The shiatsu massage chair has become very popular in recent years. It is based on the ancient Japanese massage technique of shiatsu, which differs from basic Western massage techniques. Western massage relies more upon kneading and rubbing, but shiatsu is based upon applying pressure. This is even evident in its name, the direct translation from Japanese means finger (shi) pressure (atsu). An experienced practitioner will not only use their fingers, but also their knuckles, elbows, palms, and thumbs, and a few will even use their knees and feet when they need to apply heavy pressure!

The Japanese regard shiatsu so highly that it is a regulated and licensed medical therapy in Japan by their Ministry of Health and Welfare, whose official definition is: Shiatsu technique refers to the use of fingers and palm of one’s hand to apply pressure to particular sections on the surface of the body for the purpose of correcting the imbalances of the body, and for maintaining and promoting health. It is also a method contributing to the healing of specific illnesses.

Today in Japan there are two main schools of shiatsu: one based on western anatomical and physiological findings, and the other based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

The original school of thought practices shiatsu based on TCM uses shiatsu massage to work the acupuncture points along the body’s energy channels (also called meridians) to balance a persons energy flow. This is a great form of treatment for Westerners who are interested in acupuncture but are put off by the needles.

A formal school of shiatsu therapy based upon Western medicine was first opened in Japan in 1940, but it was not until the 1970’s when shiatsu techniques started to appear outside Japan. Today over a dozen philosophies or variations exist of shiatsu, and since the 1980’s, most of these variations have occurred in North America and Europe.

Though there is little scientific support for the healing properties of a shiatsu massage, no one can dispute the overall feeling of good health and stress relief that is brought on by one of these massages. As massage has become more main stream in western society, the massage industry boomed. Companies have sought ways to make a massage accessible to more Americans. This brought on the massage chair industry in the 1980’s. These chairs have slowly become more deluxe, and with the interest in shiatsu, the popularity of the shiatsu massage chair has boomed. This has especially been great for individuals who do not feel comfortable going to a massage therapist, they can enjoy a massage in the privacy of their own home.

Almost any shiatsu massage chair on the market today offers a variety of massage techniques, including compression, kneading, percussion, and rolling. The application of pressure that is key in shiatsu massage is applied in chairs by rollers. In a good quality chair, you can control the rollers to move up and down your back, you can control the width between the rollers, and also how much pressure is being applied.

Though a quality shiatsu massage chair may seem like it would cost a lot of money, it is really an investment in your health. It is like having your own personal massage therapist on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year! These chairs do not provide just a back massage, but also neck, leg and foot massages. Besides relaxing your muscles, a shiatsu massage chair also rejuvenates the mind and body and reduces fatigue, providing a whole body experience. I have never met a person who regretted purchasing a shiatsu massage chair.

Some people still think that massage chairs are simply vibrating lounge chairs. That simply isn’t the case.
Massage chairs have been advanced and improved over many years and these days they can simulate a professional therapist so accurately that more and more people are turning to massage chairs for treatment.
People are doing this for these reasons:

1. Massage chairs are so much cheaper than a professional therapist. Whereas you would have to pay a massage therapist up to $200 per treatment, a massage chair would be around $500-1300 for a one-time payment and you could receive treatment whenever you want to for years. That may seem like so much compared to $200 but it’s not really.

Consider that if you were receiving treatment from a therapist for two hours and you were charge $200 for it. That would soon add up. If you went to the therapist twice a week for $400 and you went for a month that would add up to $1600 for just 16 hours of treatment a month!

I can’t even say completely truthfully that the massage therapist would only charge you $200 for two hours. I actually think that they would charge more than that.

With a massage chair you could receive treatment for as many hours a day that you wanted and whenever you wanted. You could come home from a tiring day at work, shower, have supper and sit down to a relaxing massage while watching your favorite show.

Another thing about why receiving treatment from a massage chair is so much easier than going to a professional therapist is that you don’t to go anywhere. It’s all at home. Or work for that matter. If you have a desk job you could bring your chair to work and receive treatment while working. Wouldn’t that be awesome?

I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between the body and the external devices we use to try to make our bodies more comfortable or healthy. Portable massage chairs won’t do all the work to make or keep your body healthy and stress free, but they sure help, and are among the most effective of the external devices we use. Some are simple and others are deluxe. Either way, these chairs are a tool that was developed for the benefit of the user

The effects of gravity on the human body are very real. As we age we start to show those effects more and more. Our muscles tighten to try to align ourselves. We have to be more deliberate in keeping our spines upright and aligned. And, the effects of mental stress are just as real as physical stress. The way our bodies exhibit those stresses are varied and persistent. When our minds are burdened, our bodies show it. Whether it be through ulcers, sore knees, low back pain, tight neck muscles, or a host of other diseases or maladies, our bodies let us know when there is something wrong. I’m not saying that there aren’t very real medical conditions that arise on their own, there obviously are. I’m just suggesting that the mind body connection is very real indeed, and that we use devices, like portable massage, chairs to help us deal with problems as they arise.

My first portable massage chair helped me escape from a bit of the stress I was going through at the time. When I settled into it and turned it on, I found it easy to forget about the things that were stressing me out, even if only for a few minutes. That was welcome relief indeed. The model I used was one from Homedics. It had adjustable vibrators that really felt pretty good for what it was. My favorite feature was the heat setting. Adding warmth to the massage was wonderful.

Years later, I remember having a massage therapist come out to where I worked to give the boss a massage. The therapist brought one of those portable massage chairs that looked more like a big insect than a massage chair. It had a place below the seat for the client to place their knees. A big comfortable pad cushioned the chest and upper body, and an equally comfortable armrest and face support provided for support to the head and arms. I admit, I was a bit jealous of my boss, but as I look back on that time, I have come to further realize that the pressure he felt from his responsibilities justified such an indulgence.

I am still a fan of portable massage chairs. The ones that go in cars are pretty slick. The ones that fit on office chairs are really practical and easy to use. You don’t have to be a professional chiropractor or massage therapist to own this sort of equipment either. You can find portable massage chairs at many local retailers, and widely on the web – often for a better price. When a foot bath, back scratcher, bed or other device falls short of providing the needed relief, portable massage chairs come to the rescue. They can literally take the physical pain many of us feel away. And they can ease, or even remove, the very real mental stresses we experience, even if just for a short time. Sometimes that is all we really need, just a few moments of relief.