How to Give a Massage in a Chair

Most likely when you think of learning how to give a massage you think of the person being massaged as laying down on a massage table or even a bed. At any rate they are prone. But there is a place for giving a massage to someone in a chair. You may have even seen this being done if you go to some holistic or health fairs. I have even seen it done at a flea market.

Chair massage is sometimes called corporate massage since it's frequently practiced in the workplace. But it can be performed anywhere with the right equipment. It uses a specially-shaped chair that allows the client to sit comfortably, face-forward at a slight downward angle. The legs are bent, knees propped up and the whole body is relaxed even though the person isn't lying but sitting.

Gravity relief is similar to specialized office chairs that prop the knees up, lying back at an angle. This relieves stress on the lower back and the neck. Specialized chairs of that type are sometimes used by home office workers who spend long hours at the computer. In this case, the body is simply flipped 180 degrees, to face down instead of up.

That allows easy access to the neck, shoulders, back and arms, which are the main areas of chair or corporate massage. Leg, glute and feet work are much less common in these circumstances.

The benefits are numerous. Work-related stress is one of the most common ailments, accounting for billions in lost productivity every year. Even though sessions tend to be shorter - 10-30 minutes rather than the usual hour - they are effective in relaxing and re-energizing the recipient.

The practice has several benefits for the massage therapist as well.

Chair massage practice requires that therapists make 'housecalls', but many do that anyway. When traveling to the recipient's home, there is extra time and hassle required, and the occasional risk. Often it's difficult to charge enough extra to make the added effort worthwhile. In a corporate setting, many clients can be accommodated in a central area in a shorter time. That increases income and produces more happy workers, too.

The same practice can be carried out at the therapist's office as well. But chair massage can also be performed in the client's home if lugging the chair isn't too difficult.

Since the chair provides an effective angle for work, elbow and forearm work is made easier. That saves a lot of strain on the hands, always a concern for massage therapists. A large amount of force isn't required to produce the desired result. A simple lean with the therapist's knees, allowing gravity to work rather than muscular strength, is all that's needed. Placing the leg closest to the client behind, align with the client's back, with about a foot of space between, and a simple natural angle is achieved.

Be sure not to hunch over, keep the line of the shoulders open and parallel to the client. Then let your body weight sink into the client. Gravity does much of the work for you. This reduces any arm or hand pressure required, saving the therapist effort and possible work-related stress injury.

Hands come into play during work on the neck, but even here the forearm can be made use of, again saving those important hand and finger muscles for when they're really needed. The client receives an excellent massage and the therapist reduces effort.

How to Give a Massage - Massge Techniques for Neck and Shoulders

Now that it seems with virtually everyone using a computer for long hours every day, the problems of neck and shoulder aches can affect anyone. Fortunately, a partial solution to these aches can be provided with a few simple, easy to learn massage techniques that nearly anyone can use. Just follow these quick guidelines to learn how to give a massage that will help the person with the aching neck and shoulders.

Have the recipient lie down on a mat or soft carpet as a massage table is not usually among the standard items of furniture in the average home. Have him or her take a few deep breaths, exhaling well to try to relax the whole body.

It may help to place a rolled towel briefly under the body at the top of the back, just below the base of the neck. This helps stretch out muscles which are tensed, prior to working them.

Now, positioned above the person, cradle the head with one hand, turning it slightly in one direction. Knead the chest muscles first. These, paradoxically, are often one of the primary culprits. If they're tight, they can cause the back muscles to tense, pulling the neck muscles with them.

Then work your way up, rubbing the trapezius at the top of the back, then onto the other muscles in the neck. The trapezius is one large muscle group - the top portion for part of the neck system, which fan out into large triangles on both sides of the spine.

Then, switch hands, turn the head slightly the other direction, and repeat.

Making small circles using the tips of the fingers, work the other neck muscles, then slide the fingers down the length of the muscle to the middle of the back and up again.

Turn the recipient over and repeat the procedure in reverse, starting with the base of the skull. Work down the trapezius pair, then over to the chest muscles. Sometimes a pillow under the chest will help create elevation that both stretches the neck and provides room to work. Move the head side to side very gently and stretch just ever so slightly.

Long, moderately firm, gliding strokes are ideal for this type of massage. Be prepared to go slowly and cover a much wider area than just the neck, since the source of the problem is often away from the spine and base of the skull.

I hope these massage techniques tips will help you along your path in learning how to give a massage. I am sure the recipient of this little massage therapy will be very grateful. For additional techniques, check out the Massage Therapy Handbook