Benefits of Chair Massage

Series Summary

Swedish massage is one tradition of massage therapy that was adapted from common Asian forms of massage by Per Henrik Ling in the early 19th century. Ling was a professor and gymnast who believed regular exercise could restore bodily health to those with chronic ailments. His “Swedish Medical Gymnastics System” was further adapted and reduced by Johan Georg Mezger, who trimmed down the gymnastic system into only its massage elements, coining the term “Swedish Massage.” After Mezger trimmed the fluff and padding from Ling’s exercise regimen, it was much easier to see just how much of the massage techniques were borrowed from standard Asian traditions.

In this video series, Swedish massage therapist Jinilee Reavis offers a demonstration of an effective chair massage. She shows us how to target the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands in a simple setting. Jinilee also recommends tips on quick massages at home, without the special equipment (or the expense!) of the massage therapist's office. She also explains muscle tension and the benefits a chair massage can give. This series is perfect for at-home easy massage!

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Jinilee Reavis. I am a massage therapist here at Veronica's Color Salon and Spa. I am also here on behalf of Expert Village. Now I am focusing on the chair massage. I am going to do a couple of different demonstrations. Next, I will give you a couple of how-to tips to use at home, as well. The chair massage is really nice if you only have a limited time of 5 to 20 minutes before you get a haircut or style and before you leave. It allows that time to sit down and to focus on the problem areas. This massage was created for smaller environments and workplaces. It is for people who do not have time to disrobe and have a 30 minute to 1 hour to an 1 1/2 hour massage. It allows me to address the areas which have the main tension, which are: the neck, the shoulders and the back. So what I do, I just do a little bit of Swedish massage, with pressure, in order to get a feel from the client as to what areas need to be focused on in a short amount of time."