Seated Chair Massage Technique
- In visiting a place where seated massage/chair massage is provided by massage therapists, you will be seated in a specially designed chair. You sit on the chair seat facing a tilted head rest, one leg on each side of the post connecting chair seat to head rest.
The massage chair is specifically made to allow for comfort during the massage and placing the body in optimal position to receive the seated massage.
Most often, seated/chair massages are given to provide relaxation and relieve stress, although more invigorating massage techniques may be provided as desired by the client. - Any one of five massage techniques, or a combination, may be used by the massage therapist:
Compression technique, which is much like acupressure to key muscle areas.
Kneading technique, which is done with circular movements.
Squeezing technique for the major muscles where the muscle is squeezed between fingers at an optimum contact point.
Friction technique, a Swedish massage technique adapted for seated/chair massage use.
Gliding technique, another Swedish massage technique adapted for seated chair massage use.
Percussion technique, hand chops done in rapid succession in a Z pattern over the back and shoulder areas. - Finding seated chair massage has become much easier in recent times. Chair massage is offered not only in many massage offices, but also at the mall, the airport, spas and salons. Some businesses invite massage therapists to visit the workplace and provide seated massage for interested employees.
Since the massage chair is portable, the massage therapist may come to your home to provide seated chair massage. - For those individuals interested in learning chair massage techniques to use at home, there are a variety of instructional DVDs from which to choose (see Resources).
