

Of course a male client may not tell you he has sexual problems on the phone, but just come in and then tell you.

ISSUE EXAMPLE – The Man Who Spontaneously Orgasmed

– Was this on purpose? And how should the therapist handle it?

One female massage therapist reported to me about a male client who would get an erection every time and have spontaneous orgasm. She never touched his genitals. She had to have a box of tissues nearby so that he could clean himself up. This was Essalen massage combined with Shiatsu pressure-point massage, which deals especially with freeing blocks in the body.

The male client did not try to have sex with her or get her to touch his genitals. Was this a genuine case of being too orgasmic? What would be the best treatment?

I advised her to instruct her male client to practice full-body awareness as he was being massaged.

Indeed, a chief value for anyone being massaged in many different styles of massage is to relax totally into sensual, bodily awareness. Some fall asleep during this relaxation, which is not necessarily healing for the client but acceptable.

For this male client orgasming he was either impressed with his ability to orgasm spontaneously without touching himself, and needed a female to witness this, or he was indeed a seducer. However, what if he simply was by nature a spontaneous orgasm type male?

Let’s deal with seducers first!

Men who fixate on being seducers are only interested in getting a female so open to them through their ways of seduction that they do succeed with having intercourse with her.

Thus some men have developed a seduction technique and try to make it work to perfection on female massage therapists. They are not interested in an ongoing life relationship. They want only seduction and conquest and are willing to pay the massage fees to set up these kinds of situations.

To my knowledge with the female massage therapists I have known, they were never trained through role-playing in how to handle seductive clients.

The massage therapist should keep a massage session always on a professional level with a client, not just for reality reasons of keeping one’s license to practice, but to keep the massage situation objective and therapeutic.

With the man who spontaneously orgasmed while his body was being massaged he was emotionally and physically too focused on his erect penis and its ability to display and spray sperm.

So what, we might say. The therapist has to accept many peculiarities with clients, whether it is a massage session or not.

I also counseled the massage therapist to take the first five or ten minutes to talk objectively about the client and his behavior. How does it feel to orgasm here? Are you making it happen? Is it spontaneous? What happens with your own lovers?

These simple questions make the client an object of treatment. They de-potentiate the session of its potential sexuality. The female therapist asserts her professional role as a helper and not a partner. Things are kept within structure. The client is made to feel responsible for his own behavior.

In this real-life example, when my friend, the massage person, made the massage sessions objective as suggested, the man stopped coming. The object to seduce the therapist was no longer possible.

Of course, unconsciously, some do get fixated on seducing mother or father substitutes as a way of ‘getting back, getting even,’ an unconscious power-play that makes the seducer feel dominant in self-esteem, whether truly so or not.

ISSUE – EXAMPLE – The Man Who Spontaneously Orgasmed During Massage Who Was Not A Professional Seducer

The first edition of this article has in its first year been tremendously popular, and as author I have wondered why. Could it be that there are enough men and some women out there who do spontaneously orgasm while receiving a massage? One concerned man about the first edition of this article thought it implied that someone who spontaneously orgasmed was a seducer.

I thank him for giving his concern and I revise this article here to make it clear that for those who spontaneously orgasm, male or female, IT MAY BE A SOCIAL PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT WRONG, NOR EVEN A SEXUAL PROBLEM. NOR SHOULD YOU BE CONSIDERED A SEXUAL SEDUCER OR PERVERT.

Sorry for the implications I made in my original article. And many thanks to the reader who voiced his concern with me.

I would suggest that all massage body-workers have paper tissues, or even clean hand towels available, if a male or female spontaneously orgasms. Approach such a situation with positive feeling, acceptance and awareness.

“Oh, it looks like you have had a spontaneous orgasm. Don’t worry about it here. Massage is meant as relaxing, and sometimes this happens, and can happen with most anyone. Would you prefer paper tissue or a hand towel to clean yourself up.”

“I feel ashamed to do it in front of you. It just happens . . .”

“We can talk about it if you like. Massage is for knowing your body better and accepting it. Relaxing and letting go is a process of self-awareness and accepting your own body.”

“Thanks, I’ll take the towel. Maybe if you don’t look for a moment.”

“Fine.”

“Why does it happen?”

“Try not to stay in your head as you receive my massage. To let go means letting go control, and that may mean pleasure feelings start happening, including with your genitals. If you feel an orgasm rising, just say so to me as I massage you, and see what happens. You are learning self-acceptance of your body.”

“Does that mean you will massage my genitals?”

“I don’t do genital work in directly touching your genitals. But I am certainly not against your having orgasms as part of your process. Are we clear? Or do you have any questions still?”

“Let’s get on with it.”

FOR THE CLIENT WHO SPONTANEOUSLY ORGASMS

Of course, it is your process that is important, however it happens. But why not pre-select the massage body-workers you work with?

Simply tell them on the phone, or in person is better, that you sometimes spontaneously orgasm and it embarrasses you. Ask that person you are meeting for the first time, how they might handle such a situation with you. Then make your decision on the spot, saying you will try out a session or not. You are buying the service. It is your right and necessity to feel safe with the person you work with.

Tell that person that you feel either safe or unsafe with them. Be honest and straightforward. Reality is best. Reality is healing.

ISSUE – The Massage Therapist’s Responsibility

The bodywork therapist is also responsible for the effects of her treatment with any of her clients. A bodywork therapist should not think of themselves as just giving a good massage. The effect on the client is also their responsibility.

Thus I have counseled therapists on the issue: can you as a therapist handle this behavior on the part of a client and work with it to some resolution?

If you are a real therapist of course you want to take on challenges and handle every situation. But can you?

Working on the body is often a temptation to be or feel sexual. Relationships have started up between client and therapist, and always will, such is the human condition.

It is important to keep the therapeutic situation non-sexual, unless you are trained in sexual massage therapy and can practice this form, certainly a developing form in Europe and even America, despite repressive attitudes everywhere.

Thus our advice is to keep defining your boundaries as a massage therapist. It will not be just acting out sexuality that you will sometimes be dealing with. Other clients may be more into anger and you will have to structure your relation to this other great instinct as well.

We have raised some issues here. Instead of giving rigid rules we have explored the issues in terms of their human meaning and trying to be the best massage therapist you can be. You know full well it is more natural than unnatural to face the issues of human sexual feelings and expression inherent to living in a body, your body, and the bodies of your clients.

When faced with unusual or intense situations in your practice, do your best to bring the dynamics into reality.

The Man Who Never Came Back – Some Questions

Remember the man who used spontaneous orgasms to seduce?

Was he then just a seducer, using as his field of available women female massage therapists, some of whom might well be seduced by his genital expression?

He exhibited seductive innuendoes in his conversation.

Or did he simply get the point that maybe he could get over his fascination with his own behavior and seek intimacy with a sexual partner he also ate dinner with, showered with, and slept in bed with.

For in the end much of sexual expression is the expression of the need for bonding and intimacy with another human being. The goal of most massage therapy is not simply bodily expression but body-awareness that is relaxing, pleasurable most of the time, and balanced in its expression, sex, sports, sensual expression, caring, anger expression, whatever.

Sexual Expression

Why do we all mostly seek sexual expression?

Ah, you want to know everything, don’t you?

So do I!

Right now I am working with the concept that at essence we are all seeking sexually to have tremendously intensified sexual experiences to know and to maximize our experience of existing.

We exist but we want to know that directly as experience of existing.

But more on that elsewhere!

Feel free to visit our web sites and explore.

Breath in, breathe out and Relax…

After a long day or week at work one of the best things is to be able to take some time out and recuperate. One of the most known things about our lifestyles in this modern age is that a lot of people are under stress; with work deadlines, busy social lives and even more demanding family lives, your body creates tension and the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is known to contribute to the lack of sleep, weight gain, digestive issues and headaches. Massage therapy is known to reduce these levels of cortisol within the body, therefore contributing to the improvement on relaxation, improving mood and reducing the level of stress on the body. As well as reducing these stress levels, regular massages can assist overall physical and mental well-being.

Reduces stress, tension, anxiety and depression

The body can work in many different ways, and the build-up of stress through our daily lives is often one of these results. The decreasing of this emotional and physical distress is important in order for us to help improve our personal wellbeing and health. As your bodies stress levels increase, so does the hormone which your body produces, cortisol. When you receive a sixty minute massage, these cortisol levels are known to reduce, while at the same time the bodies anti-pain hormone serotonin levels start to increase. This change within the hormones your body releases, asssit and helps you fight off pain, anxiety and feelings of sadness.

It is known that the emotional benefits from massages are equally as important as the physical. A massage helps offer a relaxing and peaceful environment, so you are able to refocus and find clarity. It often helps an individual connect through mind and body. The nurturing touch, assists with the need for human contact, bringing alongside, a sense of calm and inner tranquillity. These are all factors which can work towards helping relieve the tension and stress levels in the body.

Lower blood pressure

It has been found that regular massage and consistent sessions can help decrease blood pressure over time. With the reduction of the cortisol levels, comes a possibility to help regulate the bodies mood and reduce anxiety triggers, tension and depression. Massage therapy is often used for pre-hypertension. Long term studies have shown that a massage program can help reduce specific types of blood pressure by reducing cortisol stress-hormones levels, and therefore decreasing depression and anxiety as well as other further benefits.

Relax muscle tension

One of the main reasons why people opt for massages is to help reduce painful muscle tension, by eliminating those tensions and knots within the muscles. Massaging the tension of muscles and joints by reducing swelling helps the body to be able to relax overall. The technique used to reduce these swellings and joint pains can help increase the amount of nutrition’s and oxygen delivered to the affected area. This increase of activity to the tissues helps with stiffness and swelling in the muscles and the joints, while doing so the flexibility to the area minimises pain. The use of massage therapy releases endorphins that in turn boosts dopamine and serotine levels. The release of these hormones assist the body in many ways including physically as well as mentally.

Improve circulation

The improvement of circulation in the body often contributes to a snowball effect if regular massages are had. Moving rich healthy blood to the damaged tissue. The use of hands on pressure on the body can improve its blood circulation by moving blood through the damaged and congested tissue and muscles. Realising the pressure on the muscles helps new blood flow into these areas of tissue. Another benefit of massage therapy is that the movements and muscle manipulation increases the lactic acid within the muscles. This then results in the balancing of the lymph fluid circulation. This system helps carry metabolic waste from the internal organs and muscles; improving overall body function.

Stand up tall, improve your posture

When you get a massage, whether it is a full body massage or just the head, neck and shoulders, the body has the opportunity to relax, release tension and increase motion. Often when you have had a bad posture this release of tension and the muscles have a chance to relax. When the muscles relax your body is able to reposition itself in its natural corrected position. Massaging also helps with easing the pressure on joints. Depending on the type of massage you receive, the masseuse may be experienced in muscle manipulation, helping to relieve the knots and manipulate the pressure within the skeleton and help stretch your body out and realign, helping to improve your posture. Specialist massages such as these should be taken under professional guidance and you should seek advice from a chiropractor who has extensive knowledge in the field before proceeding with such activities.

Strengthen immune system

During our busy lifestyles, the implications of stress on the body partnered with poor nutrition and bad sleep patterns can take a massive toll on our bodies and the immune systems natural defense Along with all of the different benefits which we have explored so far in this article, another benefit of massage therapy is the effects it can have on an individuals immune system. We are all familiar with the positive attributes it has towards a persons wellbeing and overall mood, but it is also known to help the immune system. Massage can help fight common cold and flu symptoms as well as improve the way in which the immune system functions. Such massages as Swedish massage techniques are known to decrease Arginine Vasopressin, a hormone related to aggressive behaviour as well as the hormone cortisol (stress hormone) earlier discussed. Such benefits and ways in which regulate the nervous system, stimulating the circulatory system and lymphatic systems. It also helps alleviate arthritis and sciatica pain.

Helps with sleep

In order for your body to function at its optimal levels, and for you to be at your personal healthiest and for wellbeing, it is imperative for you to get enough sleep. It is advised that adults get a total of 7hours a night in order to achieve this, while children are dependent on age, but are more than adults. When your body does not achieve these levels of sleep, although you may think you are fine, your body in fact is not going to perform at the best levels in all areas. Such symptoms of lack of sleep your body may display include low working performance, slower reaction times, and fatigue issues, and furthermore result in lower moods and overall well-being.

It is often recommended that nutrition and exercise is incorporated into an individual’s lifestyle, and sleep quality is one of those factors. The release of cortisol from the body and the tensions within the muscles during a massage help relieve the recipient’s aches and pain, helping with the built up stress. The calming atmosphere and often essential oils help reduce the bodies stress levels, both contributing to the relaxation of a massage. With frequent massage therapy, the body is known to be able to deal with stress better, and therefore leading to a better, more peaceful nights sleep.

English Massage Therapist Saves Careers

In a recent survey conducted by English Massage therapist and trainer Gerry Pyves, a startling statistic was revealed:

‘88% of Massage Practitioners who have been practising for more than two years and massage 5 or more clients a week indicated that they could be suffering from injury.’

Even more worrying to the Massage profession was the finding that:

‘98% of Massage Therapists who have been practising for 10 years or more and massage 10 or more clients a week indicated that they could be suffering from injury.’

Gerry was prompted to create this survey after his own Massage career nearly came to a premature end when he sustained severe hand and wrists injuries caused through Massaging his clients. These injuries led him to create an alternative form of Massage known as NO HANDS® Massage that does not rely on the hands and wrists to create deep invigorating massage strokes. This saved his Massage career, after which he began to teach what he had discovered to other bodyworkers so that they never had to endure the type of injuries that could prematurely end their Massage career.

In the last 15 years Gerry has taught hundreds of therapists how to avoid injury caused by repetitive Massage. In the months of February and March 2007 he personally taught NO HANDS Massage to over 350 therapists in the UK – a record number. He also teaches regularly in Taiwan where he has featured on national television news.

In order to alert the Massage profession to the dangers they face and how to save their careers, Gerry has written the book ‘Protect Your Massage Career’. This ground breaking book presents the findings of the survey he conducted amongst Massage therapists. He proves that there is a very real threat of injury to every Massage therapist.

Gerry explains the ‘Seven Stages of Injury’ model – from Stage One where little or no discernible symptoms are felt, to Stage Seven – permanent career-ending disability. He reveals strategies that can be used to prevent therapists reaching Stage Seven.

What surprises and concerns Gerry is how few Massage training schools alert their students to the injury dangers and how to avoid them.

In today’s compensation-culture society the book looks into the legal responsibilities of Massage employers and training schools. Already there has been a landmark case brought against Virgin Airlines by a person employed to massage air passengers. The court was told that her repetitive strain injuries were caused by the ‘ abnormal posture’ of doing the massage on seated clients and doing it too frequently.

Virgin Atlantic admitted it was at fault for failing to assess the perils involved and Mr Justice Tugendhat ordered it to pay the employee £109,252 for loss of earnings, pain and suffering, plus costs.

The firm has also paid £26,000 in an out-of-court settlement to another injured beauty therapist.

How has the situation come about where so many Massage therapists find themselves injured? Gerry traces the historical development of Swedish massage. His research finds that the person credited with founding the Massage that became known as ‘Swedish Massage’, Per Henrik Ling, used Massage as part of a holistic therapeutic approach. He rarely Massaged his clients for more than a few minutes at a time. This meant that his hands and wrists never received prolonged repetitive pressure. Gerry’s conclusion is that therapists were never meant to use the traditional Swedish massage techniques for extended periods of time.

The ‘Protect Your Massage Career’ book is a part of the ‘Let Your Massage Fly!’ ebook trilogy. The other two volumes in the series are ‘Building a Successful Practice! – a guide to building a Massage Practice – and ‘Massage in the Workplace’ a short book that therapists can give to their clients as a way to promote their business.

The books are available as downloadable PDF files from the website:

http://www.letyourmassagefly.com

For further information about Gerry’s NO HANDS Massage Company go to:

http://www.nohandsmassage.com

The books are published by Shi’Zen publications:

PO Box 57, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 6WW, UK.

Tel: 0870 24 30 876 Email: enquiries@shizen.com

Gerry can be contacted at: gerrypyves@nohandsmassage.com

There are many different manufacturers of massage chairs to choose from but the one that has stood the test of time is Panasonic. They have been making massage chairs for over 35 years. One of their newest recliners is the EP-MA20 massage chair. This massage chair review will point out some of the salient features of this advanced recliner.

The EP MA20 has been designed with a new intensity control sensor. This is said to give a more evenly balanced massage for any body type. A newly designed smart motor is powered by a microprocessor that is six times faster than the previous one available from Panasonic.

This new balanced massage has been achieved by developing a new roller that applies equal pressure to all contact points. With the new advanced microprocessor, information about your body is relayed to the massaging mechanism. It adjusts much more quickly than previous designs.

The new intensity control sensor allows you to use the remote control to increase or decrease the intensity of the massage. This allows you to get a little deeper penetration or less penetration depending on your desires. The intensity control Sensor is located on the remote control and can be adjusted as needed.

This recliner also comes with an air massage system. The air system uses 14 airbags which are located in the leg rest. These airbags are specially designed to better fit the calves and feet for a soothing compression style massage.

Another important feature of this recliner is the foot reflexology massage. This recliner has removable reflexology plates located underneath the feet. These specially designed plates stimulate the trigger points of the feet for a relieving reflexology massage.

Panasonic has also incorporated a stretching system into the recliner. This helps to alleviate stiffness in your lower back, hips and thighs. The air system in the leg ottoman squeezes the lower legs while simultaneously lowering the leg rest to stretch the lower body.

This is also a powered recliner. You can adjust the chair back automatically by utilizing the remote control. Motors are used to recline the chair back and raise the leg rest to find a comfortable position.

The remote control comes with three preset programs. These preset programs are automatic programs which have been established in the recliner. This gives you the ability to have a full body massage at the touch of a button.

The three preset massage programs are Swedish, deep and shiatsu. Each of these distinct programs gives you a full body, 15 minute massage. This is a great way to relax and let the recliner do its thing.

You can also focus on specific parts of the body. There are five different massage courses to select from. Choose from neck, shoulder, middle back, lower back or full back. The massage will be limited just to the area selected with the manual massage course.

The design of this recliner is quite contemporary. The recliner has silver accents on the armrest and also on its base. The armrests are long sloping ones which are very long. The chair back is very thick to accommodate the newly improved roller motor system.

If you are looking for some of the more advanced technology in massage chairs available today, then check out the Panasonic EP-MA 20 massage chair. This comes with a variety of soothing programs. It provides relaxing and relieving massages.

We will take a look at the EP-1272 which is part of the Real Pro Elite series of massage chair by Panasonic. The EP 1272 is a mid range shiatsu massage recliner with advanced massage therapy features. We will review some of the main features and touch on the warranty coverage as well. Here is our evaluation and review of the EP 1272 shiatsu massage recliner.

We will start with the warranty coverage and then cover some of the important feature of the chair. Panasonic is a major electronics company with many products. The warranty service for this massage chair is initially provided through your retailer. If service is required, then the chair must be sent to an authorized repair center. The warranty coverage for this model is as follows: 3 years parts, 1 year labor. This is fairly short compared to other major manufacturers in the industry, which is somewhat surprising for such a large company.

Let’s look at some of the more important features of this shiatsu recliner. There are many therapeutic massage functions incorporated into this model. There are 4 automatic massage programs, 8 manual massage programs, and 3 manual back massage courses. There are also lower body air massage capabilities for the calves and feet.

The 4 automatic programs include: shiatsu, Swedish, stretch and quick. Shiatsu provides overall stimulation of the back, neck and shoulders utilizing the soft shiatsu, deep rubbing and tapping actions. Swedish provides overall loosening of the muscles in the back, neck and shoulders using longer strokes, circular motions and rhythmic actions. Stretch provides overall stretching of the back muscles using the rolling, pressing, shiatsu and kneading massages. Quick provides loosening of the back, neck and shoulders using rhythmic actions, circular motions, squeezing and tapping.

The 8 manual massage modes include the following massage techniques: kneading, compression, Swedish, Hawaiian, soft shiatsu, tapping, regional rolling and full rolling. Kneading is particularly effective for the neck and shoulders. Compression is recommended for full body relaxation. Swedish loosens up large areas of the back. Hawaiian helps to relieve tension in the lower back. Soft shiatsu is excellent for loosening up knots in the back. Tapping loosens up the finer muscles of the neck or as a finishing massage. Regional rolling provides focused rolling out of the back muscles. Full rolling provides overall stretching of the back muscles.

The leg rest has a dual purpose massage. It can be used to massage the calves or the feet. If you place your legs into the leg rest, then it will target your calves. To massage your feet, the leg rest must be raised more horizontal and you must bend your knees to place your feet in. The leg rest provides an air compression massage. This is accomplished by energizing airbags built into the leg rest. They provide a gentle or firm squeeze, hold and release massage. This is particularly effective to relieve tight, sore or aching muscles in the calves and feet.

The remote control of the EP 1272 is well designed. The main automatic programs work from one-touch buttons. The manual massage functions are contained in a middle side panel of the main remote. The side panel can be flipped open to reveal the manual controls. You can adjust the massage intensity or speed. There is a function to adjust the width of the back rollers. This is used on the tapping, soft shiatsu and rolling massages. You can also select the area of focus for the back. There are options for the neck/shoulders, lower back and for pinpointing.

Overall, the Real Pro Elite model EP 1272 is a well designed shiatsu recliner. It comes with an excellent variety of massage therapies and can be effectively targeted to specific regions. The design aesthetics of the chair could have been better along with the warranty. The Panasonic EP 1272 does deliver effective massage therapy, so if you are in the market for a mid range massage chair, then this deserves your serious consideration.

Chronic back pain, most commonly lower back pain, is one of the most common complaints among adults and as the popularity grows throughout the world for alternative treatments and therapies, Back Massage Therapy has emerged as a favourite treatment of choice in trying to attain chronic back pain relief.

Back massage therapy offers numerous benefits. While general massage is well known to stimulate blood flow to the muscles and provide relaxation and a pleasurable experience, it does not necessarily provide the therapeutic value required to provide chronic back pain relief sought by sufferers of the condition. Back massage therapy by a specialist however can bring about significant relief within weeks, when therapeutic back massage techniques are applied to combat both lower and upper back pain.

The positive results from back massage therapy can be multiplied when combined with complimentary treatments such as Chiropractic, Physical Therapy or even Acupuncture. A multi discipline approach will work best when the therapists communicate with each other and ‘design’ a program of complimentary treatments to achieve chronic back pain relief through a synergistic approach.

Results can again be significantly improved with the patient taking personal responsibility and being proactive in achieving chronic back pain relief. This can be done with simple measures such as an improved diet, gentle exercise and stretching.

Benefits of Back Massage Therapy

o Massaging causes the muscles to become more relaxed which in turn increases their range of motion. This is an enormous benefit when tension of the muscles causes a restriction in movement. Relaxed muscles also help to reduce insomnia.

o Improved blood supply to the muscles assists with the recovery of muscular soreness from physical activity.

o Massage increases endorphin levels in the body. This is highly beneficial as endorphins are the ‘feel good’ chemicals produced naturally by our bodies. Heightened endorphin levels assist in dealing with chronic back pain.

Precautions

Take note that when receiving massage therapy for the back, the pressure applied during the massage should evoke a response of relaxation in the muscles. If this does not occur the muscles may be inflamed possibly due to an acute injury of the muscle. In this case massage therapy should be put off until the inflammation subsides and it may be advised to consult a doctor.

For best results, muscle spasms generally require four massage treatments, commonly spread over six weeks. Should the muscle spasms not respond to therapy after two massages, it may be advisable to seek an alternative therapy.

Back massage techniques are highly effective in the treatment of chronic back pain, however if the pain is severe it is recommended to first undergo a complete medical check-up prior to beginning a program of back massage therapy.

Conclusion

For those seeking chronic back pain relief there is a wide variety of treatment options available both in conventional medicine and alternative therapies. Whatever your preference of treatment, back massage therapy can be a highly beneficial partner in your quest for relief.

Massage, in some form or another, has been practiced since the dawn of human civilization. Physical touch with the aim to comfort, heal, or sooth physical or emotional pain is common to all civilizations and throughout history each many cultures have developed their own distinct methods of massage or manual therapy. The earliest written records of massage in a medicinal or therapeutic capacity come from the ancient civilizations of India and China. Massage is included in the ancient Hindu medical writings of India, the Ayurveda, which describes methods that are still in practice today. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine or Huangdi Neijing, the basis for traditional Chinese medicine, which dates from the 1st or 2nd century BC, recommends massage among its treatments. Apparently, ancient Egyptian tomb paintings depicting massage have also been discovered. The classical Greek physician Hippocrates, widely considered to be the “father of Western medicine”, was a great proponent of massage as was the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, who benefitted from daily massages to treat his chronic headaches.

In 16th century France massage practices became more widespread due their use by royal court physician Ambroise Pare. In the 1700s a very old and classic Chinese text on massage called the Cong-Fu of the Toa-Tse was translated and published in French. Much of the main basic terminology still used today in massage pedagogy is French in origin (massage, petrissage, effleurage, etc.).

“Swedish Massage”

The most common and popular form of massage therapy in the West is often referred to as Swedish massage, or classic massage. Many of the techniques used in classic or Swedish massage are similar or analogous to the techniques developed and used during the 1800s by the Swedish doctor Per Henrik Ling, who incorporated massage into his medicinal gymnastics regimen, which would also become the basis for physical therapy. Ling borrowed techniques from Chinese massage, which he learned from his friend Ming, a practitioner of martial arts and the traditional Chinese practice of manipulative therapy called tui na. In 1813 Ling founded the Kungliga Gymnastiska Centralinstitutet, or the Royal Central Institute for Gymnastics in Stockholm, a center of higher learning for the education of physiotherapists. As far as strict classic massage as a separate discipline in itself is concerned, the development and application of the French terms can be credited to Dutch massage practitioner Johan Georg Mezger (1838-1909). Mezger compiled the system of strokes used in classic massage that are still employed today. So what is commonly known today as “Swedish massage” was actually developed by a Dutchman, though his terminology was employed and popularized by the Swede Per Henrik Ling.

Today massage therapy is more popular than ever. Varieties of massage practices from around the world are available, offering a wide array of therapies, benefits and experiences. Traditional manual therapies from the East such as Ayurvedic massage from India (including the renowned Indian head massage), Japanese Shaitsu, Tui Nua from China and the popular Thai or “Thai Yoga” massage from Thailand are becoming more and more common in locations throughout the world, while modern Western styles continue to develop and diversify, incorporating a range of relaxation and wellness-themed treatments as well as medicinally-based body therapies. Sports massage, Bowen Technique, Rolfing and manual lymphatic drainage are just a few examples of the latter. It seems that in these times of advanced technology and medical science, mankind is still looking to traditional methods involving natural, manual therapy as these techniques continue to evolve, branch out and specialize to meet humanity’s ongoing need for touch based healing and care.