Muscle tensions often manifests itself in the shoulder blade and neck area. On top of that, work-related stress and a high work rate can lead to some serious muscle knots or cramps. When you ignore the symptoms for too long, chronic pain may arise. Examples can be headaches, which are actually caused by tense muscles from the neck, shoulders and back area. The area of pain is then spread to other areas of the body - think of a chain reaction -, causing even more physical ailments and muscular tension. A back, neck and shoulders massage will relax the muscle and keep joints, tendons and ligaments flexible. Let's not forget that this relaxing massage is truly a wonderful massage either way, even if you don't have aches and pains. Talking about a win-win situation!
What to expect from a back, neck and shoulders massage?
A back massage usually lasts anywhere between 20 and 90 minutes. If you're not into table massages and would like to stay fully-clothed during your lunchtime massage, then a chair massage is the treatment for you! Let’s say you go for a 15-minute session. The first thing you will need to do is adopt a forward-facing, upright kneeling position on the chair (yes, we admit, it's not the most flattering of angles). Your therapist will then focus on relieving pressure in your neck, shoulders and back. If you’d like your massage therapist to knead your arms and hands then just let them know, but remember that this will mean less time spent on other areas. The choice is yours! Plus, a chair massage is perfect for combating burnout and tapping into that all too elusive “work-life balance”. Health is wealth, after all, and a chair massage provides exactly that: wellbeing so you can head back to work feeling rejuvenated and ready for action.
Good to know about chair massages
- No oils, perfumes or special products are used during a chair massage, so your boss will be none the wiser!
- Chair massage is composed of a number of Shiatsu, Tui Na and acupressure techniques, so you can rest assured you’ll be getting the best in the business.
- A typical chair massage will last between 15 to 25 minutes (this can be shortened to 5 minutes if you’re in a hurry). Consider it your best work commitment ever.
The sciencey stuff about chair massages
These miracle chairs are both cushioned and ergonomically-designed to relieve pressure on the spine, hips and shoulders. They’re also fully adjustable, so people of all shapes and sizes can use them! You should be aware that you need to adopt a somewhat bendy position during treatment, so chronic conditions such as herniated discs or a well-documented history of hypertension may mean that you’ll be advised by your practitioner to avoid chair massage and opt for something different.
