A great way to fit more massage into your life without blowing the budget is to have regular 20-30 minute chair massage sessions.

If you can find a few colleagues or friends * who could also do with some regular massage then chair massage is the way to go. Why not catch up with friends and organise a coffee morning or pamper evening?  Or spend 20 minutes of your lunch break relaxing and de-stressing.

In fact having regular shorter massage sessions is often more beneficial than only having one longer session every few months. Tight muscles in your back, neck and shoulders easily return to their usual state within a week. So, imagine if in a weeks time you had another massage?

For the price of an hours massage you could get three 20 minute sessions, spread over three weeks.

Chair massage has become popular in the last few years for a number of reasons. If you're not familiar with this "alternative" form of massage, or if you've just been putting off getting one, here are a few reasons why you should try it:

• It's fast. A chair massage can be as short as fifteen minutes or as long as a half hour. This is a perfect arrangement for people who don't have much time.
  

• It's easy on the budget. Chair massages are all timed and the charge is based on the length of the massage. So if you don't want to spend a lot of money, it's a good way to try massage

• It's specific. A lot of people don't want, or feel they don't need, what is traditionally called a "full body massage" (a table massage). Chair massage was designed to make it easy to treat the back, neck and shoulders - areas that carry a lot of stress in most people. (But it's also possible to massage the arms, hands and head this way. The only parts of the body that are hard to access in a massage chair are the extreme lower back, the legs and the feet.)

• It's less threatening. For some people, the idea of removing some of their clothes and then having someone they don't know, or don't know well, give them a massage is enough to keep them away from the massage table permanently. During a chair massage the client keeps their clothes on. Nudity is not only not required, it's not allowed!

• It can be just as effective as a longer table massage. Sometimes it's the frequency - not the length - of a treatment that matters. People who can't afford, or don't have the time for, regular table massages may not get them very often, or on a regular basis. But if they can manage a shorter (and therefore lower-priced) chair massage more often than they would get a table massage, they may find that the benefits - the relaxation and stress relief - last longer. Also, it's possible that when they do get stressed, their reaction is not as severe or as long-lasting. Because their muscles have been getting more frequent reminders of how to handle stress, they are better equipped to deal with it when it does arrive.

GET IN TOUCH TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW TO SCHEDULE 

REGULAR MASSAGE INTO YOUR WEEK!

* Kindly note - a minimum of three clients are required to book a chair massage session at work or home.

I recently spent two days doing Seated Acupressure Massage at a large company in Watford. One of my existing clients is a Director and decided to "treat the troops" by offering them a 15 minute chair massage.

The massage sessions coincided with a very busy time of the year and many of the employees said they felt much less stressed afterwards. It gave them both a physical and mental boost.

For many of the male workers it was their first ever massage and without exception they all thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chair massage is done fully clothed on a specially designed chair and the therapist uses their hands, fists and elbows to work tight muscles and knots in the upper and lower back, arms, hands and head. The results which can be achieved in a short time are amazing!

If you're interested in treating your staff or organising treatments for yourself and your colleagues please get in touch.

If so, then how about a "coffee break" massage at work. Yes, in the time it takes for you to pop out to Starbucks or down to the canteen for your favourite caffiene fix, you could enjoy a 15-20 minute Seated Acupressure Massage.

Among other benefits, your massage with leave you with a caffeine-free natural high.

So what are the benefits of having a regular massage at work?

* eases tight and tense muscles in the back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands
* decreases the likelihood of succumbing to a repetitive strain injury
* lowers blood pressure and promotes a feeling of relaxation and calm
* increases circulation, improving oxygen flow to the body and the brain
* improves concentration and alleviates mental fatigue

What's great about my service?

- You get to sit on a luxury, padded, top of the range chair
- I have top notch professional qualifications and am highly skilled
- I leave you with a stretching programme to prolong the benefits
- My treatments are refreshingly affordable
- You've still got 40 minutes left to eat your lunch!

All you need to do is find three colleagues who'd like a chair massage and I'll come to your office. Find more than 3 colleagues and the price goes down and down .......

Prices:

4 x 20 min Chair Massage - £15 per person
6 x 20 min Chair Massage - £14 per person
8 x 20 min Chair Massage - £13 per person

YOU WORK HARD ENOUGH - NOW LET MASSAGE WORK FOR YOU!

I'm very excited to announce that I'll shortly be offering Seated Acupressure Massage.

What is SAM?

Seated acupressure massage (sometimes also called on-site massage) is based on the traditional Japanese acupressure technique called anma. Anma is Japanese for ‘press and rub’ and this therapy aims to stimulate the acupressure points in the head, neck, shoulders, spine and lower back.

How does it work?

Unlike acupuncture, seated acupressure massage does not use needles. Instead, the therapist uses his or her hands to stimulate the energy points which can be found all along the meridians, or energy lines, of the body. The therapist uses a specific sequence of movements, which are designed to improve the flow of energy throughout the body and balance and strengthen the body’s muscular, circulatory and nervous systems.

What does it involve?

The client, fully dressed, sits facing forward in a ergonomically designed massage chair. As the client relaxes and rests their chin and forehead on a thickly padded platform designed for the purpose, the therapist uses their hands and fingers to apply pressure to the acupressure points on the client’s head, neck, shoulders, upper arms and spine.

The sequence of movements (called a kata) can be adapted to suit the length of massage required by the client. A session can last anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour, and leaves the client feeling relaxed, refreshed and energised.

What is it good for?

Seated acupressure massage is excellent for relieving stress and tension and encouraging knotted, tight muscles to loosen up. It helps with backache, repetitive strain injury, asthma, headaches, migraines, toothache, fatigue, sinus problems, menstrual pain, digestive problems, eyestrain, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

What are the benefits?

Many corporations and businesses are now encouraging their staff to take a twenty-minute break to experience the relaxing benefits of on-site massage. Clients report that after seated acupressure they feel energised and refreshed.

What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?

Seated acupressure massage is gentle and non-invasive so it is suitable for everyone. Be sure to tell the therapist if you have any recent fractures or sprains, or if you suffer from diabetes or any other long-standing medical condition.