Posts by georgemartinal:
Obtain Periodic Swedish Massages in a Massage Chair Recliner
November 24th, 2008Massage chair recliners have come a long way over the years from simple vibrating chairs to very sophisticated massage chairs with heat, music and various massage therapies. One of the most basic massage techniques is known as Swedish massage or classic massage. The Swedish massage was developed in the 18th century by Henrik Ling. Swedish massage is very effective in allowing the body to absorb more oxygen.
Stress hits us in various ways in our daily lives. With the various challenges we have, we put stress on various parts of the body. In general, stress impacts us mentally by causing thoughts of fear. This fear translates into physical tension as the flight or fight reactions stir up our muscles for action. This physical tension builds up in the body. It is further sustained by how we mentally deal with stress, which for many is to deny it. These physical and mental stresses have a cumulative effect as it builds up in the body.
To help alleviate the pain, aches and soreness, massage treatments have been developed and practiced through time. Swedish massage is considered one the most basic massage styles. Swedish massage is aimed at alleviating pain and to enhance the body’s health. It helps detoxify the body by increasing cell metabolism which eliminates their waste materials.
Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapottement, traction and vibration are the 6 elements of Swedish massage. Each element of the Swedish massage technique is defined here. The use of long sweeping strokes covering many parts of the body is Effleurage. The use of kneading and squeezing of the muscles is Petrissage. The use of heat to help blood flow and muscle relaxation is Friction. The use of tapping and chopping motions to loosen muscles is Apottement. The use of pulling and stretching the arms and legs is Traction. The use of shaking to loosen muscles and stimulate the capillary vessels is Vibration.
The best massage chair recliners have integrated the 6 elements of Swedish massage into their chairs. These premier massage chair brands use a combination of electro-mechanical systems driven by sophisticated software to deliver the Swedish massage effectively. Whether it is the massage rollers performing Effleurage or Tapottement performed with a rhythmic tapping action, these massage chairs have evolved in sophistication and effectivness. Of course, a massage chair recliner does not tire, so relief is only the push of a button away.
Not all massage chair recliners can perform all 6 techniques. All techniques are performed to different degrees and can vary from model to model and from manufacturer to manufacturer. Omega Massage’s Montage Elite massage chair and the Panasonic Real Pro Elite have the most comprehensive Swedish massage techniques. The Montage Elite is the most comprehensive Swedish because it has full body heat capabilities where the Panasonic Real Pro Elite does not. Try them both and decide for yourself.
Swedish massage has come along way from the days of Henrik Ling. Mr. Ling would be amazed that the techniques he pioneered have been engineered into the robotic massage chairs of today. Many of the same benefits provided by his pioneering efforts can be found in these mechanical masseuses. However, Mr. Ling found the real benefits of Swedish massage when it was performed on a routine basis. Sporadic visits to the Spa are not as effective as periodic application. If you are looking for Swedish massage techniques, a massage chair recliner is an excellent way to perform on a routine basis.
Review: Panasonic EP 1273 KL Shiatsu Massage Chair
November 23rd, 2008The Panasonic EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair is the subject of this product review. Panasonic is an electronics company and has a massage chair line. The EP-1273KL is a midrange model. The midrange is the $2,000 to $3,000 price range for massage chairs. Let us take a look at some of the advanced features for the Panasonic EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair.
The massage chair industry is an interesting group of companies. There are giant conglomerates like Panasonic and Sanyo; and others more industry specific like Omega and Human Touch. And like weeds in many gardens, a lot of companies peddling junk which you need to avoid. A good hurdle to pass is to see if the company has retail distribution. With Panasonic there is not need to worry as they will back up their warranty.
How good is the warranty of the Panasonic EP-1273KL massage chair? Panasonic provides just an average warranty directly from the manufacturer. The standard Panasonic manufacturing warranty covers 1 year parts, 1 year labor, 1 year shipping and 1 year in-home service. Panasonic provides an average warranty protection for the customer. The warranty coverage can be extended by purchasing an extended warranty through the retailer. The larger electronics companies follow the extended warranty model which is no doubt a carry over from their electronics divisions. Coverage on the extended warranties vary by retailer, so check out what the coverage and cost for the Panasonic EP-1273KL.
What about the Panasonic EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair? Let us start with the design and aesthetics. Panasonic makes this massage chair more appealing than some of their other models. It is not as ultra modern which gives it a broader appeal. It has silver accents on the front legs and on the tail of the back legs. The EP-1273KL comes with a plush detachable head pillows and an extra back pad. It is a comfortable chair to sit in.
The Panasonic EP-1273KL massage chair has quite a number of manual massages including Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, tapping, rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. The back rollers have four firm rubber massage heads. These rubber massage heads are controlled by Panasonics Swede-Atsu massage which simulates the stroking with the palm of the hand or the pressing with the heel of the hand. The kneading massage is firm with the rubber massage heads feeling like strong pressure with the thumbs. Choose from four automatic programs with the EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair. The 4 auto programs include Shiatsu, Deep, Gentle and Refresh and are 15 minutes in duration. There are 3 manual courses for the neck and lower back. The manual massages are thorough and help to relieve tired or aching muscles.
Air compression technology is advancing and Panasonic has included a calf air massage in the EP-1273. Target both the calf muscle and the feet. Gentle air pressure will squeeze, hold and release those areas. Get stretched out with the automatic leg rest with this massage chair recliner. Lower body muscles can be extended with the leg rest. The stretching function is built into the auto programs.
Overall, this Panasonic massage chair is a solid performer. Panasonic is able to include its Swede-Atsu massage system in this midrange price level. This provides 8 massage techniques where most only have 4 massage techniques. This massage chair has a more postmodern appearance, but reliable massage therapy. There is a built in lower body stretch which is another good function rolled down from higher cost models. The EP-1273KL massage chair provides an effective and relieving massage without relieving your wallet too much.
Help Your Wellbeing and Health with Massage Therapy
October 14th, 2008Most people I know say that their health is one of their top priorities. Unfortunately, the reality is that is what they say, but not necessarily what they do. This is sad to me, because we all know that we have to take good care of ourselves. The reality is that we take our bodies and health for granted. Well that is until something happens. Then we kind of just wake up and then maybe we take care of ourselves?at least for a while. We have to make health a priority. We need ways to counteract the affects of stress and find balance in our lives. One method that helps people decompress from stress is massage therapy and the most convenient way to receive it is from a massage chair.
What happens to us when we come under stress? Stress causes a chemical reaction in our bodies. We become nervous and anxious. We start to worry. All of these are chemical reactions that need a way to reverse. Massage therapy is effective in reversing these affects.
Massage chairs are very advanced and can provide full body massages. They are particularly effective in relieving aches, pains and discomfort which can result from the build up of stress in our bodies. The massage chairs of today offer a tremendous variety of comprehensive and effective massage treatments.
There are a whole range of benefits from receiving massage therapy. There are numerous studies that show massage therapy to improve your range of motion of joints, relax your muscles, remove toxins from the muscle tissue, increases blood and lymph flow and increase awareness. The one caveat is that massage therapy must be received on a periodic basis. Just like diet and exercise, you need to perform this with a regular frequency to really get the benefits.
The convenience of a massage chair cannot be understated. The biggest obstacle we hear for receiving regular massage therapy is the time involved with going to a massage therapist. We just simply do not have time in our busy schedules to do this on a consistent basis. This is precisely why having a massage chair can be very convenient. You can get a 10 minute warm up massage before you hop in the shower or just before you go to bed. No appointment need and you have access around the clock.
We do want to point out that if you can get regular massage therapy from a masseuse, then that is certainly a great way to go. The relieving and soothing hands with the human touch are certainly fantastic. However, the convenience is where this can be a challenge.
A massage chair is an excellent time saver. You get a massage in parallel with a massage chair. A masseuse works your body over one part at a time. The massage chair can massage your back while it massages your legs, buttocks, feet and calves. All the parts of the chair are working and the total time is significantly reduced.
The second biggest obstacle to receiving regular massage therapy is the expense. Seeing a massage therapist on a regular basis is not cheap. In fact, in time it is expensive. A one hour session runs about $50 per hour plus tip. A massage chair on the other hand is much cheaper over time. A $3,000 massage chair has a minimum of 1,000 hours of life and many have 2,000 hours. If we use the 1,000 hours, then an hour of massage therapy is $3 per hour. No tip required. This is a huge economic advantage.
Really make health a priority in your life. Take a positive step and start to find out more about massage chairs. Your sources of stress do not take a break, but you should. You need to find the right balance in today’s turbulent times. We need to effectively relieve the negative effects of stress on our bodies. A massage chair is a convenient and cost effective method to do just that.
Massage Chair Review: HT 7450 Zero Gravity Recliner
September 18th, 2008We will take an in depth look at the Human Touch HT 7450 Zero Gravity massage chair in this review. This is a state of the art massage recliner with many advanced features and the Human Touch patented massage system. We will describe some of special features of this chair and also touch on the warranty coverage. Let us take a look at this luxury massage chair from Human Touch.
If you are just starting your search for a massage chair, then please heed this warning. Go with the top brands and you will be happy for the long term. There are so many imported massage chairs that have a ton of features, but they are prone to breakdown and the generous warranty will not get honored. The top brands have retail distribution, so you can relax and not worry if the company you bought it from will be there next year.
So let us look at the warranty coverage from Human Touch. The high end HT7450 gets the best warranty coverage from Human Touch in its product line. The HT 7450 comes with 5 years on the chair’s structure. There is a 3 year warranty on parts. You get 1 year labor and 90 days in home service. This is the most extensive warranty coverage offered by Human Touch. It is somewhat below average compared to the other name brands. Customer service is pretty good and turnaround is quick.
This massage recliner is what is known as a zero gravity lounger. What is a zero gravity lounger? This is a combination of the chair back and leg rest position that makes it a zero gravity position. This position is where your knees are elevated above your heart. It is supposed to take the direct pressure from the spine and distribute it across the whole back.
This recliner comes with a lot of functionality around the zero gravity feature. There is a one touch button to take you to this reclined position. As you move back, the armrests move independently from the chair back to support the arms and shoulders. This is an ergonomic function to help stress from building up in the neck, shoulders and arms when you get to the final position.
The armrest is also complimented with the seat of the HT-7450. The seat of this massage recliner will tilt down when you are going to the zero gravity position. This is designed to support the lumbar and keeps it in a natural and stress-free position. These two features are to keep tension to a minimum in your body for this position.
You may or may not be a fan of zero gravity, but what are the massage functions with this massage recliner? The HT 7450 comes with 8 automatic programs that work off a touch of a button. There are 8 seat massage choices with pulsating action. You can also select from 4 manual massage treatments. There is also a dual lumbar heating system built into the chair back. The leg rest has a built in calf massager.
The 8 pre-programmed massages are well designed and thought out from a massage therapy point of view. For instance, there is The Full Body Sore Muscle Relief massage. This starts off with a 3 minute warm up massage. It then goes into a 9 minute high intensity massage to deeply penetrate and soothe the muscles. Then it ends with a 3 minute warm down massage. The massage therapies are very effective on the HT 7450.
This is a very well designed massage recliner. It also is a very attractive massage recliner and comes in top grain leather upholstery. It does have heaters in the back, so we are not sure of the durability of the leather over the long term. In any event, this massage recliner is a first class executive looking massage chair that will look good in virtually any room in the house. If you are looking for a comprehensive massage lounger in the luxury range, then the HT-7450 is definitely a serious contender for your attention.