The Fun of Chair Massage

[CMF37]

You know at first I hated chair massage. Resisted chair massage, didn't want a chair, nope not me... Well my partner had more sense than I did, made me get a chair, I took a class... and now... I LOVE chair massage.

I get to meet so many people, and impact so many lives! I mainly do events, contracting for other companies.

Well I've been working an event the past few days, the other morning a woman comes limping in. I slept funny she says, her hip is giving sciatic symptoms. My co-worker worked on some hip releases (not as easy in a chair!). She gets out of the chair wiggles around, figures out the pain is gone, does a little high kick step, and gives him a big hug.

She walked out with such a huge grin.

I love being an MT!

 

[www.crystalsmassage.com]

Oh my gosh, my exact MO when I started. No way I was going to do chair work. Finally I turned away so much of it that I figured I would give it a try. Now I have to say, I could see going to that kind of work exclusively. I really like the energy and seeing a line of people, and how they get up and look so shocked that those few minutes can have such an effect on them. Its good stuff!

 

[macho man]

Why were you guys so resistant towards chair massage?

I knew I loved it the first time I did it, but I was open to it before I had ever experienced it for myself.

 

[MissBieber]

My issue probably stemmed from school. I got maybe 2 hours of "training" including practice. We watched a video on how to do chair massage. Half the chairs didn't work properly either.

I guess I didn't think I could do any good in just a short session, had problems adjusting the chair, etc etc etc.

Then I took a class with Raymond Blaylock, and it changed my whole persepective because I learned how to use my chair effectively.

Currently I am scheduled to do 20-25 hours of chair massage a month!

 

[morton]

I'm leery of chair massage because I have bad knees and sometimes it's painful to get into the chair and then out of it.

 

[shygirl]

For any clients with bad knees I let them sit in the chair without tucking the knees, and it works out just fine. Or I put another cushion under their behind to open up the knee joint a little more, depends on how bad the knees are.

I can also easily flip the seat down on my chair once the client stands up, helps with getting in and out of the chair.

 

[/<@te]

What kind(s) of chairs do you guys have? I love doing chair massage, but haven't mastered adjusting the chair yet (a bit embarrassing at the last event when hubby had to help me fold it back up and all, lol!)

 

[Apple Juice]

Our chair massage training in school was only 4 hours but it was mainly hands-on. Our teachers were all about chair massage so they gave us some great advice during class which was awesome. They showed us their "money moves".

Talenyn, congrats on the monthly gig(s)! How'd you manage to do that? I'm looking to build my private practice and I wanted to start with chair massage.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I'm acutally a sub-contractor at the moment. But I figured its a start. I wish I had more time on my hands, but marketing is (and always has been) my downfall. Massage is my part time life. But I wouldn't give it up for the world.

 

[ChristianR]

My issue probably stemmed from school. I got maybe 2 hours of "training" including practice. We watched a video on how to do chair massage. Half the chairs didn't work properly either.

this was my issue as well, though we didn' thave a video. it was basically being informed that 'anything you do on the table can be done in a chair,' and then we got to figure it out on our own for an hour or so.

fortunately i've received some additional mentoring regarding it, but a BIG part of my issue with chair massage is finding a chair that works for ME. i'd like to have a few lined up and fiddle with each of them, seeing how they feel to work with and how they feel when receiving; trying them with a variety of body types. i'm ordering one soon though, and i'm keeping it in my vehicle for when we're at parkdates and playdates.

 

[dan94adibi]

I did one chair event so far in my short career. I loved making a lot of money for relatively little effort (and a bit of guilt). In one day of working an event, I made the same amount of money I make in a 35-hour week as a medical massage therapist in a chiropractor's office-- with none of the liability and responsibility that goes with medical massage.

Of course, you don't learn anything doing chair massage, but it seems really unfair. After 7 months of medical massage, I've decided to do something that is more lucrative and less taxing before I burn out-- chair massage is definitely on my list. But I hate having to work through the client's clothes-- how can you palpate anything? Especially bra straps-- ugh!!! And no lubricant, so you can't do any effleurage. And it's very hard to position the arms so you can get to different muscle groups and shorten the shoulder muscles and rotator cuffs.

Oh, well... I need to think more about the money.

 

[juank243]

I did one chair event so far in my short career. I loved making a lot of money for relatively little effort (and a bit of guilt). In one day of working an event, I made the same amount of money I make in a 35-hour week as a medical massage therapist in a chiropractor's office-- with none of the liability and responsibility that goes with medical massage.

Of course, you don't learn anything doing chair massage, but it seems really unfair. After 7 months of medical massage, I've decided to do something that is more lucrative and less taxing before I burn out-- chair massage is definitely on my list. But I hate having to work through the client's clothes-- how can you palpate anything? Especially bra straps-- ugh!!! And no lubricant, so you can't do any effleurage. And it's very hard to position the arms so you can get to different muscle groups and shorten the shoulder muscles and rotator cuffs.

Oh, well... I need to think more about the money.

Have you had any classes on chair massage? All of your "problems" with it are very easily solvable, and you CAN learn a ton doing chair massage. Palpation through clothes is doable, and shoulders are easier to work thoroughly on a chair than on the table, sometimes. I have a few clients that I put on the chair because of the site specific work needed.

 

[just a cariboo angel]

I think I had about an hour lesson in school. I bought an instructional DVD at one of the conventions-- not all that helpful-- there was nothing on there that didn't already occur to me to do. But I think now that I have more experience working on the table, that will help me work more effectively on the chair. If I can get into a class soon, I will do that-- always up for learning more.

 

[Nancy L]

Crossfiberfriction wrote:

"I did one chair event so far in my short career. I loved making a lot of money for relatively little effort (and a bit of guilt). In one day of working an event, I made the same amount of money I make in a 35-hour week as a medical massage therapist in a chiropractor's office-- with none of the liability and responsibility that goes with medical massage.

Of course, you don't learn anything doing chair massage, but it seems really unfair. After 7 months of medical massage, I've decided to do something that is more lucrative and less taxing before I burn out-- chair massage is definitely on my list. But I hate having to work through the client's clothes-- how can you palpate anything? Especially bra straps-- ugh!!! And no lubricant, so you can't do any effleurage. And it's very hard to position the arms so you can get to different muscle groups and shorten the shoulder muscles and rotator cuffs.

Oh, well... I need to think more about the money."


On the contrary......as Rose of Sharon said, you CAN learn a lot by doing chair massage. I've been doing chair massage for 8 years and have learned to do very specific detail work on my clients. I, too, see results from my work....my corporate clients swear on the relief of pain and stress that I can give them. Plus, I can explain different ways that they can help themselves while at their job. I can show them the consequences of bad posture, of forward tilting of their head while sitting at the computer, etc. Continued education in the form of classes, books, videos will translate into better work.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that there is no responsibility or liability in chair massage. You have to have that with any type of massage work...I would hope...and, with businesses and organizations watching their dollars very closely, you better come to work with a professional attitude. I'm as much concerned about my clients as any medical massage therapist. I have the responsibility and liability if I, or any of my therapists, injure or otherwise harm the client.

In my chair business, I put in a LOT of effort, so I'm a little surprised that you thought it was no effort. After a week long convention of 6+ hour days, my therapists (and me) are exhausted. And yes, the money is good. But I earned every dollar that I've been paid. I worked hard during school and harder after graduation to get to where I am now...so I have no guilt over the money. However, I would be hesitant to hire someone who just wanted to make a lot of money.....you better be a good therapist too. If you pursue chair massage, take some chair classes. You did for medical massage.

I know I'm on my soapbox. My school treated seated massage as an afterthought (it's worse now). Seated massage was taught as something you did until you got a real massage job. Seated massage is not the second class citizen some might think it is. In today's workplace situation where fear, stress and overwork are commonplace, my job is extremely important........and I take it seriously.

 

[Mandrake]

You make excellent points, YF. You sound like you would be a good teacher. I will take what I learned as a medical massage therapist and try to apply it to the seated massage position. That will be a challenge but it will also be more interesting.

 

[Whizzy]

Sometimes I prefer chair massage work. I feel like I have such better leverage and body mechanics when I do seated work. As it was said before, I also find it easier to do shoulder work. I do get the urge to lube the client up sometimes, but that is rare.

I just finished my first proposal for chair massage today! I'm hoping to get into some schools in the area. Teachers' Appreciation day is coming up in May and I figured it would be a great time to get out and try to get a permanent chair gig to top off my table practice.

 

[Anony Moose]

What kind(s) of chairs do you guys have? I love doing chair massage, but haven't mastered adjusting the chair yet (a bit embarrassing at the last event when hubby had to help me fold it back up and all, lol!)

I've used a Master Bedford for about 2 1/2 yrs and I love it!

 

[Taylor!]

The Fun of Chair Massage

Crossfibre friction, Think about non-Western techniques, too.
Have any shiatsu training? It is such a simple transtion.