Are You Sitting Comfortably?

To help you with this, consider the following; • framework • weight • ease of transport • upholstery • adjustability • durability • protective carry bag • cost

• new versus second hand • warranty • maintenance • you!

What to Consider When Buying Your First Massage Chair

By Pauline Baxter

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earning a new skill such as Seated Acupressure (On Site) Massage is exciting. You can hardly wait to qualify, get out into the ‘big, bad corporate world’ and secure those contracts that are just waiting for your expertise. It is also a little bit scary as you try and figure out how to approach companies, what length of appointment to offer and not forgetting what to charge!

One thing you will definitely need is a massage chair. This brings with it a whole new set of dilemmas. Which make of chair should you buy? What should you pay for a chair? Should you buy brand new or second hand? How do you know which is best?

So many questions and so many options!

The important thing is not to rush into buying the first chair you come across or to buy the cheapest just because it is the cheapest. You need to try out different makes of chair to help you work out what suits your requirements. Your training provider should be able to provide the use of at least two different makes of chair to use during the course for comparison purposes.

Framework / Weight / Ease of transport

Most massage chairs fold down to a certain degree and are usually reasonably portable. However, if the framework is heavy then this can potentially cause issues.

Will you be carrying the chair on the bus, train or tube? If so, a heavy or large chair could be a problem. You would probably need a massage yourself when you get to your destination! To try and counter this problem, many chairs have wheels or the bag in which the chair sits has wheels.

Another alternative is to use a small luggage trolley. This can work reasonably well where the ground is relatively flat and smooth, but can be a challenge on bumpy pavements as the chair can slip to one side. You would just need to ensure the chair is securely tied onto the trolley. If driving, will the chair fit in your car? Perhaps you are able to leave the chair in the company so you don’t need to transport it each time. In which case, a number of additional questions arise: Is the chair kept in a locked store? Who has access to the cupboard? Is your chair insured and if so, under whose insurance?

If you decide to leave the chair at the company then ensure you work out an agreement with that company.

Upholstery / Adjustability / Durability

It may seem an odd thing to say that the upholstery is something to consider when buying a chair. Surely the upholstery is just some sort of vinyl covering?

The chair needs to be comfortable for the client. It also needs to be durable to allow for the usage and the cleaning that will take place.

With regard to you, the practitioner, you need to consider how much you plan to use the chair. The durability is more important if you are looking to use it every day than if you use it once per month.

Adjustability: The main areas of the chair which should adjust are the seat, chest pad, headrest and armrest.

Seat: The seat of the chair is adjustable height wise, according to the practitioner requirements. For example, if the client is 5’10” and the practitioner is 5’2”, then the seat will need to be lowered. This is to allow the practitioner to work comfortably on the client’s shoulders, in particular when the client is upright. If the client is 4’10” and the practitioner is 5’8” then the seat needs to be raised.

In making the height adjustment, it is important that the angle between the chest pad and the seat is as close to 90° as possible. This is to provide the most comfortable position for the client and the most efficient position for the practitioner.

Chest Pad: On some chairs the chest pad can be moved up or down the main frame of the chair. Others have a pad which is attached to the chair by velcro and can also be moved up or down as required. An additional feature of the second type is that this pad can be turned 90° to provide wider support (sometimes required for a slightly larger client).

Head Rest: People come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so there needs to be good adjustability of the head rest to enable the client to remain as comfortable as possible throughout the massage. The most adjustable headrests tend to have two quick locks and the ability to slide the frame of the head rest up and down to adjust the height.

Arm Rest: This should be adjustable from both a height and an angle perspective. Whilst the above may seem like there a lot of adjustability is required, it is worth it. A chair with few adjustments may limit the comfort of the client. An uncomfortable client is less likely to come back for another massage.

Think of it this way; ‘the chair should adjust to fit the client rather than the client fit the chair’.

Durability: We have already briefly mentioned durability. Put simply, this is the ability of the chair to withstand wear, pressure and possibly damage. When using the chair, it is important to remain within the usage guidance of the manufacturer.

are you sitting comfortably?

Protective Carry Bag

This pretty much speaks for itself. A carry bag will help prolong the life of the chair and may make it easier to transport. Usually, the manufacturer will make a bag that fits the chair.

Cost

This is a major topic. The price of a massage chair can vary enormously according to make and whether the chair is new or second hand. Your budget will certainly be a factor to consider.

New versus second hand / Warranty

When buying a new chair the manufacturer should provide a warranty which is a written guarantee promising to replace or repair the item within a specified period of time. This warranty will have terms and conditions so make sure you read them before purchasing. Second hand massage chairs can often be found advertised on social media. A word of caution: always try the chair before you buy it. Trying the chair includes; • you sitting on the chair • having someone else sit on the chair whilst you apply one or two massage techniques • checking there is no damage to the upholstery, framework or adjustments • all nuts and bolts etc are present and correct timeframe guarantee. If buying from another practitioner there is unlikely to be a guarantee. This is why it is important to try the chair first.

Maintenance

All equipment should be regularly checked and maintained. How easy is it to maintain the chair? What about availability of parts if you need a replacement?

You!

This one is fairly obvious. It makes sense for you to like the chair if you are going to buy it so make sure you do your research. A great way to do this is at relevant events/exhibitions and visit the stands of the suppliers. Speak with other practitioners. See what make/ model chair they have and what they think of it (good and bad). Speak to your training school and see what they recommend and why.

Final thoughts

It may seem a little confusing when you consider the above. But all the points are valid. You are investing in your business and want to ensure the equipment is ‘fit for purpose’.

Whatever chair you decide to buy, think in terms of what work you will get as a result of practicing on site massage. You will very soon recoup the money spent on the chair itself.

Happy chair research!

Pauline Baxter A 10 year background in Health & Fitness Club Management laid the foundations for Pauline’s venture into the world of complementary therapies, which began in 1994. A year out to travel in 1996 provided an amazing range of new challenges and experiences before settling back in the UK to begin her full time journey into life as a massage practitioner. Over 20 years later that journey has been, and continues to be, exciting, rewarding and ever evolving. Most notable events include becoming a tutor for Academy of On Site Massage (AOSM) in 2000, director and owner of AOSM in 2006, development of the AOSM corporate services division and in particular, the growth of On Site Massage Association (OSMA).

Away from massage Pauline is a hockey fanatic (the field variety, not on ice!) and continues to play today. Whilst she can still run she will still play (she just doesn’t run as fast as she used to!).