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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About on Site Massage

   Studies show that massage is one of the most affordable, non-addictive methods of dealing with stress. But when most people think of massage they think of having to take their clothes off, lying down a table in a room somewhere & having someone work on their muscles for an hour or so. It's time consuming, expensive and many people aren't comfortable being touched by someone while they're nude. So what’s the best solution to provide folks with the benefits of massage, AND provide a top quality service at a reasonable price?

   Chair massage was developed to fill a marketplace demand for a no frills, high quality, affordable, stress busting, corporate massage service. Two of the most valued resources of every individual are time and money. What about a back massage that comes directly to you where ever you are? You get to sit in a comfortable, ergonomic chair and you don't have to take your clothes off. It's short, usually 10 – 15 minutes each and it's very affordable. Enter on site chair massage, (sometimes referred to as ‘back massage’) but usually just called 'on site massage'.

   Developed by David Palmer in the early 1980's, modern chair massage was developed to make the benefits of massage accessible to everyone. Sometimes called seated massage, chair massage is believed to have originated in China during the time of the Yellow Emperor, Huangdi, 2497 to 2398 BC.

The Yellow Emperor is credited with the invention of the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Called ‘Anma’, traditional seated massage came to Japan during the Edo period 1603 AD – 1868 AD. There are many similarities between anma and shiatsu in that both focus on releasing the pressure or trigger points in the body. In fact, chair massage is actually a blend of shiatsu (working the pressure points) and traditional Swedish massage (working the muscles).

     Certified on site or chair massage practitioners specialize in providing relaxation massage, not therapy. In Canada the designation most of us carry is CCMP (certified chair massage practitioner, not to be confused with LMT – licensed massage therapist or RMT – registered massage therapist.)

   Chair massage focuses on the key tension areas of the back, neck and shoulders, arms and hands where people hold their stress. Stress creates muscle imbalances in your body causing:

: aches and pains

: computer slump causing difficulty breathing and back pain

: radiating pain & numbness underneath the shoulder blades, up into the skull & down your arms into your hands

: ’frozen shoulder’

: migraine-like headaches

: desk and road rage

   Stress creates a vicious cycle where the pain caused by muscle imbalance is the biggest cause of disability & time off in the workplace causing more stress. Stress induced muscle imbalances are officially designated as Brugger's 'Sterno-Symphyseal' Syndrome. [courtesy Dynamic Chiropractic October 20, 1997, vol. 15 Issue 22 source www.chrioweb.com archives]

   By focusing directly on the upper body trigger points where people hold their stress, the massage relaxes those muscles: releasing aches, pain and tension, restoring circulation and blood flow, recharging the body and restoring energy levels. On site massage is a powerful uplifting experience that brings a healing touch to your body and frees your mind.

   Chair massage is performed in your normal daily attire and requires no oils. Instead of using a table, the massage takes place in a specially designed portable massage chair that your chair massage practitioner brings to your workplace or company event. Leaning forward in the chair allows you to relax completely with your head resting in a comfy ‘face cradle’ lined with a soft cloth or disposable cover. The cradle cover is replaced and the chair sanitized between massages.

   The massage focuses on the upper body areas where people hold their stress from sitting at a desk or staring at their computer for extended periods of time. Your massage can help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, tension/migraine headaches, neck pain, and back problems. In My  Hands certified practitioners are specifically trained in relaxation massage that is perfect for the working world energizing and very refreshing. You and your team will feel invigorated and ready to be productive! 

   Important note: if you have on-going or acute pain in your back, neck or shoulders, frequent migraines or ‘frozen shoulder’; you should see your health care practitioner promptly. Many physical problems including poor vision, allergies, neglected injuries or physical conditions masquerade as back pain or migraines (or both).

Remember for every physical limitation there is an underlying physical condition causing it. 

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About the Author

With 8 years in the stress-busting business, massage expert Irene Orkin believes the benefits of on site massage provide an antidote to corporate stress. Owner of one of Toronto’s premier corporate on site massage services, In My Hands, Irene is not only an author, certified marketing professional, keynote speaker and blogger, but she enjoys mentoring massage professionals (and other entrepreneurs) to become successful business owners. If you’re based in the Greater Toronto Area or south western Ontario, you can book Toronto’s knotty back heroes on site massage service through http://www.inmyhands.ca or post your thoughts over at http://www.marketingmassagebiz.wordpress.com