The word “massage” usually conjures up visions of lying on a table in a darkened room with soothing music playing in the background as a skilled therapist kneads your muscles. There is a quicker version, known as seated massage, that offers many of the same benefits in a quick and compact way.
Time
Seated massages can be done in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, although they can run longer if you desire. The brief time frame makes them ideal for busy people who cannot devote a whole hour to a treatment. Some companies even provide chair massages on-site so employees can be treated during breaks or on their lunch hours.
Convenience
Regular massages require you to disrobe, while seated massage can be performed while you are fully clothed. This convenience lets you get a seated massage virtually anytime and anywhere. The therapist does not use oil, so you don’t have to shower or wash your hair after the treatment.
Location
Regular massages require a treatment table and are usually done in spas, clinics and fitness centers where an entire room can be devoted to them. Ideally, seated massage takes place in a special chair that can easily be brought on-site to homes and offices. Some therapists will do seated massages in a regular chair.
Stress Relief
Seated massage relieves both physical and mental tension. The Mayo Clinic cites massage as an effective stress-management treatment. It mentally calms anxiety and slows the release of stress-related hormones like cortisol while increasing positive neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, CNN health columnist Kristyn Kusek Lewis reports. It also physically releases anxiety-related muscle tension in the back and shoulders.
Pain Relief
Many people have neck, shoulder and back pain from general causes or as a direct result of spending a lot of time hunched over a keyboard for work or school. Seated massage is particularly adequate because it focuses on those three problem areas. The Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, confirmed massage’s effectiveness at treating neck pain. It can relieve discomfort in other areas as well.
Alertness
A team of researchers from Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine, James Madison University, the University of Maryland and Duke University Medical School showed that chair massage increases mental alertness. This was proven through electroencephalography, or EEG, readings and solving math computations. Chair massage could also improve work or school performance based on these results.
Cost
Seated massages tend to be cheaper than full-body treatments because they are shorter and done in less formal surroundings. This makes them more accessible to people who might not be able to afford a full-hour massage.
